Page 18 of Airborne
“Can’t you tell me if she’s all right? I am her husband.” Chad punched the last few words. The interview had turned into an interrogation.
“If you’re so concerned about your wife, why did we find you living at a separate address?”
“My personal life is my business.” Chad bolted from his chair. “I must talk to Heather now.”
“Sit down, Dr. Lawrence.” Rivera lifted his chin.
“Not until I talk to Heather.”
“Sir, the best way to help your wife is to cooperate with us.”
Fury rose from the soles of his feet. But what could he do? Demands put a dent in his innocence. He slowly lowered to the chair. “We discussed a trip months ago, but I told her to cancel it.”
“What was your reason?”
“I saw a separation in our future.”
“Do you have access to her online calendar?”
“I do, but I haven’t checked it lately. Obviously.”
“Isn’t it true you filed for divorce, and she refused to sign the papers?”
“Agent Rivera, I don’t see what my private life has to do with the current crisis.”
“How did you react to her refusal?”
How did he answer when he owned his decision? “I wanted to know why she insisted we stay married.”
“What was her reasoning?”
“You mean after her profession of love and how we shouldn’t give up?”
“Yes.”
“It’s complicated.”
“How?”
“Are you married?”
“I am, and so is Agent Tobias. But we’re asking the questions here.”
“Then you know marriage has its rough spots,” Chad said. “Mine has more than most, and it’s time to call it quits.”
“What happened?”
“We changed.”
“How so?”
“Change is a part of the human cycle. We grow with it or stagnate and die. In our case, our marriage didn’t survive. Look, if either of you have been married more than a year, then you understand people are complex. It’s impossible to provide a single answer to why I no longer want to live with Heather.” He sighed. “I simply want out.”
“Your reasons are important to our interview.”
“I have no idea what is going on here, but I’ll play. I got tired of the nagging.”
“About what?”
