Page 14 of For Better or for Ransom

“An overzealous fan who wants the Irrefutably Sexy Leonardo Pascual just to themself, perhaps? Do you know if there was someone like that in Leonardo’s orbit? A stalker?” Luke asked Moon.

“I mean he’s extremely popular because of the pirates’ show—and because he’s gorgeous. But nothing out of the ordinary, I think. But let me ask his people. His manager, agent or, publicist would probably know better.” There were some scratching noises and Luke assumed Moon was taking some notes.

“Can you tell us about the new show?” Luke asked.

“I signed an NDA expressly forbidding me from talking about the new show with anyone not directly involved in the production of the show.” Moon’s tone was apologetic but firm.

“Moonbeam, it’s just us.” Every time Divya used the affectionate term with her lover, she sounded sweeter than Luke had ever heard her. Her ears turned a bit redder too. “We won’t be babbling around. We just need to do our job. Plus, you hired us, remember?”

There was a silent pause followed by a long exhalation and Luke was sure Divya had convinced the television producer.

“I was finally promoted from creative liaison—which is basically a fancy way of saying assistant—to fully fledged producer for this new show.” The tone in Moon’s words told Luke he’d been mistaken in his assumptions. “I have a better job, way better salary, more creative control, but also more responsibility. Which is why it was me hiring you directly. I understand why you want to know more about the show. But I’ll have to check with legal first to see what I can tell you.”

“You realize we’re pressed for time, right?” Divya’s voice had lost most of its sweetness. “You want Leonardo found quickly because every day he’s missing is one more day the show is in limbo and you risk it never happening. Plus, we don’t even know if he’s all right.”

“I promise it’ll be quick but you have to understand. If Meshflixx decides I’ve broken an NDA, the show not happening will be the least of our problems. I’m still worried about Leonardo though. I hope he’s doing okay. To be honest, I thought this was some sort of stunt from him to get himself a couple of days off of work. I was convinced he’d show up on an island, fresh-faced and tanned and that would be all.”

“Wait, so you don’t think something happened to him?” Luke double-checked.

“He’s been doing projects back-to-back, he has to be tired. Fitting in the Spanish leg of the play before the new show was a stretch from the beginning. Especially because theater can be very taxing. I really thought he’d just faked his own disappearance to have a mini vacation. It wouldn’t be the first time he did something like that. I just wanted you folks to have him found soon so that we didn’t miss many shooting days. But now I’m getting worried. I’m gonna go harass all the lawyers in the organization, and I promise I’ll have an answer for you tonight. Wish me luck.”

They hung up the phone and Divya was very clear in her thoughts. “Showbiz people, mate!”

“Tell me about it.” Luke had suffered his own share of awkwardness and absolute astonishment at some of Sol’s behavior because of her association with the business. “So Sugar and Moonbeam, uh?” He teased his colleague with his best smile.

“Oh, shut up!”

10

Sol

They’d just finished having dinner together at the apartment when Sol found herself taken by one of her bad mood bouts and she resolved it was all Luke’s fault. Sudden perhaps, but that was the way she was: capricious. And age—and perimenopause—seemed to be making her even more volatile.

“So you’re really not gonna tell me anything about this case of yours, eh?” She made her feelings known.

“What do you mean?” He’d started clearing the table and stopped midstride through the kitchen area. His expression went blank. He looked like he had no idea what she was accusing him of. That managed to enrage her even more.

“You’ve been an absolute bore all dinner. Not a word about your investigation.” Her voice went high.

He left the dirty plates back on top of the table, as if bracing for an argument. “An absolute bore?” His eyes fixed on hers with defiance.

“You’d barely said ten words all dinner!” She stood up to be closer to eye level with him.

He raked his fingers through his dark, wavy hair. “I’ve been a bit preoccupied about the case.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s exactly what I’m complaining about. You’re worried, yet you tell me nothing.”

“I didn’t want to bore you with the case!”

“You bored me by not talking about the case!” Perhaps she was being a bit too harsh but she wanted to know what he’d found out. She was becoming more interested in what he was investigating and didn’t want to be excluded. She wanted to help him—to contribute.

It had been incredibly frustrating writing her profile on Leonardo Pascual that day, hinting at his disappearance and yet not being able to provide any answers as to what had happened to the actor. Since she’d started having a relationship with a private detective or since she’d started writing crime fiction, something had changed in Sol’s brain—and now she needed to chase the answers. Or perhaps she’d always been like that and she was realizing only now. But she somehow craved the fulfillment and closure in solving a puzzle, in deciphering a mystery.

“Last time you got involved in one of my cases, you didn’t have such a great time, remember?” Luke countered.

She was about to protest but recalled her experience in helping Luke and Divya to catch a very sympathetic killer when they were in Los Angeles. At the time it had been emotionally draining. She’d even promised never to get herself mixed up in one of their cases again. Of course, she’d already forgotten about it.

“I’d still like to be involved in this case. If you want me⁠—”