Page 25 of The Perfect Divorce

“You know that’s not who I’m referring to,” he says, clenching his jaw. “I’m talking about Stacy Howard.”

“Who?”

“The woman I slept with.” His words come out in a strained whisper like they’re coated in shame and guilt.

“I didn’t realize it was my job to keep tabs on your mistress.”

“She’s not my mistress.” Bob grits his teeth so hard I can almost hear it.

“My mistake... your whore.” I roll my eyes and return them to my daughter, watching her flip around at one end of the pool and use her feet to push herself off the wall. She glides through the water with grace and speed.

He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Stacy, the woman I was with... she’s missing.”

“That’s unfortunate. Were you looking to hook up again?”

“No!” he practically yells.

His outburst catches the attention of a parent seated down in front. She turns and looks up at us. Bob and I acknowledge her with waves. She smiles casually and faces forward again.

“I got called into the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office today, and they questioned me about her disappearance,” Bob says in a strained voice.

He wants me to react, to be concerned, to be in his corner, but I’m not going to do any of that—because I don’t care what trouble he’s in.

“And what does that have to do with me?” I ask.

“It has everything to do with you, Sarah. You and I both know that, so tell me what you did with her.”

When I don’t answer, he grabs my arm and squeezes it. “Where is she?”

“Let go of me,” I say, trying to pull free from his grip. He refuses to let go, so I thrust my elbow back. Connecting with his jaw, it makes a cracking sound. Bob grimaces and releases my arm.

“Don’t you ever touch me again,” I warn, readjusting myself and scanning the bleachers below us to make sure no one saw.

He rubs a hand against his jaw to expel the pain. “You’re not fooling me. I know exactly who you are, Sarah, and I’m well aware of what you’re capable of.”

“No, you aren’t, Bob. If you were... I think you’d be a little nicer to me.”

He huffs and shakes his head. “So, what’s your plan then? Are you going to frame me for her disappearance? Is she already dead, and I’ve got a murder charge waiting in the wings? Or are you just screwing with me until I go through with the divorce? Which is it, Sarah?”

“It’s none of those. Now, before you continue throwing accusations my way, ask yourself, what do you know about this girl?” I squint, staring at him. “Do you know anything at all?”

He’s quiet for a moment, contemplating, eyes flitting. It’s obvious he doesn’t know a damn thing about this woman.

“Is she a prostitute?”

He answers right away, telling me no.

“What about a drug addict? Criminal? Wild party girl? Is she seeing anyone else?”

Bob doesn’t say a word. He just sits there with a blank expression on his face.

“Exactly. You have no idea who you slept with. You don’t know what she may or may not have been wrapped up in. And how long has she been missing?”

He looks down at his lap and then back at me. “About three days.”

“That’s not long at all. She could be out on a bender. She could have left town. And from what your coworker told me, she’s young too, and young people do dumb things.”

“Stacy told her roommate that she was meeting up with me the night she went missing,” Bob says with a small sigh.

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