Page 37 of Scripted for Love and Poison
“Is the client not paying for everyone’s hotels?” Divya asked.
“They are, within moderation,” Luke explained. “But apparently, for some reason Icannotunderstand, everyone is in this city, and hotel vacancies are extremely rare. We’ve been trying to find a room for days. We finally did, and then a death was thrown into the case, and it was clear that you were needed here.”
“And we really didn’t think it was nice to make you suffer my friends’ mattress,” Sol explained. “Even if it comes with dinner included, and Geoff’s cooking really is exceptional.”
“So you keep the hotel room while we keep bunking in Los Feliz. Hopefully we’ll find something tomorrow,” Luke said, and he felt exhausted.
“I reckon that’s why this one’s in such a foul mood, then,” Divya said, referring to Luke.
“Not entirely,” Sol said. “He’s also mad at me.”
“I’m not cross with you,” Luke said, but it didn’t sound like he wasn’t.
“Heismad at me. I went to talk to Jason Zit without letting him know, and then Jason turned up dead. And at the same time, Luke found out the poisoned food at the party had been intended for Jason all along.”
Luke hoped his romantic partner had really grasped the dangers of that particular case and quit about his supposed crossness with her. “Oh, and now I’ve been instructed by the police not to leave the country.”
“He’s definitely mad at you,” Divya agreed with Sol. “Don’t worry, Luke. I’m here, mate. We’re going to solve this thing in no time and be gone before you’re even homesick.”
“It’s already late for that,” Luke grumbled.
“Aye, I thought you’d say that,” said Divya. “Still, we’ll be out of here in no time. Especially with Sol helping us.”
“Sol isnothelping us. She’s only here because she wanted to see you,” clarified Luke.
“His overall reasoning is that I’ve done enough helping,” Sol explained.
“Hereallyis cross,” Divya said.
“Yes, but he likes having company when he drives. So he may let me tag along if I promise to chat him up,” Sol concluded.
21
“Where did you leave Sol?” Divya asked Luke the following morning as he dropped by her hotel so the two of them could talk about the case.
“She dropped me off and headed to some Pilates class, if she’s to be believed,” he explained.
“Ouch! LA is not proving you well. You sound grumpy. You’re never grumpy,” Divya told him.
“Try being away from home without an end in sight, and then we can talk about grumpiness. Let’s not make this about me, though. We need to talk about the investigation.”
“Mind if we do it while we walk?”
“There’s no walking here,” Luke said, only slightly exasperated. The sooner Divya understood certain things about Los Angeles, the better.
“Don’t be daft, mate. You just need to know where to go. Sol sent me a ton of recommendations about the area last night.” Divya checked the maps app on her cell phone. “We’re very close to Playa del Rey.”
“Not another beach!” he protested.
“Since when do you have an objection against beaches?”
“Since now?”
“Ah, it’s an objection againstCaliforniabeaches then,” Divya pressed.
“Why is everyone so insistent on me enjoying my stay here? This is a work trip!”
“I was going to tease you, saying that it started as a pleasure trip, but I feel that would be rubbing salt in the wound,” Divya said while she navigated them toward the ocean.
