One more thing, Colin appears to believe they're starting a new life together. They've been looking at the apartment as a couple. Does he know she's married? I can't establish exactly what she's told him. I can tell you they've been acting like partners planning a move.
I ended the call and looked around the house. Julia had spent months arranging her departure while continuing to eat dinner with me, sleep beside me, and talk about our future as if nothing had changed. She probably expected to return with her new arrangements in place and dictate the terms of our separation. She had made one serious mistake. She assumed I'd sit here waiting for her to decide what happened next.
By then, everything was in place. Patricia had the records. Liam had finished his investigation and I had documented the financial transfers I could trace. I didn't know exactly when Julia planned to return. But when she did, she wouldn't be walking into the conversation she'd rehearsed.
She'd be walking into mine. Saturday evening, 5 days after Julia drove away, I heard her car pull into the driveway. I was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of me. Beside it sat a thick folder containing the divorce papers, bank records, and Liam's completed investigative report. I'd spent the afternoon reviewing everything with Patricia.
The divorce filing had been submitted, and she had confirmed that the process was officially underway. I wasn't planning to tell Julia about every legal step I'd taken. I wanted her to understand that her decisions had consequences and that I wasn't going to negotiate the truth. The front door opened. Julia walked in carrying her suitcase.
She wore a light jacket and looked tired, but not particularly worried. She set the suitcase beside the stairs, took one look at me, and sighed. "You're still up. I was waiting for you." She glanced at the clock.
"Well, I'm home now. Where have you been for 5 days?" Her expression hardened immediately. "Jeremy, I really don't want to do this tonight. Then answer the question.
Where were you?" She dropped her keys onto the counter. "I told you I had work. You told me you were attending a conference in San Francisco. Your office couldn't confirm you were there, and the hotel you gave me had no record of you checking in.
For the first time, she looked genuinely uncomfortable. Why were you calling my office? Because my wife disappeared without a word. I didn't disappear. I needed some time away.
5 days without one phone call. She crossed her arms. I was dealing with things. I didn't want to come home and have another argument. What things, Julia?
And why were you staying in a hotel with Colin Price? Her arms fell to her sides. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then her face changed. The discomfort turned into anger, as if she had decided that attacking me was better than answering my questions.
You had me followed? I asked you a question. That's unbelievable. You actually hired someone to spy on me. I hired a professional to establish facts.