Page 47 of Scripted for Love and Poison
“The problem is that there we don’t argue,” Sol said, her tone defeated. “We simply fume at each other in silent frustration. Plus, driving back to Los Feliz should be a breeze from here, not a full whole hour!”
“You wish, cara, you wish.”
25
“Ithink Sol just forwarded me the list of critics Claudia made,” Luke told Divya as he drove them to Travis Wise’s apartment in Westwood the morning after the party at the Roosevelt Hotel. He handed Divya his phone so she could take a look at it.
Divya skimmed the list, scrolling over it a couple of times. “Simon Smith’s name is there, as well as Jason Zit. But no other name sounds familiar.”
“Can we trust the list, considering Claudia could have a reason to get rid of Simon herself?” Luke asked.
“We’re still working under the assumption she never read the book, right? Not that many people did, really,” Divya continued. “But we should definitelynotforget about her.”
“Going back to the list, why did Claudia include the name of an editor there? Jason was an editor, not a critic.”
“Claudia made a note next to Jason’s name: ‘Interested in being a critic again. He thinks his talents aren’t fully used as an editor.’ It’s such a pity Jason Zit is dead!” Divya sighed.
Luke’s gaze flicked to Divya’s face briefly before returning to the road. “I’m afraid to ask, but why?”
“Because he’s perfect as the person behind Simon Smith’s disappearance. Isn’t he? He hated him, and apparently he wanted to do his job. Probably thought he’d do it better. But his death doesn’t look like a suicide by chocolates to me ...”
“Unless ...” Luke said, because he liked where Divya’s thought process was bringing them.
“We’re dealing with two different cases,” Divya finished his thoughts. “One person who made Simon disappear—and right now that person looks like Jason Zit. And a different one who poisoned Travis by mistake and then killed Jason. It’s unfortunate that we can’t talk to Jason and test our theory about him getting rid of Simon.”
“Most definitely unfortunate, especially for him, as he’s dead,” said Luke, amused.
“Alright, alright, I get it. But can you really blame me for wanting to sort this mess out? The sooner we’re done with the case?—”
“—the sooner we go back home.” Luke was already daydreaming about the first thing he was going to do when they were back in London. He’d probably have the strongest English breakfast tea, followed by a long walk by the Thames.
“No, mate. The sooner we get paid,” Divya corrected him, bringing him back to reality.
“Is it that bad?” Luke asked.
“We’ve got no office, so at least there’s no rent to worry about there. But unless we get some cash in soon, I’ve no idea how I’m gonna pay the rent on my crap little studio flat.”
“I’ve been so wrapped up in the case and being awaythat I’ve completely forgotten about the bills and rent. But I’m skint too,” Luke said, and he marveled at how he’d managed to almost forget about it. It was as if the change of context and being away from home had made him forget about many details of his daily routine. Was that why people loved traveling so much, perhaps? Because it facilitated getting away and forgetting everyday life problems?
“Can you shack up with Sol? In a more permanent way, I mean. I know you sleep there almost every night,” Divya said.
“I’ve been thinking about asking her to officially move in together but don’t know how she’s going to take it. Everything was so good between the two of us before coming here that I almost want to keep it just the way it was. And I don’t want her thinking I’m only bringing the subject of moving in together up because I can’t pay the rent,” Luke reasoned.
“So we better solve this case—or cases—soon.”
···
Luke liked Travis Wise. He was a nice man. Sol had told Luke only good things about her former colleague and all the ways in which he’d mentored her when they’d worked together. And the poor man had been poisoned just a few days before! But the detective resented Travis a bit right now, nonetheless.
The critic had been kind enough to see Luke and Divya at his apartment in Westwood to answer their questions. He’d even offered them tea, since the detectives were British and he thought that was the appropriate treatment. But was it necessary to serve a lukewarm cup of water heated in the microwave with a powdery tea bag next to it? Divya gave Luke a glare meant as a warning: He’d better dunk that teabag in the water and drink whatever light-brown concoction came out of it. They needed Travis to talk to them.
The thing was, the journalist was eager to like Divya and Luke from the start, and he was eager to talk to them.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t see you before,” Travis said. “I wasn’t ready to receive anyone. I looked awful!”
The man was wearing a silk, short dressing gown over elegant wide-legged trousers, all in navy blue. His curly black-and-white hair was perfectly cropped. Luke doubted Travis Wise had looked bad a day in his life. But the detective also understood that the journalist had just undergone a very dramatic experience and hadn’t been ready to talk—until then.
“I’m so glad you folks are looking into this,” he said while his trembling fingers stirred the milk in his tea. “But I’m afraid I’m not sure I’ll be able to be of much help.”
