Broken Trust (Badge of Honor 13)

When the MC added that the open bars were awaiting, Payne had quietly said to Wohl, “Liquor becomes very cheap when it helps people write bigger checks than they would sober.”

“It’s been an impressive crowd,” Wohl said. “All A-listers.”

Payne grunted. “It’s shocking—shocking, I say—who shows up when the party thrower is heiress to a fortune . . . and spends all her time deciding to whom she will donate.”

Aimee chuckled.

“To include politicians,” Wohl said.

“To especially include politicians,” Aimee said.

“I heard that our distinguished former D.A., slash, mayor, slash, governor is in the house,” Wohl said.

“He is,” Payne said. “And you’re right about heard. You’re likely to hear Randle Bailey, Esquire, before you see him. Just listen for the growl of a guy letting loose with a string of profanities. If that doesn’t narrow the crowd down enough, look for the dumpy, silver-haired guy whose baggy suit looks like, as McCrory said, it was tailored from a circus tent—”

Aimee Wolter leaned in close, and whispered, “He gives me the creeps . . . And I can handle anyone.”

“A different-colored circus tent, from today’s press conference.”

“Speaking of circuses,” Wohl said, “what about the elephant in the room?”

“What elephant?”

“Coughlin brought me up to speed on your meeting today.”

“It’s bullshit, Peter.”

“Agreed.”

Payne looked past him and saw Amy Payne coming toward them.

“Hold that thought,” Payne said. “My sister’s coming back from powdering her nose.”

Aimee Wolter looked back and forth between them but decided not to ask.

Amy went up to Matt and put her hand on his sleeve and looked at Wolter and Wohl.

“I need a word with my brother. Would you please excuse us a second?” Amy said, pulling him aside.

“What’d I do now?” Matt said, when they stopped twenty feet away.

“I’ve been meaning to share something with you. And when I began missing Amanda here beside you . . . I suppose I’m not surprised Amanda did not come with you . . . I decided now was as good a time as any.”

“Her plane landed in Texas this afternoon,” Matt said.

“That was fast.”

“Yeah,” Matt said, the emotion evident in his voice.

“You shouldn’t be upset, Matt. What’s happening with her is to be expected.”

“Mood swings?”

“Yes,” Amy said. “You can expect hormonal levels to fluctuate wildly, affecting the level of neurotransmitters. It can take weeks for the body to return to normal. The enormous surge of hormones in the first trimester is the worst. Remember how exhausted she’d been, and the nausea she went through. It was a roller coaster—excitement, then worry, then feelings of delight, followed by fear.”

“And, boy, was it.”

“And now it’s panic attacks, depression, anxiety. Her taking this time alone I see as a selfless thing. She is sparing you.”