Page 20 of The Hardest Hit

“Can you make sure that you’re not loitering in conveniently dangerous public spaces?”

“Oh, sure. I mean, it’s November. I don’t think I’ll be doing a lot of standing around outside.”

“I was thinking more of your social life,” said Jackson drily.

“I don’t think I frequent Neo-Nazi bars,” said Aiden. “I’m sure I’m fine. Besides Evan’s not doing anything extra.”

“I will drive or take the car service to anywhere besides work,” said Evan.

Jackson looked over in surprise. Aiden looked annoyed. Dominique chuckled.

“Really, Ev?” demanded Aiden. “You can’t be a little more stubborn?”

“It’s a negotiation,” said Evan. “If I give him something, he’ll focus on you and leave me alone.”

“Throwing me to the wolves,” said Aiden, shaking his head. “Fine. I do solemnly swear to avoid dive bars and generally follow all of yourDon’t Do Thislist.”

“Thanks,” said Jackson. “Meanwhile,” he said, turning back to Eleanor, “what did you want to do about Ralph Taggert?”

Eleanor gave a soft snort of annoyance. “What do I ever want to do about Ralph Taggert?”

“Besides drop him off a cliff, I mean,” said Jackson. “You know after the holiday break he’ll come out swinging on your healthcare bill, right?”

“Yes,” agreed Eleanor. “I think the only thing I can really do is discredit him on his own record.”

Dominique made a disagreeing noise. “Can we dig up some sort of dirt instead?”

“I’ll talk to Pete on Monday,” agreed Jackson.

“He got re-elected?” asked Aiden, who tracked politics the least of all of them. “How?”

“He wrote some sort of anti-gay legislation, got the Republican-based whipped up, and then drafted up some mental health bill, which he knew would get shot down, and then dredged up his daughter’s suicide again. He hit the hate, sympathy doubleheader,” said Dominique.

“Asshole,” said Aiden.

“We don’t swear about our opponents,” said Eleanor.

“We’re at home, Grandma. Who will know?” said Aiden with an easy smile.

“Someone is always listening,” said Eleanor. “Swear about your friends if you like, they’ll forgive you. But never say anything about your opponents.”

“Regardless,” said Dominique, “that’s why attacking his record on health care doesn’t work. He plays the dead daughter card and anyone who tries it looks like an asshole.”

“I think it can be done,” said Eleanor. “I think we just need to make him stick his foot in his mouth.”

“He’ll just Southern his way out of it,” said Aiden.

“What do you think, Evan?” asked Dominique.

“I think he’s a bully,” said Evan. “I think he counts on other people fighting fair and sticking to the rules, while he does not.”

Eleanor looked thoughtful and then nodded.

“Well, your team can dig into the opposition research,” said Jackson, “and I’ll see what Pete and I can come up with. No reason to pursue all options.”

“I suppose,” agreed Eleanor with a reluctant nod.

Evan looked down at his dinner. He wondered if other families had these kinds of conversations. He suspected not. Evan exited dinner as soon as possible, and for a moment he was alone in the hall and he thought about ducking into Eleanor’s office. He was fairly certain, with her hoarding tendencies, that she would have kept files on the plane crash.