Gavin laughed and patted Perry on the back. The interrogation was going just as he wanted it to.

“But your music isn’t paying the bills though? Right?” Warren asked. He stood up from the table and walked around the cramped kitchen, a purposeful, criticizing look. “That’s why you live here?”

“I’m getting where I need to be,” Perry said slowly, cautiously. His eyes narrowed as they followed Warren’s movements around the room.

“Did you hope Gabrielle would get you there faster? Maybe finance your band?” Warren pressed. “I mean, it would be easier for you to concentrate on your music if you didn’t need to take what, a retail job.”

Perry quickly shifted his glance from Warren to Gavin. Gavin kept his gaze locked on Perry, saying nothing.

“I didn’t care about the Morgans’ money.” The defense in Perry’s voice was audible. Practiced too? Definitely. Perry has said this line before. Gavin just sat back and observed. Poor Perry, in more ways than one. This man would never be able to shed the stigma of marrying a very wealthy woman. And he knew it. Forever trapped. Forever labeled. Forever judged. He never could have married her for love, not in anyone’s eyes. It was simply preposterous, that nagging question of intent always remaining. How much was she worth?

“I heard Gabrielle had a nice waterfront condo. With a boat parked at the dock right outside. Did you ever live there?” Warren asked, causing Perry to shift his gaze again. Gavin remained quiet, his arms crossed now, waiting for the answer.

“Briefly. Maybe a couple of months.” The words said carefully again.

“Far cry from this, I’m assuming,” Warren said with a knowing smirk.

Perry opened his mouth in protest and Gavin took over.

“You divorced Gabrielle shortly after her father cut her off, correct?” Gavin sat forward. The assertive pose demanded an answer, but he didn’t wait for it. “Must have been hard not having that nice condo anymore.” Gavin shook his head, regretfully.

Perry put his hands up in the air in a stop fashion. “Detective, I think we need to get one thing straight. I didn’t divorce Gabi over money, or a condo.” Perry’s composure remained steady now. He did not waver. “I divorced her because she was insane.”

Gavin opened his eyes wide. Defining moments in interrogations always come, and they either make it or break it. But this was something Gavin was not expecting and wasn’t sure the best way to turn with it. Here he was, hoping to blindside Perry, yet Gavin himself just got taken by surprise. He swallowed hard and treaded carefully. “Insane? In what way?”

“I think she was bipolar. I really didn’t see the signs while we were dating. Maybe she had meds then. I don’t know.”

“She acted differently while you dated?” Warren asked. “Let me ask, how did you meet her?”