Page 64 of The Hardest Hit

“You suck,” said Dominique.

“No, I’m just lazy,” said Aiden cheerfully.

Evan glanced at Jackson, who met his look with an equally skeptical one of his own.

“I’ll use the car service,” said Evan, wishing he could go home and take a nap. “I don’t want to bother you. I’m heading to Tokyo over Christmas anyway. At least there won’t be any Nazis there.”

“You’re not going to be home for Christmas?” demanded Aiden, sitting up, looking outraged. Nazis, horseheads, and vengeful CEOs couldn’t rouse him, but a threat to the sanctity of Christmas brought him upright.

“Work,” said Evan, smiling apologetically.

“But I bought us all marshmallow guns.”

“You bought us what?” asked Jackson.

“Marshmallow guns.” Aiden mimed shooting a rifle at Jackson, who looked befuddled. Jackson’s maternal family had been from a deeply religious Ukrainian sect who didn’t celebrate Christmas in the pagan tradition of the west, and his mother had been agnostic at best. He’d never even had a Christmas tree growing up. Apparently, marshmallow guns had also not been included in his childhood.

“A gun that shoots mini-marshmallows. I need Evan to team up with me against you and Dominique. You’re both better shots than me.”

“It’s fine,” declared Dominique. “We’ll just have a Christmas repeat day when Evan gets back. We’ll save the marshmallows until then.”

Aiden looked neither pleased nor convinced. “I don’t know…”

“It will be fine,” said Dominique firmly. “Evan has to go to Tokyo and that’s that.”

Aiden looked from Dominique to Evan, still frowning, clearly uncertain why his sister had taken Evan’s side.

“I’ll bring you back pocky and Sailor Moon,” promised Evan, pulling two obsessions from Aiden’s childhood out of his memory and Aiden grinned.

“OK, then,” he said flopping back into the couch.

“Mochi balls,” said Dominique, with a smile. He recognized blackmail when he saw it. This was her price for smoothing over Tokyo and keeping her mouth shut.

“I can’t pack ice cream back,” objected Evan, mostly on the principle that he should always negotiate. “Besides you can get mochi balls here.” He was already thinking he could get a transport freezer for the trip back.

“It’s not the same. And Aiden can get pocky and Sailor Moon here too,” she pouted. “I want mochi balls.”

“Fine,” said Evan, rolling his eyes. “I’ll ship a cooler home or something.”

“Would all of you stop behaving like children!” Eleanor glared at all of them. “We are dealing with serious issues and I would appreciate it if you would stop chattering on about Christmas.”

“Well, Christmas is serious, Grandma. Can’t believe you’re skipping, Ev,” complained Aiden.

“We don’t need Evan to be home for Christmas,” snapped Eleanor.

There was silence in the room.

“See, Aiden,” said Evan, setting down his untouched glass. “It’s fine if I’m not here. Anyway, Jacks, thanks for the heads up. Let me know what else you need me to do.”

Then he headed for the door.

23

Jackson – Deveraux House

Jackson looked through the window into the yard and wondered what was going on. Theo appeared to be involved in some sort of garden rearrangement. Pavers had been uprooted and were being stacked as if they were going to be re-used. Plants were being bundled and there was a bench wrapped in plastic that was loitering near the drive. He wanted to know what the plan was but he suspected that inquiring into Theo’s business would not go well.

Eleanor shut the door to her office with a firm thud. It was as close to slamming a door as she ever got. “This is most upsetting,” she said.