Page 57 of Shadow Justice

Holly’s voice lowered. “Allen.”

“Or Hank or someone from the courthouse. Someone attached to a case who started seeing familiar faces in your shop.” Reid kept typing, following the thread before it had time to break.

“You’re thinking about what Linc said about Allen’s case.”

“I’m thinking Allen recognized me because of Granddad, and Warren may have known Allen. Sharla knew Hank. Hopper appears near more than one victim, and Hopper’s in Allen’s support group. Those are connections, but not conclusions.”

Holly was quiet beside him, and he appreciated the effort it cost her not to defend anyone.

He searched Allen Davies with Linc’s name, narrowing by county, then by the years before Linc retired. Public summaries surfaced slowly: old articles, docket entries, archived county bulletins, election-season commentary that mentioned notable rulings from Judge Lincoln Fleming’s final years. Reid skimmed past civil disputes, drug cases, burglaries, an arson appeal, and a domestic assault that had gone nowhere useful.

Then a case name caught him.

State v. Calvin Dodge.

His fingers stilled over the keyboard.

Holly leaned closer. “What?”

Reid opened the docket summary. “Prosecutor Allen Davies. Presiding Judge Lincoln Fleming.”

“What was the charge?”

“Aggravated assault initially, later amended after the victim died.” Reid read quickly, the legal language arranging itself into a story that matched too much of what Linc had told them. Suppression motion granted in part. Key physical evidence excluded. Defendant’s custodial statement suppressed. Jury trial proceeded. Not guilty verdict. Filed in Linc’s last year on the bench.

Holly’s breath caught. “That’s the case.”

“Looks like it.”

“Who was the victim?”

Reid scrolled.

Victim: Emma Shaw.

Holly’s hand landed on his forearm. “Shaw. Hopper’s last name is Shaw.”

Reid was already sending the case number to Jasper.

Need full archive packet on State v. Calvin Dodge. Jury list, witness list, victim family, anything attached. Get Claire’s authorization if needed.

Jasper replied quickly enough that he’d either been waiting or already inside the archive.

On it.

Holly didn’t let go of Reid’s arm. Reid knew it could take minutes or hours, depending on whether Claire needed to request access through the clerk. He drummed his fingers on the counter again, impatience eating at him.

The next message appeared two minutes later. It was a scanned PDF from the county archive with poor contrast. It was slightly crooked and marked with a clerk’s stamp in the upper corner. Reid enlarged the first page and read the case caption. State of Montana v. Calvin Dodge. Victim Emma Shaw. Prosecutor Allen Davies. Presiding Judge Lincoln Fleming.

He scrolled past the verdict form with his jaw tight.

Not guilty.

The next page was labeled Seated Jury.

Reid read the names once, then again, slower, refusing to let his mind jump ahead of what his eyes confirmed.

Warren Ackles.