Page 86 of The Fallen Man

“Sounds like you work too hard for my taste,” said Aiden.

“That’s because you pay people to pick your fights for you,” said Evan, brutally and Aiden’s eye twitched, but Dominique couldn’t hold it in and let out a surprised giggle.

“That’s funny because it’s true,” she told Dennis, “but don’t listen to either of them. I appreciate your efforts.” She beamed at Dennis in a hundred-watt smile and Dennis smiled back clearly impressed. Jackson watched as he lifted a hand to check his hair and then his tie. Then he seemed to notice Jackson’s gaze and he straightened up.

“I’ll be in touch,” said Dennis, directly to Jackson. Jackson nodded and they all watched Dennis walk toward one of the private dining rooms.

“I pay people to pick my fights?” demanded Aiden.

“Perhaps I should have specified pickoutyour fights. Kind of changes the meaning a bit though,” said Evan, faux innocence dripping off of him.

Aiden threw a crouton at him and Evan batted it away grinning broadly.

“Meanwhile, this wasn’t a threat against Grandma,” said Aiden. “It was us. The hearing was supposed to scare us. He thought he could intimidate us into flipping on Grandma.”

“I’m sorry,” Jackson said, looking around the table apologetically. “I hadn’t even considered that possibility.”

Dominique laughed. “You look so embarrassed,” she crowed. “Oh, my God, this is hilarious.”

Jackson felt himself blushing. “I’m sorry, but it didn’t occur to me that having to go talk to people would be considered a threat.”

“Trust me it is,” said Evan, as the server slid the bill onto their table. “People are scary as fuck. Fortunately, they were justSenators, and those barely even qualify as humans.”

Dominique laughed harder and Aiden looked like he was trying not to join her, but he was only partially succeeding.

“No, let me get this,” said Aiden, grabbing for the check as Evan picked it up. “I want to spend cash.”

“Who the hell carries cash?” demanded Evan.

“Aiden does,” said Dominique. “He gets his prize money in cash and he has to spend it somewhere. You know from all the fights other people pick out for him.”

“Josh, his name is Josh, notother people. And he’s my manager.”

Evan rolled his eyes and passed the check over. Aiden produced a drug dealer amount of bills and put it into the folder.

“Well, at least you’ve got a target now,” said Evan to Jackson. “That’s something.”

“It’s something,” agreed Jackson.

Jackson let his cousins get in front of him on the way to the car. Evan was right, he had a target now, but the next steps were still vague. Pete could start digging into Dennis Houge’s life, but would that get the Absolex files released? Or shut down the ethics committee investigation into Eleanor?

“You’re frowning,” said Aiden. “Why? Today has gone exactly according to your plan.”

“Not exactly,” said Jackson, still feeling embarrassed. We’ve got a suspect,” said Jackson. “That means new problems, and I’m not sure how to get him all tied up in a bow. Whatever offer he makes, I can record him and turn him down, but I’m not sure that gets me anywhere.”

“Well, you recorded his offer at lunch, didn’t you?”

“Caught that?”

“Of course. But if he makes a second offer, that’s enough to be considered selling influence. We can take it to the FBI.”

“That’s the slow road to nowhere. We’ve been down it beforewith Granger. I need more. I need something airtight that shows he was working with Granger.”

“You need Granger’s files,” said Aiden understandingly.

“Right.”

“Well, you’ve got Caitlin Granger now. You can’t tell me Pete and the crew haven’t spent all day hunting her down. I bet by the time we get home they’ll have a location.”