Page 263 of Taken Away

Burke rested his hands on the folder but made no move to open it.

“I’m looking at everyone.”

A faint smile touched her lips.

“You can’t honestly believe Walter Grady murdered my sister.”

“I believe it’s my job to eliminate everyone.”

“Fair enough.”

"Everyone says Walter loved Blackwood."

“He does.”

"I've also been told he and Harold fought."

Anne’s smile faded by a fraction.

“They disagreed.”

“Often.”

“Men who work together that long are bound to have disagreements.”

“They weren’t ordinary disagreements, were they?”

Anne said nothing.

Burke leaned back.

“So what were they fighting about?”

“The winery?”

“No.”

“The cattle operation?”

“No.”

Burke held her eyes.

“Then what?”

Anne hesitated only a heartbeat.

Then she smiled.

“You know how men are. Pride. Stubbornness. Two strong personalities under one roof.”

“I’ve been told it was more personal than that.”

“I’m sure you’ve been told lots of things.”

“I have.”

Burke opened the folder but did not remove anything from it.