His younger daughter was a bit less meticulous than his older. Hopefully, that would correct itself as she aged. She was his star, after all. Far more than her sister could ever be. Ava was far more gifted than Olivia.
Both of their children were physically beautiful, appealing children. He and Rachel ensured that was enhanced with meticulous grooming and the proper clothing. Even if Rachel had to spend hours hunting for that clothing second hand. She knew all the best places now. He considered it her duty as his children’s mother.
“Can I go hang out with Emery, Daddy? She’s my best friend.”
As the woman with the child turned, he nodded.
He wanted to learn more about this aunt as well.
And exactly what Rachel had told her. If she’d said anything that would cause trouble for Paul, if it got back to the other Jones from the CCU—that could jeopardize things significantly.
That would have to be dealt with.
Swiftly.
13
Max thought about the man’s words for a moment as the crowd swirled around him. The director of PAVAD had pulled him aside, telling him they needed to speak as soon as possible.
This was not what Max had expected.
He’d thought Ed had something to tell him about the Anderson case. They’d stalled on Andy’s murder two days into the investigation. All they had was encrypted data—that had been in an additional code—on the memory cards Max had found.
Sixty-three pages of gibberish that no one had been able to make sense of yet. PAVAD was working on it now. It was going to take time.
As the crowd swirled around them, he thought about what the man was saying. What it would mean for Emery. Everything he did had to be filtered through the window of what was best for his daughter. “It will still mean travel. I was hoping to eliminate a good portion of my time away from home. Having me gone has been a struggle for Emery lately.”
Max had finally put it together why last week.
Jac.
It came down to Jac. The days she’d spent with Jac while he’d combed over the evidence in Andy’s case had triggered this separation anxiety now. His daughter feared she’d not see Jac again for weeks.
That and Emery had heard somewhere what had happened to Annie Anderson’s father. She knew Andy had been with the FBI.
Just like Max. Just like Jac.
Every adult Emery loved and was significantly bonded with was FBI. His daughter was at the age when she was figuring out that people didn’t live forever. It terrified her—she was afraid she was going to lose her father or Jac.
Emery missed Jac. His daughter was subconsciously afraid that Jac was going to leave her, just like her own mother had.
Or that Max was going to suddenly be even less available, like she felt Jac was.
That was entirely Max’s fault.
Today would hopefully go a long way to helping his daughter heal from that blow he had unintentionally dealt her. Max would find a chance to speak with Jac, see if she would be willing to keep being the most important woman in Emery’s life.
Like she had been since his daughter was three years old.
Ed nodded as one of his younger sons tugged on his hand. “I can understand that. I’ve been in your position, myself. If my sister hadn’t been able to help with Georgia, I would have had a more difficult time than I did. This is a promotion for you, and the travel will be the same as now.”
“She’s having a tough time. Our former housekeeper retired six months ago. We’ve had trouble finding a replacement that Emery is bonding with.” Max nodded. He understood all of that. He wanted to stay with PAVAD, but his career had to come second to the needs of his daughter. She needed a more on-site parent right now. He had meant to talk to Ed and Hellbrook about that after they found Andy’s killer. Found the traitor in PAVAD.
The director and Hellbrook were both fathers themselves, with their children running around them now. They would at least understand where he was coming from—even if they couldn’t help him work it out.
PAVAD was a large organization now, with over four hundred employees. Even if it meant a lateral move into some type of administrative position, Max was open to that.
He didn’t know how much longer he could handle the traveling and being away from Emery for two or three, sometimes as many as five nights a week. That was a lot to ask of a nearly nine-year-old with a single father.
Emery worried. About everything lately. Mostly, she worried about him disappearing and leaving her all alone.
He would never let her be all alone. Ever. He had a will with very clear instructions for her care, if anything should ever happen to him. He’d updated it three years ago to make sure that very thing didn’t happen.
If anything happened to him, his daughter would be provided for. Loved.
“I’m honored you think I can handle running a team, Director. But my first priority will always have to be Emery.” Max looked for his daughter as he spoke. And then he found her.
Talking animatedly to a familiar redhead.
One he had been waiting to see. He hadn’t known if she’d make it when he’d given her the brightly colored construction paper invitation Emery had made for Jac specifically.
Jac had made it to the school on time, even though he’d heard she’d driven to Wyoming to get Miranda a week ago. He’d kept one eye on the Wyoming weather report for the last week. He’d asked her teammates if they’d heard from her. Probably been a bit obvious about it, too.
Jac had made it. For his daughter.
Relief filled him. It was important to Emery that it wasn’t just him there today. She was so hungry for family;
