Catharine & Edward by Marianne Knightly Page B

were brought up.
    “This is the headquarters for the Vallerian Star . I should say it was the headquarters because last night there was an explosion.”
    Edward didn’t even have to turn to know Catharine’s eyes were on him.
    “It’s true Bash broke in last night, but we didn’t cause it. Bash was actually caught in the blast when it went off; it’s how he became injured. He got knocked back and lost consciousness for a few minutes, so didn’t see who may have set it. Lucky this was his final stop last night, or he wouldn’t have gotten the intel we found at another location.
    “As for the explosion itself, prelim reports say faulty wiring, but my gut says something else. This corner of the building,” Marcello pointed, “was where the editor, Vinnie’s, office was located and it received the greatest damage. We believe this was where the explosion was centered. Vinnie’s safe was damaged, and none of the items he said were inside have been recovered.”
    Another tap of the screen. “This is Vinnie’s house. We broke in there, too, while Vinnie was out. Another safe, which we did crack open, was empty.”
    A swipe across the screen. “This is our favorite socialite Muffy’s house. Muffy was not alone when my man went to visit. She was, let’s just say, entertaining Vinnie along with two other gentlemen, both of them quite elderly.” Varying degrees of disgust flitted across the faces in the room. “I’ll spare you the details here, but my man managed to break in, even with all that going on. This time, we actually found something useful. Bash? Why don’t you take over from here?”
    Edward stepped forward and swiped the screen, bringing up a set of photos inside Muffy’s house. “Yes, Sir. I found several disturbing items at the Kori house. As you can see, the house itself is quite extensive. Her father, Sir Walter Kori, purchased it for her and, while the deed is in her name, Sir Kori is fiscally responsible for its upkeep to this day. The only reason I mention this is because Sir Kori is known for his privacy. The RPS investigated him some time ago for an unrelated issue and we discovered that he had secret rooms built in all his homes. Not just panic rooms, which we’d expect, but rooms completely hidden from all but him and likely Muffy. And now us.”
    Edward tapped on a photo onscreen. “I was able to locate and break into this room while the occupants were otherwise engaged. These are some stills from the camera I wore. You should prepare yourselves before seeing this.”
    “We won’t have nightmares, will we?” Cat asked him. Edward knew that she, in particular would bear the worst of it, but there was no choice.
    Gabriel, sitting next to Cat, squeezed her shoulder. “It will be difficult to see these, my child, particularly for you. As I’ve already seen them, I know of what I speak. If I thought shielding you from this would help you, I would. We’ve just discussed it, however, and we think it’s best if you stay. If you feel the need to leave the room, either now or when you see the photos, none of us would ever think less of you. Do you understand?”
    Cat tentatively nodded.
    “Good. Go ahead, Agent Bashiera.”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.” Edward swiped across the screen and brought up a series of images, each more disturbing than the last. Edward’s eyes were on Catharine.
    “Oh my God,” she whispered, her voice heard even over the gasps in the room.
    Edward had reacted differently when he’d stepped foot into that room: his blood had boiled and his hands had shaken with a need for vengeance.
    It was the same reaction he saw in Gabriel, Marcello, and Alexander’s eyes when they’d seen them a short time ago.
    It was now becoming the reaction of everyone in the room, except for Catharine, who focused on the still images with fear.
    Each still was a view of the hidden room.
    A room that was plastered with pictures of his Catharine.
    Images of her on official royal visits,