Page 279 of Taken Away

But there was nothing left.

Only the woman in front of her.

The lies behind her.

Bennett’s hands steadying her from behind.

Burke guided Anne toward the door.

As she passed, Aubrey whispered, “You stole my father.”

Anne stopped.

She did not turn around.

She simply closed her eyes.

Aubrey’s voice broke completely.

“And the only person who was trying to give him back to me…”

The room went silent.

“…was Mabel.”

Anne’s face folded.

Aubrey looked at her mother one last time.

“And then you took Mabel.”

Anne covered her mouth as if the words had struck somewhere deeper than grief.

Burke led her out.

No one spoke after that.

Not until the hallway swallowed the sound of Anne Langford crying.

Lobby

The heavy secured door closed behind Anne with a dull metallic click.

Silence settled over the lobby.

Aubrey stood where Burke had left her, Bennett beside her, one arm around her shoulders.

Walter remained near the waiting room chairs, staring at the closed door.

Burke returned a few moments later.

He had the confession.

He had the evidence.

He had enough to charge Anne Langford with murder.

And he knew there was more to that night than Anne had confessed.