I’m on my second cigarette when I hear, “Luc, when did you start smoking?”
I turn around to see Max behind me, waving the cloud of smoke floating by him away. I hold up a finger, signaling for him to give me a minute while I take a few more puffs before putting it out in the can provided by the hospital. No doubt, they are trying to avoid having butts lying all over the ground. “Max, sorry about that. I figured they’d frown on me sitting in Lia’s room drinking scotch, so I’m giving smoking a try.”
Max wrinkles his nose. “How’s that working out for you?”
“It sucks,” I deadpan, not even bothering to deny it. I’m going to need another toothbrush tomorrow because I’ve all but worn out the one I have. Curious, I ask, “So, what brings you here this late?”
He shifts uncomfortably before saying, “I…was having dinner with Carly when the hospital called letting her know Lia was awake. She wanted to talk to her right away so I came along, as well. Thought I’d see if you needed anything.”
I can’t help raising a brow at his admission. It seems that my suspicions were right, and he has more going on than friendship with his police contact. Not that I’m surprised, really. Max isn’t one to flaunt his relationships, but I know he has never had a shortage of female company. Instead of commenting on it, I ask, “Do you have any news for me yet?”
“Depends on what kind of news you are looking for. There’s nothing on Jim Dawson. He’s disappeared, and Lia’s mother isn’t talking. It’s quite possible that she doesn’t know anything this time. Carly said she seemed surprised to find out about Lia; actually she said she seemed shocked. Of course knowing what we do about the type of woman she is, I doubt she’s been too torn up over it.” With a pained grimace, he adds, “Makes me want to call my mom and thank her for not being a psycho.”
I agree, thinking I’m better off without parents than having the type Lia’s had to deal with. “Do the police have any leads?”
“I don’t think so,” Max answers in disgust. “It just boggles the mind that someone like Dawson with few resources can evade everyone so easily.”
“You’d be amazed at the people who’ll help someone like that,” I add, knowing that evil people tend to help each other no matter what the cost to themselves. Rather like a code of honor among thieves.
“So, anyway,” Max adds, seeming to come to the point of his visit. “If I were a betting man, I would say that Lee Jacks knows all about Lia by now.”
His statement does not even vaguely surprise me. It’s something I’ve expected from the moment Max told me what he’d found out about Lia’s past. Asking questions about a man like Jacks was sure to be noticed. “Anything in particular which leads you to that conclusion?”
“I received a call earlier from Mark Wilks, who is one of several attorneys on retainer to Falco Enterprises. He and I play golf on a regular basis, and he wanted to let me know that my interest in Mr. Jacks’ personal life had not gone unnoticed.”
“Was he fishing?” I ask, curious as to why Jacks would choose such an indirect route to me.
“No, not at all. He didn’t ask me any questions. It was just a courtesy call to give me a heads-up. I don’t think Jacks is the type to use his lawyer for something like that.”
I grin, catching his double meaning. “I think we both know you’re more than my lawyer. Besides, I don’t employ people to keep their ears to the ground like Jacks does, as I don’t have as much to hide.”
Max shakes his head. “We’ve all got skeletons in the closet, Luc. Some of them just rattle more than others.”
“True,” I acknowledge his statement before asking, “So, you think it’s only a matter of time before he shows up?”
“You better believe it. If we’re right, then Lia is his only child, at least that I know of. There’s no way he’ll be able to resist seeing her in person.”
“We both knew it was inevitable from the moment we found out. I know his dealings are sometimes questionable, but really, could he be any worse than her mother?”
“I don’t know, Luc,” Max answers honestly. “He does maintain close ties with his brother, so obviously family means something to him. I don’t think he’ll approach Lia without coming to you first. You two are acquaintances. I figure he will want to feel you out before going to Lia. I have to believe he’s as fucking blown away by this turn of events as we are.”
“What makes you think he hasn’t known about her all along?” I ask, hoping to Hell I’m wrong. The last thing Lia needs is another parent who has failed her.