Page 23 of Nobody's Fool

“Here’s what’s going to happen, Peyton,” I say to him. “You’re about to head into a meeting. You are going to agree that your prenup is null and void and then you and your soon-to-be ex will negotiate what one hopes will be an equitable deal for you both.”

He waits for me to say more. Another negotiating tactic. I don’t bite.

“And then?”

“That’s it. I was hired to see if you broke the infidelity clause of your contract. You did. Mission accomplished.”

“And what becomes of these…?” He can’t say it so he just raises the envelope in the air. He keeps his eyes on me as though he’s afraid to make eye contact with what’s inside. Just to clarify, I gave him my three clearest photos of him with the man. I also left him a note to meet me here and not to say anything to anyone. To make sure, I wrote on the envelope, “Look at these right away but don’t let anyone else see.” Seems he abided by that.

“I destroy them,” I say.

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“How do I know you won’t keep a copy?”

“You don’t. Come to think of it, I had planned on deleting everything, but you’re kind of scaring me now, Peyton. So I’ll keep a set with my will. Just in case something happens to me.”

“Suppose something happens to you and it’s not because of me.”

“Too bad now,” I say. “You should have thought of that before you made that veiled threat.”

“I don’t understand any of this.”

“We don’t really have time for this,” I say. “If we aren’t back soon, someone is going to think you have a case of constipation that would take down a mule. Simply put, I’m okay with exposing that you committed infidelity per your prenup. That’s my job. That’s what you signed on for when you drew up the deal with your wife. What I’mnotokay with is unnecessarily outing you. I’ll do it if I have to—to prove that you broke your prenup. It gets morally hazy if we swim into that space, and I’d rather stay on dry land. Does that make it clear?”

“That photo is blackmail,” he says. “You’re not the good guy here.”

I think about that. “Yeah, I kinda am.” I turn and unlock the door. “Either way, I’ll see you out there.”

The Booth divorce mediation does not take long.

It takes place in a conference room with a big glass wall, so I’m able to watch from down the corridor. I can’t hear, of course, but I find it odd how many conference rooms have glass walls that both intrude on privacy and cause unnecessary distraction. There are six people in the conference room. Husband Peyton and wife Courtney sit across from one another, their lawyers on both flanks. The body language tells me everything. Peyton caves quickly. This surprises his wife. I can see a stunned Courtney Booth turn to Arthur, seemingly unhappy in victory. The lawyers all shake hands. Husband and wife avoid eye contact.

Team Peyton exits first and briskly. Arthur follows. He beams and gives me a thumbs-up. Courtney Booth is right behind him. She looks perturbed.

“Thank you,” Arthur says to me.

I nod. I’m ready to move on, but Courtney Booth has other ideas.

“What the hell was that?” she snaps.

“A win,” Arthur replies. “Your husband just agreed to rip up your prenup.”

“Right, sure. Out of the goodness of his heart?”

“This is a divorce action,” Arthur says. “No one does anything out of the goodness of their heart.”

“I don’t like it,” she says.

“This was a good meeting, Courtney. A really, really good meeting.”

She turns to and on me. “You’re the one who took the photos?”

“Yes.”

“Was he screwing Britney Griffin?”

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