Page 17 of Take Your Breath Away

Andrew: I didn’t mean it like that. I have no idea. I’m praying to God she’s okay, that there’s got to be some kind of explanation for this.

Detective Hardy: And what about the flour?

Andrew: The what?

Detective Hardy: Did you notice any flour, baking flour, on the floor in the kitchen?

Andrew: She told me she’d done that, to see if there were mouse tracks in the morning.

Detective Hardy: Did you see the flour on the floor when you got home?

Andrew: No.

Detective Hardy: You didn’t vacuum it up?

Andrew: No.

Detective Hardy: And you had no further chats with your wife after that Saturday night call?

Andrew: No. That … that was the last time … I talked to Brie.

Detective Hardy: Do you need a minute, Mr. Mason?

Andrew: (unintelligible)

Detective Hardy: Mr. Mason?

Andrew: I’m okay.

Detective Hardy: Do you want a glass of water?

Andrew: No. Yes. Thank you.

Detective Hardy: So, you called her cell, searched the house. What did you do after that?

Andrew: I drove around the neighborhood, hoping I might spot her. I called one of her friends, Rosie Holcomb. Didn’t want to panic her, just asked if Brie was there, and she said no. Not long after that I called you. Well, the police. I called the police, I think, around five.

Detective Hardy: That’s right. The call came in at five-oh-three. You look very tired, Mr. Mason.

Andrew: I haven’t slept for two days.

Detective Hardy: Do you think it’s possible your wife might have decided to just up and leave?

Andrew: No. That makes no sense.

Detective Hardy: Even though you’d been having some troubles in your marriage?

Andrew: I’m sorry, what?

Detective Hardy: Some troubles. Thinking about a separation? A possible divorce?

Andrew: Where the hell are you getting that from?

Detective Hardy: So you’re saying no problems on that front.

Andrew: We’d been through a rough patch, but we’d moved on from that. Did somebody tell you something?

Detective Hardy: A rough patch?

---