Sophia’s voice gentled. “Juni, I think… I think he has other responsibilities. His mother.?.”

“Since when do you-” Juniper’s words came out sharp, unfinished.

Sophia’s brow pulled together, just slightly… that particular confusion when someone’s reaction doesn’t match the conversation. “I think he mentioned it a few weeks ago, when I was working that case for Kenery.” She remembered how his voice had cracked when he got that call about his mother’s treatment. Something shifted in Juniper’s rigid control. “He has to…”

“And we are helping everyone,” Juniper cut in, the non sequitur making Sophia blink. Juniper had already started pacing, her heels clicking against marble in sharp staccato. “The supplemental briefing timeline gives us room to restructure our approach. Daniel can handle the constitutional framework while we…”