Page 62 of Shadow Justice

“You don’t practice law anymore,” she reminded him gently.

“I’m someone he trusts, and I’ll find him a good attorney if he needs one.”

Trust mattered. Showing up mattered. People who were already wounded remembered who stood beside them when standing there became inconvenient.

Reid shifted beside her, a small movement, but she felt another warning in it.

“Allen, you can’t interfere with the investigation,” she said.

“I won’t interfere.” He sounded pained that she would think so. “But I will not abandon him.”

Holly’s throat tightened. “Please be careful,” she said.

“I will.” His voice warmed, and that gentleness felt almost familiar enough to steady her. “And Holly? Don’t let anyone convince you that Hopper is only what he looks like when he’s afraid. He loved his sister. He lost her twice, once when she died and again when that verdict came back. If he’s angry, he has reason to be.”

“I understand.”

“I thought you would.” The quiet gratitude in his voice loosened the knot between her shoulders. “I’m sorry I put this on you. I shouldn’t have called.”

“You can call me anytime. You know that.”

“I know your life is complicated, but always remember that Sanctuary matters to more people than you realize.” He paused. “Take care of yourself, Holly.”

The call ended.

She stood with the phone still in her hand, staring at the dark screen. “He’s scared,” she said.

“Maybe.”

The single word hit wrong. Holly faced Reid. “Maybe?”

“Allen called you less than five minutes after Claire told us he’d been shut out of Hopper’s interview.”

“Because he’s worried about Hopper and he knew I’d understand.”

“He knew you’d believe the reason he gave you.”

The accusation in that, even if Reid didn’t mean it as one, made heat crawl up her neck. “You think he called to manipulate me? Why?”

“I think he called because he wanted you to hear his version before anyone else’s.”

“Why do you sound like I’m supposed to ignore the fact that Hopper is being accused of murder on the anniversary of his sister’s death?”

“I’m not asking you to ignore it, and he hasn’t been charged yet.”

Technicalities! “It matters.”

“It absolutely matters.” Reid slid off the stool to face her fully. “That’s why it works.”

Holly stared at him. “Works?”

“On you.”

The words felt like a blow. “You think I’m gullible.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“You think I hear one sad story and forget there’s a killer on the loose?”