Catherine's POV
"She's gone," I whispered, the words feeling like shards of glass in my throat. "Julian, Richard let her leave? Something is wrong somewhere. You have to find out what Richard discussed with her."
Julian didn't move. His jaw was set so tight I thought I could hear his teeth grinding. "It's a waste of time, Catherine. Richard doesn't 'discuss' things. I think he's made a deal with her or something of that sort and he certainly isn't going to tell me the terms of the deal."
"You don't know that," I argued in a hushed tone, stepping closer to him. I hated the way my hands were trembling, so I tucked them into the pockets of my slacks. "He's on a high right now. If you go to him now, while he's still feeling smug, he might spill the tea."
Julian finally looked at me with hos dark eyes. "Listen to me. I know him well, Catherine. He'll tell me to go play with my books and leave the grown-up business to him."
