The Witness (Badge of Honor 4)

“How are you doing?” Brewster C. Payne said.

“If Amy didn’t guzzle it down, there was a bottle of Scotch here.”

“And I brought one,” Brewster Payne said. “And a drink seems like a fine idea.”

“That would depend on what they’re giving him,” Amy said.

“The Mayo Clinic has been heard from,” Matt said.

“Let me see it, Matt,” Amy said firmly.

He fished in his pocket and handed her the bottle of capsules from the hospital pharmacy.

Denny Coughlin and Jack Malone were now standing at the head of the stairs. Patricia Payne went and kissed Coughlin on the cheek, and then Coughlin introduced Malone.

“What is that stuff they gave him, Amy?” Coughlin asked.

“Just an antibiotic, Uncle Denny,” Amy said. “I’m very sorry to report that alcohol is not contraindicated.”

Brewster Payne laughed. “You and Lieutenant Malone will have a little taste, Denny?”

“Not for me, thank you,” Malone said.

“I will, thank you.”

“I still have the bottle of Jameson’s you gave me, Uncle Denny,” Matt said.

“I’ll have a little of that, then, please,” Coughlin said.

“So will I,” Patricia Payne said. “In fact, I’ll even make them.”

Sergeant Carter and Jesus Martinez appeared at the head of the stairs. Martinez was wearing an electric blue suit, a shirt with very long collar points, and a yellow necktie. But what caught everyone’s attention was that he held a pump shotgun in each hand.

“Hay-zus,” Matt said. “Why don’t you put those in that closet?” He pointed. “I guess everybody’s met Sergeant Carter. Does everybody know Hay-zus Martinez?”

Patricia Payne made a valiant, but failed, effort to conceal her surprise at Officer Martinez.

“Matt’s spoken of you often, Mr. Martinez,” she said when he turned from putting the shotguns in a tiny closet at the head of the stairs. “I’m glad you’ll be looking out for him.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Martinez said.

“We’re about to have a drink. Can we offer you something?”

“No, ma’am, thank you.”

“Officer Martinez, Amy,” Coughlin said, “was with Charley McFadden when they caught the man who was responsible for what happened to Dutch Moffitt.”

“I know who he is,” Amy said, not very pleasantly. “Are those shotguns really necessary?”

“Probably not, Miss Payne,” Malone said. “It’s one of those cases where it’s better to take the extra precaution.”

“It’s Doctor Payne,” Amy said.

“Sorry.”

“Ease off, Amy,” Matt said sharply.