Page 57 of For Better or for Ransom

Sol had never understood what it was that he had against Leonardo Pascual.

Divya simply dismissed Luke and continued: “So he checks himself in the mirror, realizes he has a big show coming up that could decide his future, and says: ‘You know what? Let me take a couple of days.’”

Sol liked Divya’s version of the events. There were still a few threads missing. “But it’s been more than a couple of days.”

“Something could have happened wherever he went. Maybe he met someone. Maybe he was recognized and kidnapped there—or run over by a freaking bus after stepping on dog shit, like Isabel suggested. Only not here, in Barcelona, but somewhere else Leonardo decided to flee to and where we haven’t been looking,” Divya continued. “So, knowing what we know about him after talking to so many people in his life, where would Leonardo go if he could take a few days off?”

Luke

“The beach,” Luke said.

He was partially joking. But there had been so many mentions of beaches and islands those past few days, that he couldn’t avoid making the comment. Perhaps it was that they were now in March, and even he was feeling the need for some sun and warmth. He longed for summer, even. But looking back at the last few days, he recalled a few details that had brought him to utter that response. Moon had told Luke and Divya that they were convinced the actor would show up on an island, fresh-faced and tanned. Sandro had said if Leonardo wanted to disappear he’d choose a beach on some island. Even Bobby had asked the detectives if they’d found Leonardo sunbathing on some beach.

“Oh my god!” Sol said. She stood up, brought her hand to her mouth to cover it. Her eyes were about to bulge out of their orbits. “I know where Leonardo is!”

31

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Sol

If there was something even more precarious than being a journalist in the era of AI and shrinking newsrooms, it had to be being a private detective. The previous night Sol had told Divya and Luke her theory about where Leonardo Pascual must have been hiding all that time. They’d listened, asked her questions, requested to know what exactly had brought her to reach that conclusion. She’d shown them the additional research she’d been doing. The PIs had conferred with one another, in that almost wordless way the partner detectives did. Sol had been sure they would dismiss her idea—but they hadn’t. They’d agreed Sol's find probably was where Leonardo was at the moment.

And yet, they were all still in Barcelona the following day, with no plans to travel anytime soon. After being briefed by Luke and Divya about their latest discovery, the executives at Meshflixx hadn’t thought necessary to send the detectives in charge of the investigation in search of Leonardo. They said they didn’t have enough evidence to justify the expense.

Sol had the feeling that Luke and Divya were about to lose the case, unless they stumbled on some undeniable proof when it came to Sol’s theory—only then would their travel be approved.

She was musing on all those things from her kitchen counter, still half-asleep, while having breakfast in silence by Luke’s side. His cell phone started ringing.

“It’s Jasper Fairbanks,” Luke said. “Want me to take it in the bedroom?”

“What? No, why?” she protested.

“You look sleepy.”

He was so attentive. Still, it annoyed her.

“You’re sleepy too. Now, answer the phone!” she barked.

“Hello, Jasper?” Luke answered, and put it on speaker.

“Morning from the West Coast, detective,” The Single Dad Situation’s showrunner said.

Sol left the kitchen counter and rummaged through Luke’s stuff until she found one of his notebooks. She brought it back to the counter and made a note for Luke:

It’s past midnight in Los Angeles.

Luke read it, nodded, and gave her his most charm-laden grin.

“Morning. Or should I say, good night, isn’t it a bit late there?”

“I could hardly sleep when I still don’t have a leading man and Meshflixx is threatening to scrap the show unless Leonardo fucking reappears!” There was irritation in his words.

Sol could see Luke thinking. Was he going to say what she thought he was going to say?

“You know, we actually found him.” He did.

“You found him?” By the sound of his words, Jasper was surprised.