"I know."
Relief filled Brooks' face, which confused her.
Then she got it. He was worried he'd have to tell her.
"And you're okay with that?" he asked.
"Kind of? I mean . . . I've heard things, but they're rumors. You know I don't like to judge or make assumptions about people. And the thing is . . . sometimes good people do bad things. Or they get in trouble for good reasons. And sometimes, the world isn't black and white. There's gray in there."
"I know, Aunt Elle. It's all right."
She tugged at her sloth earring. "I'm not sure if your dad would approve of me working for a guy who . . . who doesn't always operate on the right side of the law. I'm not sure he'd like them around you."
Especially not after what Brooks' mother had done.
"Dad isn't here," Brooks told her. "And this is
