Page 133 of Taken Away

Or maybe she simply needed to stop staring at paperwork before the numbers fused together.

Burke found Vanessa Mercer exactly where Chloe said he would—in the tasting room of the big barn.

Bennett stood beside her at the end of the bar, a legal pad in front of them. The two of them were talking quietly when Burke approached.

Vanessa looked up first. Designer sunglasses rested on top of her head. A coffee cup occupied one hand.

“Sheriff.”

“Ms. Mercer.”

She smiled.

“Vanessa.”

Burke nodded. “Vanessa.”

Bennett glanced between them. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

As he stepped back, Vanessa’s fingers brushed his sleeve.

Bennett shifted half a step away almost automatically.

“Don’t go far,” she said lightly. “I still need your signature.”

The words were casual.

Automatic.

The kind that came from familiarity.

Bennett gave a brief nod. “I’ll be in my office.”

He walked away without looking back.

Burke watched him disappear down the hall, then turned to Vanessa.

“I’ve got a few questions.”

Her smile faded. “This about Mabel?”

“Yes.”

For the next ten minutes, Burke asked about distribution contracts, disagreements, and recent meetings.

Nothing exciting. Nothing useful.

Vanessa answered everything without hesitation.

“No, we weren’t fighting.”

“Did you disagree?”

“Of course.”

“About what?”

“Pricing. Expansion. Distribution rights.” She lifted one shoulder. “That’s business.”