Page 36 of Shadow Justice

Reid moved to the front window with a rag in one hand and watched him cross Main, shoulders hunched slightly against a wind that had picked up through the afternoon.

There was no rain and only a few people on the street. Hopper still looked as if he expected something to come from behind him.

After the last group member left and Allen took his folio with a polite goodbye to both of them, Reid carried a tray of dirty mugs into the kitchen. Holly followed with the plate of muffin crumbs.

He set the mugs near the dishwasher. “Tell me about Hopper.”

Her expression didn’t close, exactly, but caution entered it. “What about him?”

“He was by the patio gate watching us during the Hoyt exchange this morning. Then back for the support group this afternoon.”

“So?”

“What do you know about him?”

“Not much.” Holly dumped the crumbs in the garbage and slid the plate into the dishwasher. “He started coming in recently, maybe a few months ago. He keeps to himself, gets black coffee, usually sits outside if the weather’s decent.”

“Do you know where he lives?”

“Outside the city limits, I think. North of town, maybe. Allen would know more, but I wouldn’t ask.”

“Because of confidentiality.”

“And because people are allowed to come here without handing me their life in a file folder.”

Reid leaned back against the counter, not missing the protective edge in her voice. It wasn’t aimed only at Hopper. It was aimed at the idea that everyone who carried silence might be dangerous. He understood why she resisted that. He also couldn’t ignore what he’d seen.

“I’m not accusing him,” he said.

“Not yet.”

“No. Not yet.”

She absorbed that without flinching, though he saw how little she liked it. “He’s quiet and reserved. Some people don’t want to talk.”

“Some people watch doors because they don’t feel safe.”

She acknowledged that with a nod. “He’s done that since the first time he came inside. You don’t think…?”

Reid shrugged. “Like I said, not yet, but I need to look into him.”

She sighed but didn’t say anything.

They closed after the late-afternoon rush, cleaned the shop, and reset for morning. Roni returned Blue just before six with a report that he’d excelled at tunnel work, disgraced himself with a flirtatious beagle, and attempted to herd three puppies for reasons known only to his ancestors.

Blue entered Sanctuary with his tail high, accepted Holly’s hug, then ran straight to Reid as if they’d been separated for weeks rather than hours.

“Wow,” Roni said, watching him shove his head against Reid’s thigh. “I see how it is.”

“He’s faithless.” Holly rubbed Blue’s ears, but her voice held warmth. “Did he eat lunch?”

“Every bite, plus one treat he conned out of Trevor by looking tragic.”

“Blue.”

The dog wagged.

Roni looked between Reid and Holly, curiosity still alive but gentler than it had been that morning. “You two surviving temporary coffee employment?”