Page 36 of The Fallen Man

“You take that back.”

“I’m not taking it back. This isn’t even your furniture, and you made the face.”

“It’s rude!”

“I’m not moving them.”

Evan scooted over, giving Jackson’s feet more space.

“What doyouneed advice on?” asked Evan, picking up his glass.

“Actually, it’s about Eleanor.”

Evan put down his drink, untasted.

“Nothing bad,” said Jackson, waving away Evan’s concern. “I’m just not sure what to do, and I think you’ll be able to help.”

“Mm,” said Evan doubtfully. It was his impression that Jackson managed their grandmother better than anyone else. He wasn’t sure how he could help. “What’s the problem?”

“Well,” said Jackson and shifted in his seat. It was a rare display of discomfort from Jackson, who always looked like he was entirely confident no matter what was happening. “I don’t think anyone… I’m pretty sure everyone knows that one of the reasons Eleanor got me out of prison was to keep an eye on all of you.”

Evan nodded. One of the things he liked best about Jackson was that Jackson actually said the things that the rest of the family tip-toed around and attempted to bury between looks and polite conversation. It meant that then Evan could address those things head-on.

“She never said, but I always assumed that was the reason. I always thought it was a pretty shitty way to treat all of us, but I guess I see why she did it. I’m sorry, for what it’s worth.”

Jackson blinked and then shook his head. “Why?”

“We should never have been your responsibility,” said Evan.

Jackson shrugged. “You’re my family. It’s fine. It meant she needed me and that you had to keep me around.”

Evan inhaled sharply, angry at their grandmother for putting that into Jackson’s head.

“You’re our family,” said Evan. “This isn’t a barter system; you don’t have to buy your way in.”

Jackson cracked a grin. “I’ve been around. There’s always some kind of cost to join up with a gang. I don’t mind.”

Evan thought about arguing. He thought about telling Jackson that families didn’t work like that. But the plain truth was that their familydidwork like that. Or at least it had before Jackson had come along.

“Brat moya,the dues have been rendered. Move on.”

Jackson grinned again. “I’m trying to, actually. That’s why I’m here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Eleanor brought me in forthe children,as she calls all ofyou.” Evan rolled his eyes, and Jackson chuckled. “And she has indulged my whim for involving myself in her security details and opposition research because it gave me a proper job title and made all of you less suspicious. And, also frankly, because I’m just so damn convenient.”

It was Evan’s turn to laugh. “Something you work hard at.”

“Shh, don’t tell anyone that. Never let them see you working.”

“That sounds like a Grandma-ism.”

“Probably. Anyway, my point is that she’s facing some opposition in the Senate. I believe I could help, but she keeps waving me off and saying that her staff is handling it. But her staff isnothandling it. If they were, we’d know where it was coming from by now. And now we’ve got someone poking into the Absolex hearings.”

“Mm,” said Evan, taking a drink and leaning back against the tufted velvet back of the booth. “What do you want to do?”

“I want to look into who in the Senatenowwas connected to the hearings back then. There’s been an entire election since then and a lot of turnover. I want to figure out who has an ax to grind and why the hearings would matter to them. And…” Jackson shifted again, “we met with Ralph Taggert.”