Page 76 of Spring L.A.W.
“That’s because I know you’re calling with an assignment, and I’m not turning on the video unless you promise I won’t have to take this one.”
Joell groaned dramatically. “What? Can’t I call my friends without it meaning work?”
Silence.
Joell sighed. “Fine. Yes, it’s an assignment.”
Magda appeared on the screen a moment later, lounging by a pool, looking smug. “Thought so,” she said.
Joell grinned. “You may change your mind once you hear what it is.”
Victoria leaned closer to her camera. “We’re listening.”
Magda shook her head. “I’m not. I already said I’m off duty.”
Crowe licked donut crumbs from around his mouth.Probably a wise decision.
Joell clasped her hands. “As you know, one of the largest romance conventions in the world is taking place this weekend in Manhattan.”
Victoria tilted her head. “Is that why the assignment was fielded to us? Because we write romance?”
“Partly,” Joell said. “But here’s the real problem.” She leaned closer to the screen. “Eight top male models have been kidnapped.”
The room went silent.
Crowe’s ears perked up.
“It’s our job to get them back,” Joell continued. “All except Magda, apparently. She negotiated early retirement.”
Magda smirked. “Bugger. Male models?” She groaned. “Double bugger.”
Joell laughed.
“Okay, we don’t know who took them or why, but they all have one thing in common.”
“What’s that?” Victoria asked.
“They’re all represented by the same agent.”
“Who?” Sahara asked from her screen.
“Stan Gold.”
Victoria gasped. “These are Gold’s guys?”
Joell nodded. “He’s desperate to get them back before the Model of the Year contest. Apparently, they’re all contenders. And his agency is paying usverywell.”
Sahara leaned forward.
“Could this be sabotage by a competing agency?”
“Possibly,” Joell said. “Before we jump to conclusions, I’m going to run a locator spell.”
Sahara nodded. “While you do that, I’ll start digging into the models online. I’m still in Egypt, but I can work remotely.”
“Perfect,” Joell said.
Victoria folded her arms. “What do we know about the models themselves?”
