Page 61 of Shadow Justice

“We’re friends,” Holly said. She answered the call. “Allen?”

“Holly.” His voice sounded tired, strained in a way she’d never heard from him. “I’m sorry to bother you on a Sunday.”

“It’s okay. Are you all right?”

Reid motioned for her to put him on speaker. She did.

“I’m not sure that’s the word I’d use.” A soft exhale came through the line. “I was visiting Hopper Shaw today, and two FBI agents came to take him in for questioning on a murder case.”

Holly looked at Reid. He shook his head and made a zipping motion over his lips.

Play dumb. “What? That’s terrible.”

Allen paused, and when he spoke again, the strain had become something quieter, more personal. “Today is the anniversary of his sister’s death. Hopper barely gets through this date in the best of years.”

“I didn’t know.”

“He’s a private man, and grief has made him more so.” Allen’s voice lowered. “He was trying to stay calm, but I could hear that old panic in him. That certainty that the system that’d failed him once had already decided to fail him again.”

Holly closed her eyes briefly. She didn’t want to see Hopper that way, but Allen’s words made the image too easy. Hopper, big and silent and watchful, standing in his own home on the anniversary of his sister’s death while Claire and Emmet arrived to take him in for questioning.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Agent Dawson is doing her job. I respect that, but she obviously has the wrong man.” Allen’s voice made it clear that respect didn’t mean approval. “Hopper is grieving, he’s angry, he’s connected to Emma, and he’s easy to misunderstand. That doesn’t make him a killer.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

Reid’s mouth pressed flat, but he didn’t interrupt.

Allen gave another heavy sigh. “If they’re looking at Hopper today, then they’ve found their way back to Emma’s case. I assume they’re trying to pin a murder on him. Do you know anything about this? You’re the eyes and ears of our community. Who’s been killed, Holly?”

Her eyes locked on Reid. In his gaze, she saw a warning.

She didn’t want to lie, not to Allen, not to anyone. “All I know is there have been several murders that the FBI is looking into.” That only confirmed what he’d already figured out.

“What?” He made a pained sound. “Is that why Reid Fleming is working at the shop? Is he part of this?”

Reid shook his head again.

“He’s helping me out because he’s a friend and I’m understaffed. That’s all.”

Allen was silent for a long beat. “I prosecuted Calvin Dodge. I stood with Emma’s family, and when the case fell apart, I was the one who had to face them afterward. Hopper has never forgiven the system for that. Some days I’m not sure I have either.”

“I think it would be a good idea for you to think about protection.”

“From who? Hopper? I’m telling you, Holly. He didn’t do it.”

She forced herself to stay calm. “If he didn’t, that means the person who did is still out there. We don’t know what their motivation is. You need to take precautions.”

“Holly, I appreciate the concern, truly, but I won’t hide while Hopper sits in an interview room believing everyone has decided he’s a monster.”

“You could call Shadow Point Security.”

A faint, humorless laugh came through the line. “Reid Fleming’s people?”

“They’re good.”

“I’m sure they are, but private security compounds are for people willing to be tucked behind gates while others take the impact. I’ve spent too many years sitting with people after the impact.” His voice softened. “Hopper needs someone in his corner today.”