CHAPTER 8-4
592 Words
“What can I do for you?” Bohannon asked after he had followed Miquel to the backyard.
“There is something strange going on with her.” Miquel nodded his head sideways toward the house.
“You mean your wife?”
“Yes. But that woman is not my wife. She looks like my wife, but she certainly doesn’t act like her.”
“What do you mean?”
Miquel looked over his shoulder at the house. “My wife is very quiet, not opinionated or outspoken. This one talks all the time, for both of us. She says what she thinks, and she says what I think, even before I can.”
“You mean she tries to tell you what to think. There are some wives who do that, right?”
“No. I know it’s crazy, but she knows. When I wake up in the morning, she knows what I dreamed. When I have a new idea or have read something interesting, she tells me before I tell her.”
“Mr. Gonzales—”
“I am not lying. She knows what I’m thinking.”
“Okay,” Bohannon said, trying to keep doubt out of his voice.
“I can prove it to you,” Miguel said. “She’s going to get mad at me for doing this, but it’s the only way to show you. Take out your driver’s license.”
“What?”
“Let me see your driver’s license.”
Bohannon shook his head but still reached for his wallet. “Okay, but I’m not sure what this has to do with anything.” He pulled out the card and held it up to Miquel.
Miquel stared at it and said, “Two, four, eight, two, nine, nine, seven.” He closed his eyes and repeated it. “Okay, let’s go inside.”
Bohannon followed him into the back door. In the living room, Suter nodded as Marisol praised the rescuers who had pulled her out of the river. She stopped when they sat down.
“Why would Miquel care what your driver’s license number is?” she said to Bohannon.
Suter raised an eyebrow.
“Do you know the number?” Bohannon asked.
“Two, four, eight, two, nine, nine, seven. Why?”
Bohannon looked at Suter. “Did she leave or use her cell phone or anything in the last five minutes or so?”
“No.” Suter narrowed his eyes.
“Mrs. Gonzales, do you think you can read your husband’s mind?”
“Of course, he’s my husband.”
“Can you read my mind?”
“Of course not. I’m bonded to Miquel, not you.”
“Okay, thank you.” Bohannon nodded to Suter. “Sorry to interrupt. I’ve got to return a call.”
“We’re almost done here,” Suter said. “I’ll meet you out front.” He looked like he wanted to get out of there.
Miquel had returned to the backyard and walked around to the front this time to talk to Bohannon. “See? See what she does? That is not my wife.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Mr. Gonzales. Maybe you should take your wife in for an examination or counseling. You don’t really think she can read your mind, do you?”
“This has been going on for five days. I haven’t had a private thought since she got back.”
“Even if it’s true, there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s not against the law to read your husband’s mind.”
“What if someone took my wife? That’s against the law. She is not my wife,” Miquel said, jabbing a finger in the direction of the house. “If someone took my wife, that is a crime, right?”
“Mr. Gonzales, get some counseling for your wife. She has been through a lot. Maybe go with her. Surviving a plane crash is a terrifying, life-altering event.”
*
* * * *
Five minutes later Suter stepped out the front door and thanked Mrs. Gonzales. She leaned out to wave good-bye to Bohannon. Her dejected husband had already made his way to the backyard.
Bohannon pointed his key fob at his car and unlocked it.
“Let’s call it a day. Can you drop me off at my hotel? We’ll regroup tomorrow morning out at the hangar. Pirelli texted me a while ago and says you’ve been approved to work with us for the duration. He wants to read you into some more details about the case.”
“Details? What kind of details?”
- Writer
