[He hadn't replied. He had felt too helpless to make that attempt. But he had been listening. She was tempting his close friend, after all, and Beckett of all people was never someone he would want to see resort to this. He'd known Tess wouldn't really want it. She seemed like a normal person, after all, if not ordinary.

And this town had given him more than his fill of bloodshed in the name of someone who never wanted to hurt anyone.]

I'm glad you're back to yourself. I...I hope nobody took it seriously, but, thank you, for denying those who would even that much of an excuse.