Page 245 of Taken Away

“She told me Mabel discovered some money missing.”

Walter didn’t answer.

“Seventy-five thousand dollars.”

Walter slowly leaned back in his chair.

“I wondered when that would come out.”

“You aren’t denying it?”

“No.”

Burke hadn’t expected the answer to come so quickly.

Walter folded his hands together.

“I took it.”

“You realize that’s felony theft.”

“I do.”

“Why?”

Walter's gaze fell to the floor for a long moment.

“My younger brother was dying.”

Burke waited.

“Liver cancer.”

Walter swallowed.

“He lost everything before he lost his life.”

Silence filled the room.

“He was going to lose the house too.”

Walter turned toward the window.

“I couldn’t watch that happen.”

“So you stole seventy-five thousand dollars?”

Walter nodded once.

“I told myself it’d only be for a few weeks.”

His voice carried no excuse.

Only regret.

“The Tennessee property was under contract. Family land. My brother and I both had our names on it.”

He rubbed a hand over his mouth.