It was not lost on Amy.
“The classic example,” she said pointedly, looking at Matt, “is that of an infant. A baby has been described as an alimentary tract exhibiting no sense of responsibility at either end.” She paused, sipped her wine, then added, “So, not surprisingly, the Id is all about our basic drives, from food to sex.”
“And I’ll damn sure drink to that,” Matt said.
That earned him a glare from Amy.
She snapped, “Jesus, little brother. How about reining in your Id! This sophomoric behavior is ridiculous!”
Matt looked at her, about to bark back. Then he realized that he’d heard some genuine disgust in her tone.
Shit. Maybe she’s right.
Hope I didn’t just embarrass myself in front of Amanda.
And I don’t know if it’s because I’m exhausted or what, but I’m starting to feel this booze.
It has been an absolutely incredible day… in every way.
Payne looked at Amanda.
Especially now that I think I’ve found the perfect woman.
He felt a warm sensation, and was not convinced it was not from the scotch.
Crank up the violins.
Looks like it’s time to think about winding up living happily-ever-after in that vine-covered cottage by the side of the road.
Amanda felt his attention.
When she looked at him, he quickly averted his eyes.
Then he looked back.
She was still looking at him.
Am I hoping beyond hope?
She made a slight smile, and turned her attention to Amy.
I devoutly hope not…
Amy was saying, “The Ego, Freud said, represents reason and common sense. It’s our reality for the long term. And being in the middle, it tries to balance the extremities of the Id and Superego. The Superego being the opposite of the Id. It’s our conscience. It understands what’s wrong and right-and wants perfection. It triggers our guilt.”
Byrth grunted. “And it’s what the psychopath is missing.”
“In a broad stroke,” Amy said, “yes, it is. Would you care to hear details on defining a psychopath? Or am I boring everyone to tears?”
“No, please do, Amy,” the Black Buddha said.
“Yes, continue,” Tony Harris put in.
Amanda Law and Jim Byrth were nodding their assent. Matt made a grand motion with his hand that said, Carry on.
Amy looked at him, then at her wine stem. She held it out toward Matt, who refilled it with the Sharaz.
“Okay,” she began, “a psychopath is defined as one with chronic immoral and antisocial behavior. Someone whose gratification is found in criminal and sexual and aggressive impulses. And they are not able to learn from past mistakes.
“There is a standard instrument used by researchers and clinicians worldwide that’s called the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. The PCL-R has proven to be reliable. And very much valid. It was named for Dr. Robert D. Hare, a well-known researcher in the field of criminal psychology.
“The PCL-R separates behavior into two categories: aggressive narcissism and socially deviant lifestyle.”
She paused to look between Matt and Tony. But there was no more of their sophomoric humor. They were paying rapt attention.
She went on: “Within these two categories, Hare lists separate character traits that the patient may or may not have. For each, he assigns a grade between zero and two. The higher the sum, the more severe the patient’s pathology.”
She paused and looked around the table.
“Everyone still with me?”
There were nods. Matt grunted an “Uh-huh.”
“All right,” she continued, “under aggressive narcissism are: superficial charm, a grand sense of self-worth, pathological lying, being cunning and manipulative, no remorse or guilt, shallowness, a cold lack of empathy, and inability to take responsibility for his own actions.”
Matt Payne perked up. “Well, hell, that pretty much paints the perfect picture of most bad guys.”
Amy nodded. “Right. But there’s also Hare’s other component. Under socially deviant lifestyle are these traits: a need to be stimulated; can’t handle being bored; a lifestyle that’s parasitic; can’t control own behavior; promiscuity; no long-term goals, at least ones that are realistic; being impulsive; irresponsibility; juvenile delinquency; childhood behavior problems. And one or two others I can’t recall just now.”
She paused and drained her glass.
“And that ends my speech,” she said. “You add all those up, and you have your psychopath.”
Byrth grunted. “I do indeed wish we did have our psychopath. He needs to be off the streets.”
Matt Payne looked at Amanda Law and said, “While we’re on topics that are uncomfortable, Amanda, am I allowed to ask about Becca?”
She looked at Matt and could see his concern was genuine.
“There’s more than professional curiosity, isn’t there? You do care about her, don’t you?”
Amy said to Amanda, “At Episcopal Academy, Matt used to have a crush on her.” Amy looked at him. “Didn’t you, Matt?”
“A crush?” Amanda repeated. “How sweet!”
Payne shot his sister a glare.
“You’re Episcopalian?” Byrth said.
Payne nodded. “Not exactly a practicing one, but I’ve kept the faith, so to speak.”
“So am I. Remarkable. But then, in this crowd, I guess not.” He paused. “And I understand your disappointment with the church and its politics these days. Me, I’m with whoever said that going to church no more makes you holy than standing in a Porsche showroom makes you a sports car.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
Matt said, “Let’s not get started on religion tonight, too.”
“Sorry,” Byrth said, shrugging.
“Amanda,” Matt said, first looking at Amy then turning to Amanda, “for the record, Becca and I never had a relationship. But, yeah, we were kind of close growing up. And I cared about her. Enough to be disgusted with her getting involved with that goddamn Skipper Olde.”
“Matthew,” Jason Washington said solemnly, “I know your mother taught you not to speak ill of the departed.”
“There’s exceptions to every rule, Jason. And I’m still pissed off at Skipper-RIP, ol’ buddy-for putting Becca in this situation.”
Dr. Law smiled warmly at his explanation.
“Your concern is sweet,” she said with sincerity. “But, I’m sorry, I just can’t discuss a patient. It wouldn’t be ethical.”
Matt could tell from the way she said it that she truly was sorry.
“She’s worse, Matt,” Amy blurted. “That intracranial hypertension has not subsided. It’s looking more and more like Amanda will have to induce the coma.”
Dr. Law looked at Dr. Payne and said, “Amy!”
“For the record, Matt,” Dr. Amy Payne said, “that information I got directly from Mrs. Benjamin. She shared with me what Becca’s attending physician”-she glanced at Amanda Law, who now looked less horrified-“had told to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin.”
Matt made a face, then drained his drink.
He looked at Dr. Law and was again amazed by her air of complete confidence.
She oozes it.
What a woman…
He said, “Amanda, can you describe in broad terms-just hypothetically, nothing patient-specific-what inducing a coma involves?”
Dr. Amanda Law considered that a moment.
Then she nodded and said, “Sure. With a brain injury, fluids collect in the brain and cause it to swell. The skull, however, does not expand to allow for the fluids, so that basically causes the brain to be compacted, and blood, and the oxygen in it, is prevented from reaching all of its parts. That can cause brain damage, even death.”
Matt shook his head.
She took a sip of her wine, then went on: “When conventional therapy fails, and we are unable to surgically open the skull to drain the fluids, we carefully consider the barbiturate-induced coma. The coma reduces brain activity, but that has to be balanced against the side effects of the drug.”