Jasper could tell from Pauls expression that this was the first time hed really registered the idea fully. He seemed to like it.

Okay, he said. That sounds good. I just need a little time to decompress before we do it.

Thats fine, Jasper said. And if you need a little chemical assistance to decompress, I have something upstairs that I can grabdrinks or something heavier.

Thats okay, Paul said. Because of all the training for the movie, I havent touched a thing in six months. I have shirtless scenes. Got to look respectable, right?

Right, Jasper said, though his brain had suddenly fixated on something other than the kind of shape Paul was in.

He flashed back to their phone conversation the night Milly Estrada had died. Paul had said hed taken something to amp up the moment and that hed gotten too excited as a result. That was how he inadvertently broke her neck.

But if he hadnt taken any kind of drug in six months, then hed been lying about being high on Saturday night. And if he wasnt high, that meant hed killed her while he was completely sober. That suggested that it wasnt an accident at all, that hed done it intentionally.

Jasper couldnt imagine why his friend would do such a thing, although he had mentioned something about Milly being his lawyer when he got in trouble once. Was this connected to that?

It occurred to him that hed be better off figuring that out somewhere else, away from the man who had apparently intentionally killed someone with his bare hands. Jaspers own hands werent entirely clean when it came to eliminating people who made his life difficult. But hed never actually done it himself. Even the thought was appalling.

I think Ill go check on getting a car set up for you, he said, standing up quickly.

When he looked over at Paul, he sensed that he had an issue. The actor was staring at him. His eyes were no longer bleary. In fact, they were shockingly alert. His whole body had gone from slumped to stiff. It was then that he knew Jasper had caught his mistake.

You know what, buddy? Paul said, using the buttery lilt so many movie fans had come to love. Why dont you just make the call from here? No point risking someone overhearing you, right?

Jasper felt something rare for him these days: fear. He tried to keep it in check as he responded.

You know, now that I think about it, Im not sure I have the number. I better check with Nancy.

Paul stood up. With both men at their full height, he had three inches on Jasper, not to mention a good twenty-five pounds.

Just give her a call now. Ill wait.