Chapter 11 #2
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.”
“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.”