Page 276 of Taken Away

Then she looked back at her mother.

“What did you do to Mabel?”

Burke rose slowly, but he did not interrupt.

Anne looked at her daughter.

“I didn’t do anything to her.”

Aubrey felt something inside her tighten.

“Oh my God.”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“You’re lying.”

Anne shook her head quickly.

“No.”

Aubrey took another step back.

“No…”

Anne reached toward her.

“I’m not.”

“Don’t.”

Aubrey’s voice cracked.

“Don’t tell me that.”

Anne froze.

Aubrey pointed at her with a trembling hand.

“I know your voice.”

The room went still.

“I’ve heard it my whole life.”

Tears streamed down her face.

“The voice you used when you promised you’d come home. When you said you hadn’t forgotten my birthday. When you swore next time would be different.”

She shook her head.

“I know that voice.”

Silence.

“I know when you’re lying.”

Anne’s shoulders collapsed.