Page 262 of Taken Away

Burke’s expression stayed mild.

“I’m hoping this is just a conversation.”

She nodded.

“Of course.”

She followed him down the hallway, her heels clicking softly against the tile.

The conference room was plain but not uncomfortable. A long table. Six chairs. A coffee machine in the corner. A window overlooking the back parking lot.

Anne took all of that in before she sat.

Burke pulled out a chair for her.

“Thank you,” she said.

She sat with practiced grace, smoothing her dress over her knees.

Burke sat across from her and placed the folder on the table.

Anne looked at it.

A rolling whiteboard stood against the far wall. Across the top, someone had written in thick black marker:

BLACKWOOD INVESTIGATION

Below it, under PERSONS OF INTEREST, were several names.

Walter Grady.

Red Stephens.

Mercer Development.

Anne Langford.

A neat green check had been drawn beside Anne’s name.

Underneath, another heading read:

POSSIBLE MOTIVES

Money.

Land.

Family feud.

Harold Blackwood.

Anne’s eyes lingered on Walter’s name.

Then drifted to her own.

Then back to Walter’s.

“You really are looking at Walter.”