Storm
I have to fly this afternoon. Can we not mention snakes on planes?
Me
Does anyone have anything constructive to add? We need to find Luna Maara so I can get the hell away from the Nile Palace.
Echo
Give me five mins.
Spider
Is that long enough for a quickie with the Italian stallion?
Boy, this middle-finger emoji was getting a lot of use today.
Jezebel
Don’t you mean the baloney pony?
Me
Hello? We’re in the middle of a missing persons investigation?
Dusk
Don’t say you haven’t thought about it.
Okay, I had, but only for half a second. Getting naked with Romeo Serafini—again—was a bad idea.
Me
If we’re discussing our sex lives, I note you didn’t volunteer to call Marc di Gregorio when Emmy Black was looking for a celeb to borrow.
Dusk
I haven’t spoken with Marc in almost a DECADE. Aren’t we meant to be looking for Luna?
Me
Yes, exactly. Any news on the reporters?
Dusk
Connor Lowes just “sneaked” into the Black Diamond with a woman who isn’t his wife. We tipped off the paparazzi.
“We” being Priest and Dusk. Priest had been here earlier, but now the two of them were handling the paparazzi angle while Blackwood helped with the hotel search. I’d spoken with the staff. The guard from the twelfth floor swore blind he hadn’t left his post or lost concentration, and the housekeeper said Luna hadn’t shown any signs of being upset after she ate breakfast—three croissants and a pot of coffee. The girl had an appetite. Both members of staff had been nervous. Fearful of losing their jobs, or something more? Blackwood was running the list of names from the hotel, with a focus on those working in the control centre.
Me
Who is she?
Sin
A starlet from his next movie. Free publicity. The Blackwood team sent a list of the photographers that have been following Luna, so we’re cross-referencing and eliminating as the assholes show up.
Me