Vivienne had avoided his eyes, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. 'I did. I brought it with me — it's with Julie.'
He had hesitated, his brows drawing together. He remembered clearly — no bag, no Julie. Still, before he could say more, she had already turned away.
'I'll be quick,' she had said over her shoulder, disappearing back into the bright, noisy room.
He remembered how, when Vivienne hadn't returned even after several minutes, he had gone back inside to look for her. The lights in the hall had seemed brighter then — almost painfully bright — and the music, loud enough to make his head throb. He had searched the crowd, calling her name once or twice, but no one seemed to have seen her. A strange sense of dread had gripped his stomach as he walked toward the quieter side of the villa.
That was when he had found them.
