Max hadn't noticed that Brian spoke about his Mom in the past tense, maybe because he thought of everyone back home the same way. His parents, Pru, Sadie, Jojo... he's not really counting on seeing any of them, maybe ever again if Darrow has anything to say about it. Max knows that he's lucky to have Jude and Luce in the city with him, and he's not really counting on anyone else from home just popping up for a visit.

"No, I don't think that's it," he says, trailing behind Brian as he's led up the stairs, "but either way, I don't think those guys are on the up and up."