Page 37 of Shadow Justice

“So far,” Holly said.

“Reid hasn’t broken anything?”

Holly’s smile froze for a second, as if that had struck a note in her. “He’s been fairly useful.”

Roni’s eyebrows rose. “That almost sounded like praise, big brother.”

Holly laughed. “It was an employee evaluation.”

“Mm-hmm.” Roni kissed Blue’s head. “I’ll leave before I become unbearable.”

“That window closed years ago,” Reid said.

His sister grinned at him. “Love you, too.” Then she looked at Holly and softened. “Call if you need anything.”

“I will.”

Holly fed Blue upstairs while Reid finished the final lock check of the shop. When he came up, Blue was eating with focused devotion, and Holly stood at the kitchen counter staring into the refrigerator.

“Please tell me you’re not planning sandwiches again,” he said.

She glanced over her shoulder. “There is nothing wrong with sandwiches.”

“Agreed. There’s also nothing wrong with ordering dinner.”

“I can feed myself.”

“I’ve seen the evidence, your honor. I’m suggesting an outside provider.”

Her mouth moved as if she wanted to argue, then she shut the refrigerator. “I’m too tired to be offended.”

“Skycountry Pizza?”

That made her pause. “You remember Skycountry?”

“Best crust in Blackridge.”

“It’s the only pizza place in Blackridge.”

“That helps its ranking.”

This time she did smile, small but real. “They added a second location in Mesa Ridge and got fancy. They have garlic knots now.”

“Then we’d better test whether expansion ruined them.”

She ordered from her phone while Blue finished dinner and licked his bowl across the kitchen until it hit the cabinet with a dull clunk. Together, they took him out for an evening break while they waited for the pizza. The air had cooled fast after sunset, carrying the scent of pine from the hills and fryer oil from the diner down the block.

Blue handled his business, investigated a mailbox with unnecessary thoroughness, and tried to convince them the night required a longer walk. Holly refused calmly, clearly having negotiated with this particular terrorist before.

When they returned, the pizza arrived, and Reid paid the delivery driver before Holly could reach for her wallet.

She gave him a look as he set the boxes on the counter. “That wasn’t necessary. I can buy pizza.”

“You fed everyone else today.”

Her eyes stayed on him an extra beat. “That’s not how it works.”

“Tonight it can.”