Page 2 of Troubled Water
“For what it’s worth?”
“Yes?”
“I think my response may address the question you may have been planning to ask. The ‘What significant life events have influenced your personal development?’ one,” I offer. Anything to get this circus act over and done with.
“Not. Even. Close. Sir.” Fox glares down at me. Her eyes dip to the base of my throat as if she’s measuring it to wrap her fingers around and squeeze. She spins away on her heel to regain her composure.I glance at the clock on the wall behind her. We’re a mere six minutes in, and I’ve already pissed people off.Impressive.
This must be a new record of some kind.
Sadistically, I hope the person behind the glass is keeping score because as much as I annoy the shit out of him on a regular basis, it ain’t nothing on what’s going to happen in this room today. I drawl, “Do you want to ask me my favorite color? Did I have any stuffed animals growing up? What my favorite childhood beach was?”
Fox taps her nails against the desk, “Actually, now that you mention it…”
I get as comfortable as I can, with a smirk on my face and ready to answer whatever question they throw at me.
“What is your wife’s name?”
“Bethany.”
“Where did Bethany grow up?”
“Kensington, Texas.”
“What about you?”
“I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia.”
“Good parents?”
“Great ones. I miss them every day. The car crash that took their life was a tragedy.”
“Good influence?”
“Yes.”
“Good schools?”
“Excellent. Top of my class in high school, I attended the Naval Academy before graduating and being assigned to BUD/S on Coronado Island.”
“Popular.”
“Depends on who you ask,” I answer honestly.
Fox snickers. “Fair response. So, overall, would you say you had a good childhood?”
“Yes.”
“What about your wife?”
Fuck.
2
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO—AGE 18
“Idon’t want to go on living like this!” my father shouts, tears dripping down his face.
He’s not the only one shedding them. I’ve reached for the tissue box so many times I’ve lost count as my father relives the horrifying moments of watching my mother die before being brutally tortured himself during the anniversary cruise he and my mother took to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
