Page 34 of The Fallen Man

“Yeah, uh… hey, how do you feel about meeting this lawyer I know for a drink?”

“This lawyer you know?” Jackson felt puzzled by the idea that he would want to drink with a lawyer other than Aiden.

“OK, that Ella knows. Who I have seen pictures of and can confirm that she is amazingly hot.”

Jackson groaned. “No, Aiden.”

“Why not?”

“If I say I don’t like lawyers are you going to have to go to an extra meeting?”

“No one likes lawyers. We’re like plumbers. We both bill by the hour, and if you’re talking to us, chances are something has gone wrong, and whatever it is, the solution will never be cheap. But since we’re all human and we all like sex, you should consider that you could be having sex with a hot lawyer and as Ella can tell you, that is fun.”

A laugh exploded out of Jackson in surprise.

“Or, here’s an even crazier thought, you could form a meaningful relationship with someone and enjoy spending time with them.”

“I don’t have time for a meaningful relationship,” said Jackson. “I have all of you.”

“And we appreciate that, but we also feel like maybe you should take some time off. I’m suggesting it be with a hot lawyer.”

“No, Aiden,” said Jackson firmly, and Aiden sighed gustily.

“Fine.”

They hung up, and Jackson looked up and realized that Senator Griffeth had now moved closer to him. Or rather, shehad moved closer to the door, and he was blocking it.

“Now let’s see…” said the Senator smiling at him. She was a brunette fifty-something who, like Eleanor, rode the line of carefully approachable and attractive. Being a woman in politics looked hard. Figuring out what outfit would alienate the fewest people seemed like a calculation that no one should have to make. “You’re Jackson Deveraux. The new arrival to the family.” Her head cocked to the right, and she watched him, waiting to see if her words would annoy him.

“You know, I believe that isexactlywhat is on my business card,” said Jackson, wondering when he would stop being the new guy.

“You have business cards?” She looked amused.

“Yes,” said Jackson, “so I can hand them out and remind people who they’re dealing with.”

“I don’t generally forget,” said the Senator, but her smile had taken on an icy quality.

Jackson nodded. “Good to hear. Have a nice night,” he said and held open the door.

The senator and her entourage of flunkies went through the door, and Jackson laughed as the wind kicked up, and they all shivered. It was hard to look tough when Mother Nature was against you.

“That might not have been wise,” said Zoe.

Jackson shrugged. “People should know better than to talk to me.”

6

Evan

That Place Down the Street

“Evan! Jackson is here! So now you can go do something!”

Evan came out of the living room in response to Olivia’s unsubtle bellow. In retrospect, he knew where he’d gone wrong, but he wasn’t sure he could dig his way out in five minutes or less, so Jackson sounded like a viable alternative. Jackson was standing in the entryway, looking confused. An entirely reasonable reaction.

“I’ll get my coat,” said Evan.

“Great!” said Olivia forcefully.