But somehow, here Lianne was, with someone new. And she knew it wasn’t fair—she barely knew Tanner—but she couldn’t figure out how Tanner had kept her mother when Keith hadn’t been able to.
Tanner seemed to read something in her face, and he gave a crooked grin. With quick, careful fingers he picked up a pack of cigarettes from the table. When he lit up, he was careful to blow the smoke away from her.
“I’d quit before all this,” he said, holding up his cigarette with a sheepish look on his face. “But, you know. Stress.” For a moment he stared out over the skyline. Then he turned to look at Veronica again. “Your mom’s worked real hard to keep clean. And I know … I know the two of you probably have a lot of unfinished business between you. If anyone knows that, I do. Me and Rory’s mom …” He trailed off, then took another quick drag. “You’re a grown-up woman so I’m not going to tell you how you’ve got to feel. And it’s not my place to interfere between a mother and her daughter. All I can say to you is that sometimes, it’s easier to be with your own kind. And your mom was never of a kind with your daddy. I’m not saying anything bad about him. Maybe the opposite, even. It’s hard to look the people you love in the face when they’ve seen you fuck up everything you touch. Sometimes, it’s easier to rebuild your life if you’re with someone who’s been as low as you’ve been.”
Veronica was spared having to answer when Hunter came running back outside. “He’s here!”
Lianne came out onto the patio, her hands empty, followed by a tall African-American man in a perfectly cut suit. Tanner stood up, and Veronica did too, a half second later. “Mr. Jackson?”
The man held out a long, fine-boned hand and shook with Tanner. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Scott. I’m so sorry for all you’re going through.”
He was in his midforties, clean-shaven, with a deep and reassuring voice. His broad shoulders stayed perfectly level, and he moved with studied economy. Next to Lianne’s anxious fidgeting and Tanner’s quick, aggressive motions he seemed unbelievably graceful.
“And this is my daughter, Veronica Mars,” Lianne said. Jackson shook her hand too. His grip was firm and cool.
“She’s a private detective,” Tanner added. “She’s been helping us with the case.”
Jackson looked at her more intently now. “Interesting.” Then he released her hand.
“Can I … can I get you anything? Water, iced tea? I can put on some coffee if you like,” Lianne offered.
“No thank you, Mrs. Scott.” He set down his briefcase and straightened his lapels. “Before we start, let me give you some reassurance. I know you’re both scared. You’ve been through hell. But I want you to know you’re in good hands. I’ve handled more than a hundred of these cases, in countries all over the world. These guys just want to get their money—as long as you trust me, and give me free rein to deal with them, I believe that we have a very good chance of getting her back.” He glanced at Veronica. “But that means we’ve got to play by the rules. And I don’t want to endanger Aurora’s life with any unnecessary poking around. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”
“So the plan is to give the kidnappers what they want? And then what?” Veronica frowned. “Don’t you want to know who it is so they can be held accountable? So we can stop them?”
“The plan, Miss Mars,” Jackson said calmly, “is to bring Aurora Scott home. That is what I do. That is all that matters. And I would ask you to think very carefully about interfering with that plan. This is a delicate operation. One mistake could cost us everything.”
His eyes locked on hers. Veronica didn’t flinch. She stared back at him, shoulders squared.
“Veronica.” Her mother’s voice was brittle, shaking. “Please.”
She looked up. Lianne’s eyes were wide and scared.
For a moment she felt rooted to the spot. Everyone watched her, waiting, tense. Out below the patio, a gust of wind rattled the leaves in the trees. She picked up her purse.
“Look, don’t worry. I’m not going to interfere with your negotiations.”
She headed toward the door.
“Good luck,” she said over her shoulder. “And happy birthday.”