Page 7 of For Better or for Ransom

“It does.” She got closer, took her hand to his unshaven jaw. “You know I can write and work from here for a few days, no problem. No need to return to London yet. Want me to stay with you?”

That sounded brilliant. If he couldn’t get back home, at least they’d be together. “You really sure? You don’t mind?”

“The one with London separation anxiety is you, Luca,” she teased. “I can most definitely stay in my hometown for a few more days—with you.”

He smiled at her. Perhaps having to remain in Barcelona a little longer would not be such a terrible thing after all. “Let’s get you those scrambled eggs and meatballs, cara.”

6

Friday, March 15, 2024

Sol

Sol called her editor early the following morning.

“Julie, did you see my email?”

“The one about Leonardo Pascual getting himself lost but saying we can’t write about it because the police warned you against it?”

Julie McQueen was Sol’s favorite editor. Not only was she the only one to employ her at present. She was polite, direct, and hated small talk.

“That one, yes,” Sol said. With a different editor, that same conversation would still be at a preambles: How’s your trip going? Are you feeling okay? What exactly did the police tell you that made you think we cannot publish this story? Julie was all British bluntness, which happened to go perfectly well with Sol’s Spanish bluntness.

“Don’t worry, hon. The news has already leaked. We’re publishing something but linking to another article from a competing outlet,” Julie said.

Sol was standing in the middle of her open-concept kitchen trying to make herself breakfast, but she stopped. She needed to concentrate on this conversation.

“Sorry we got scooped—I just don’t want any more trouble with law enforcement. But I can have the profile about Leonardo ready for you today. Not sure how to approach the subject of his disappearance though.”

“We’ll just say what we know: that you talked to him yesterday and he went missing a few hours later. But we’ll say it better. Let’s not make it sound as if you’re involved. You’re not involved, right?”

“What? In his disappearance? Of course not.”

“Sorry, hon. I had to ask. Legal insisted.”

“Oh gods! Should I get a lawyer?” Again!

“You know me, I think it’s better to always be prepared. Just in case.”

Sol sighed. “I’ll get a lawyer.” She was sure some family member or other could recommend someone competent and trustworthy—or even do it themselves. She made a note to ask her mom and her favorite cousin.

“Brilliant. Anything else?”

Luke walked into the living room from the bedroom then, wearing just low-hanging pajama pants and bedroom hair. Sol bit her lower lip. He looked yummy.

“You still there, hon?” Julie’s voice came out a little higher.

Sol shook her head and returned to the reality of her work phone call. “Sorry! I was distracted. What did you say?”

“Is there anything else you need to tell me?” The editor enunciated the sentence with a pause after each word.

“Only that I’ll probably stay in Barcelona for a couple of days. See if I can figure something else about what happened to Leonardo.”

“That sounds like a sensible idea.” There was no higher praise from executive editor Julie McQueen than being called sensible.

“Will you let me know if you need me back in London?”

“Of course. Right, speak soon.”