After Ashastova was killed, Jackson was put on paid leave while the shooting was investigated. The FBI didn’t like their special agents shooting people in town. But it was a clean shoot, and he wasn’t worried. He was happy to have the time off.
He used it to visit his father, which he felt was long overdue. Jan came along to provide moral support. It wasn’t needed. For the first time in his life, Jackson stood up to his father. Sharp words were spoken, even sharper when his father realized his son wasn’t backing down. When he left, Jackson knew he wouldn’t ever come back, and he didn’t feel any regrets about that. He saw that his father would only accept him as someone he could bully, as someone to be used to support the man’s ego, and Jackson would no longer play that role. Jan hadn’t had to say a word, but did say plenty afterwards, all of it complimentary.
Jackson was keeping track of how Jan was doing in school. Jan had had second thoughts about going to work in a law- enforcement job. Everything he read told him law enforcement in this country was riddled with racism and politics, and he wanted nothing to do with either.
“So what are you going to do?” Jackson asked.
“I’m going to graduate, then look at going into business for myself. Running a detective agency. Lots of work in Washington, people wanting other people followed. My having a Georgetown diploma on the wall behind my desk might make me look less fly-by-night. I was thinking of opening my own firm: Pedersen and Associates.
“Associates?”
Jan grinned. “That will be you. I can’t see you putting up with FBI politics forever.”
Tyler came home for a month’s vacation from Harrow. Rather than go home, he spent his time with Jackson and Jan in their apartment. In Jackson’s opinion, rather than see all the sights there were to see in Washington, Tyler spent way too much time in Jan’s bedroom with the door closed.
When Tyler had returned to England, Jackson asked Jan, “You still loose and free, still playing the field? Joining the GSA at Georgetown? They must love you there.”
Jan grimaced. “I never really did play the field. I realized that wasn’t what I wanted. Not who I am. And I haven’t joined the GSA, either.” Jan sounded contemplative. “I said I wanted to be free, and that was true. But the GSA? No; not for me; not with college kids.”
“You’d be a great hit there, looking like you do.”
“You mean young?” Jan laughed.
“No, cute as hell. I’m straight, but I know what a really attractive guy looks like. Those guys’d be drooling over you. Hey, I would too, but I’m just not built that way.”
“Uh, thanks, Jackson . . . I guess. But look, maybe those GSA-ers would be drooling, but they’re way too old for me. You’re older still! And you know, you must know, that I like Tyler a lot. A whole lot.”
He left it at that, and Jackson didn’t press the point.
They were invited to England to spend Christmas at both Knowles House and at Chequers with Ted, Tyler and the Prime Minister and his wife. They finally got to meet Mrs. Commoder.
Jackson realized something he hadn’t thought of before. He was with people he liked, and people who liked and respected him, too. A strange thing, but he realized he was happy.
The End