Page 28 of For Better or for Ransom

Worried? Luke doubted it. Leonardo’s disappearance had resulted in Sandro’s career taking off after all. “Of course,” Luke simply told the policewoman.

17

Sol

Any chance you’d like to join us to interview Palau, cara?” Luke had called Sol after wrapping up the breakfast with Miquel. He was making her an unexpected proposal.

“Do you need me there?” She was practically convinced that, if not perfect, Sandro’s English would be good enough to talk to the detectives.

“Only if you want to be here…”

Why did Luke sound so mellow and complacent all of a sudden? He was mostly in a bad mood when they were away from his hometown for extended periods of time. She tended to find his outbursts extremely sexy. Of course, she liked him happy too. And she appreciated the fact that he was making the investigation available to her, not only because he liked working with her as a consultant but so that she could do some research for her writing.

“I mean, I’ve just started writing…” She’d only picked up the phone because it’d been Luke calling.

His voice dropped, rough and sexy. “I won’t bother you then. Happy writing. Ci vediamo dopo, cara.”

Whatever was going on with Luke, she was all for it.

Even if Leonardo disappearing had been a big bump in the road, to put it mildly, the unexpected development was helping Sol process some matters she hadn’t fully realized until then—like her need to keep writing mystery. But could the whole messy Leonardo affair also be contributing to her getting to know yet another facet of her lover?

Luke

“She’s writing,” Luke told Divya after hanging up the phone with Sol.

“So she’s not coming?” the Mancunian asked him as they both made their way to Sandro’s address.

“She isn’t.” He was well aware that his head was still in the clouds, not concentrating on the case but thinking of everything he’d need to do to be able to secure the title. Luke had to get his head straight and try to keep his personal life in check though. They still needed to find Leonardo, the actor could be in danger for all they knew—regardless of the tale Moon had told them the previous evening. And despite the fact that no ransom had been demanded—yet.

As the wide, straight streets from Eixample converged in the narrow sinuous ones from Raval, Luke checked again the number in the handwritten address Officer Roig had given them.

“I think we’re here.”

“Quirky, interesting neighborhood,” Divya offered, as Sandro lived in one of the narrow, modest, modernist-era buildings in carrer del Doctor Dou.

“Ask Sol to give you the guided tour. She loves this area.”

Divya’s eyebrows arched. “But you don’t share the love?”

“The streets are narrow, there’s always too many people, it smells like piss, and I walk with one hand inside my pocket because I fear my phone or wallet may dematerialize otherwise. But it has its charms…I suppose.”

“You suppose?” Divya was having so much fun at his expense. Her face was shining with glee.

“I’m racking my brain and trying to figure out all the ways in which I can be husband material right now,” he admitted.

“So if Sol likes a packed, smelly neighborhood…”

“I find it charming and try to understand why.” He buzzed on Palau’s flat door number on the building intercom.

···

“No one told me you wanted to talk to me,” Sandro Palau said for the third time. “If I’d known there was a private investigation I'd have made myself available! I’m worried sick about Leo!” Sandro said the name the Spanish way, LAY-oh.

Luke and Divya had knocked on Sandro’s door five minutes before and explained who they were and had been let in automatically by a nervous-looking actor. The small flat boasted Catalan vaulted ceilings and tall, narrow French doors opening onto a small balcony. The place was decorated in a chic yet completely bohemian style.

“We’ve talked to several people at the Casanova theater,” Luke explained. He and Divya sat in a comfortable two-seater futon while Palau fronted them on a reading chair in red velvet. “They all told us you were swamped with media appearances.”

“And I have been!” His features were pained. “But I’d have made time. So who hired you? Is it Leo’s parents?”