Page 258 of Taken Away

He opened it.

Harold's familiar handwriting covered only a few lines.

Walter—

We need to settle this before harvest.

I'm not leaving things the way they are.

—H.

Burke's eyes narrowed.

"So you two were fighting."

He laid the note beside the Bible.

His gaze drifted back to the open pages.

Tucked deeper inside was something thicker than paper.

A small Kodak print, softened at the corners from years of being handled.

Burke picked it up.

He turned it over.

He looked from the photograph...

...to the open Bible.

He lowered himself into Harold's chair.

A soft knock sounded at the open study door.

Bennett stepped inside.

"I heard you were looking through Harold's records."

Without a word, Burke held out the photograph.

Bennett took it.

His brow furrowed.

Burke turned the open Bible toward him.

Bennett read the page.

Then his eyes widened.

For a long moment, neither man spoke.

Finally, Burke broke the silence.

"I don't think Harold and Walter were fighting for the reason we assumed.”

Bennett looked at him.