Page 127 of Taken Away

Both deputies immediately looked innocent.

Nobody bought it.

Burke pointed his pen toward Sara. “Anything else?”

She shook her head. “No sir.”

Burke turned to the far end of the table. “What about Ruger? Anything from the Victorian?”

Deputy Jenkins answered. “We ran him from the mansion out across the property. He tracked a scent from the house over to the winery offices and stopped. Nothing past that.”

Burke nodded once.

He looked back at the whiteboard.

Red Stephens. Walter Grady. Developers. Anne Langford.

Still no answers.

He closed the notebook. “Let’s call Anne.”

The phone rang twice.

“Hello?”

“Anne Langford?”

“Speaking.”

Burke introduced himself.

A brief pause.

Then Anne laughed softly. “Sheriff Scott.”

Burke smiled despite himself. “You know who I am?”

“Honey, I knew your father.” The warmth in her voice sounded genuine. “Burton Scott was one of the good ones.”

Several deputies exchanged glances.

Burke ignored them.

“The last time I was home, Aubrey was still little. Your father helped me when my car broke down outside town.”

“That surprises me,” Burke said.

“Oh, he probably forgot about it five minutes later.” She laughed softly. “I didn’t.”

“What can I do for you, Sheriff?”

Burke glanced at his notes. “The medical examiner completed Mabel’s autopsy.”

Silence.

“Autopsy?”

“Yes, ma’am.”