His
wife was murdered when Jordan was only ten years old. Max
raised Jordan alone. Max is still searching for answers
about his wife’s murder along with Jordan. He always gave
the impression that he knew more than he let on. After
James (supposedly) died Max gave up on his search and begged
Jordan to do the same before he left.
He’s
only hooked up with one woman since his wife’s death and
that didn’t last long (Jordan was part of the cause behind
Evelyn leaving). He ended the second season going on the
run, suspected of killing another cop. Though he was
cleared of wrongdoing he’s left Boston. He left his bar to
Jordan who finally sold it—she didn’t know what else to do
with it.
Max has
never had an ‘easy’ relationship with Jordan. They’re both
strong willed people. Max kept a lot of stuff to himself
while Jordan wanted to know what it was. They always
(however unintentionally) push each other’s buttons. In the
season four episode, It Happened One Night, they seem
to come to a truce.
Max
was played by the actor Ken Howard.
Background:
Emily came from a very well to do Bostonian family. When
she married Max (a lowly police officer in the eyes of her
family) she took a step down in life. Her lifestyle changed
drastically.
Married: Max
Cavanaugh a police officer.
Mother to: James
and Jordan
James is Jordan’s
half brother (Ockham’s Razor). He’s six years older
than Jordan. He was given away to the Horton family when he
was a baby. Max found Emily trying to drown him in the
bathtub. James’s father was Malden. (police chief of
Boston) James killed Malden when he came after him (O
Brother Where Art Thou).
Medical History:
Spent a brief time in a mental hospital when Jordan was five
years-old (Secrets and Lies). Emily was not mentally
sound. Max did his best to deal with her, but he had a hard
time. Jordan remembers Emily’s mood swings but she never
understood what was wrong with her mother until she was
older. Jordan battled the fear that she would turn out to
be like her mother. Dr. Stiles helped her overcome this
fear and realize she wasn’t like her mother.
Emily’s Death:
Died September 18, 1979. The day before Emily was murdered
James (age 16 at the time) came to visit her. She gives him
a gun (which he later used to kill Carl Jeffers, Malden’s
partner at the time). Emily warned James that she was in
danger (and that he was too). James’s print was found at
the scene of Emily’s murder. It was referred to as the
‘Phantom Print’ because no one could match it. There was no
record of it in any data base. The print was later
identified (by Jordan 20 years later) as James’s.
As to
who killed Emily it’s still unknown, though it’s speculated
that Malden or Jeffers killed her to keep Malden’s secret
about having an affair and a child with Emily.
