Page 113 of The Fallen Man

“Thanks,” said Evan. “Keeping him off cigarettes is a group effort.”

Kerschel laughed. “Yeah, it kind of is.” She hesitated and then blurted out the words all in a rush. “When my girlfriend broke up with me last year, he ate dinner with me every day for a week. He really pulled me through that initial stage where all you want to do is drink and cry.”

“He’s there for his friends and he’s always there for his family,” said Evan. “That’s why this is so…”

“I want to fix it for him,” said Kerschel.

“If we can,” said Evan. “Yes.”

“This girl better be worth it, because he is fucked up over this.”

“I haven’t seen him and he’s sent three of my calls to voicemail,” said Evan.

Kerschel grimaced. “Oh, that’s not good. He always talks to you. OK, when he comes in, I’m going to pretend I have to talk to Aiden, and maybe you guys can talk. Bro to bro or whatever dudes do.”

“I have no idea,” said Evan. “I think I’m fundamentally un-dude.”

Kerschel laughed. “Well, you’re more naturally equipped for the job than I am.”

Evan shrugged just as the bell jangled over the door andJackson came in. He looked pale and was definitely working more stubble than usual. But it was the hard set of his jaw that worried Evan. It carried the echo of their fathers and grandfather. It was the hard-driven look of the Deverauxes that caused misery for everyone around them.

“I have Granger’s files,” said Jackson.

“Good,” said Evan. “Kerschel—I’m sorry, Jackson calls you Kerschel, but would you rather I called you Kim?” She barked out a surprised laugh.

“That would make me very uncomfortable,” she said.

“Kerschel it is. Did you say there were eggs in the kitchen?” She nodded. “Great. Can you let Aiden know that the files are here and I’m making eggs?”

“Yes, great idea,” she said and hurried out of the room.

“We don’t have time for eggs,” said Jackson.

“We do,” said Evan. “Because I’m hungry, and I won’t be able to concentrate on papers on an empty stomach. And you know Aiden won’t do anything without food.”

“Aiden’s here too?”

“He was making calls and discovered that you have gym equipment.”

Jackson let out a frustrated breath and ran his hand through his hair. “I appreciate the support, but we can handle it.”

“Not really. Garcia and Pete went to chase down a lead on Houge. Devonte’s at the hospital with Caitlin and Dominique, and Kerschel’s working on the links between Houge and Baranov. You need Aiden and me to go through those files.”

“Pete found something on Houge?”

“Maybe. He said to call him when you came in.”

Jackson thrust the manila envelope he was carrying at Evan, and turned away already dialing his phone. With a sigh, Evan set the papers down on the desk and went into the kitchen.

The kitchen was a disaster. It was clean, but Evan feltreasonably certain that every appliance was from 1984 or earlier. And why was everything goldenrod yellow? He took off his jacket and tucked his tie into his shirt.

Evan had located the pan and eggs by the time Jackson came to hover in the doorway.

“I have severe doubts about this stove.”

“It’s kind of temperamental,” Jackson admitted.

Evan nodded and carried on with the cooking.