Page 96 of Blue Moon

“Of course. Who else would it be?”

Like, someone I actually wanted to speak with?

“What do you want?”

“Okay, so two things. One, I’m making chocolate fudge brownies, and Ryder said you’re staying at the Nile Palace, so you need to tell the people at the front desk to let me past because I’m not leaving them lying around for some unscrupulous employee to eat.”

“Right now, all I want is Advil.”

“You’re sick?”

“Apparently, I drank too much liquor.”

“Then I’ll bring milk thistle. You need to take care of your liver.”

Why was everyone so worried about my liver today? “What’s the second thing?”

“Oh, yes. Two, the landscaper found your agent’s body this morning. Sin says gunshots were mentioned, and also a head injury, but the autopsy isn’t even scheduled yet, so nobody knows for sure. I’m sorry for your loss.”

What?

“Back up, back up. You’re talking about Julius?”

“Julius Whitlow. The story made the local news, but not national. If you turn on the TV, you might see all the cops outside his home.”

I didn’t even know where he lived, not exactly, mainly because I didn’t care. Someplace in the west of the city? I was almost sure Mom had mentioned Summerlin at one point.

“They found his body? Like, he’s dead?”

“Flat out on his kitchen floor. The door to the terrace was unlocked, and it looks as though someone snuck up on him.”

This…this was unbelievable. Julius was gone? No more? He hadn’t been in touch since last week, when he’d sent over an offer from Taliska Records for an extra million, which I hadn’t dignified with a response because it still included his services for five more years.

Who would have killed Julius?

My first thought was dark and ugly, and I wished I was able to discount it, but I couldn’t.

Ryder.

“Do you know when he died?”

“No, but I hear the body wasn’t in great shape, so probably a few days ago.”

Which meant I still couldn’t rule out Ryder. Every morning, he disappeared to go to the gym or do work stuff, but he could have made a detour to Summerlin. I should have gasped in horror, but honestly, I just hoped he’d been freaking careful.

“Well, thanks for letting me know.”

I should send flowers to the funeral, shouldn’t I? For appearances’ sake.

“Don’t forget to speak with the front desk.”

I actually could use a brownie to celebrate. “I won’t, I promise.”

My next call was to Ryder, and he must have been holding his phone because he picked up on the first ring.

“Moon?”

“Sorry, sorry, I fell asleep. Luis and Venus decided we should go out for dinner, but I knew you’d hate that, so we got room service in my suite instead. And cocktails. So many cocktails. Then Aisha found the bar, and I don’t remember much at all after that. Is everything okay in Georgia?”

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