I hadn’t even noticed them, but they were there: a bulging manila envelope filled with business cards that smelled of her perfume, cigarette smoke, and spilled wine.

“They’re right here.”

“Couple of hot ones in there,” she said with mock enthusiasm. “They’ll singe your fingers when you touch them. Let’s meet on them in a half an hour.” She squinted, looking me over, asked, “Are you okay?”

“No I’m not.”

I didn’t really want to get into details, but felt I needed to explain the situation to her in order to postpone the meeting.

She listened with glistening eyes. She loved this kind of thing, I realized. She loved drama, and I was providing it.

“Some boy wants custody of your baby?” she asked.

“Yes, but I’m going to fight it.”

“The baby obsession skipped this broad,” she said. “I guess I never really understood it.” She shook her head. She had no children and had made it clear she never wanted any.

I nodded like I understood. Fragile ground, here.

She said, “Look, you know I’m leaving for Taiwan with the governor Monday. We’ve got to get together before then. Hell, I dragged my jet-lagged ass out of bed just to meet you here this morning. We need to meet.”

“We will,” I said. “Let me call you as soon as I talk to Julie Perala. That’s all I ask.”

“That’s a lot,” she said, clearly angry.

“I’ll call,” I said. “I’ll even come meet you at your house if you want.”

“Plan on it,” she said, turning on her heel and clicking down the hallway, her shoes sounding like manic sticks on the rim of a drum in the empty hallway.

MELISSA WAS ON THE FLOOR with Angelina when I came in the door. Before I could speak, Melissa said, “What’s wrong?”

“Julie Perala called. She says there’s a problem with the adoption.”

Melissa went white, and she looked from me to Angelina and back.

“She said the father wants her back.”