Grant stepped closer.
“You knew Hollis was dirty back then.” His voice was rough with anger. “You knew something was going on and you did nothing.”
Burton’s face hardened.
“That’s not true.”
"Then stop talking in circles and tell us where he'd take her."
A long silence settled over the pasture.
Wind moved through the grass around them.
Then Burton finally exhaled.
“Wade always kept land nobody knew about,” Burton said, looking toward the dark ridgeline before continuing. Burke went still. Grant frowned.
"Places he bought through other people. Places that never made sense on paper."
Burton looked toward the farmhouse.
"Come on."
* * *
Scott Farm — Ten Minutes Later
An old county map spread across the kitchen table beneath warm overhead light.
Burton stood over it with reading glasses low on his nose while Burke and Grant watched.
Maggie stood silently near the counter, arms folded tightly across herself.
Burton pointed toward the northern ridge.
“Back in the nineties, Hollis started buying land up here near the forestry preserve.” He tapped the map. “Claimed he was building a luxury subdivision tied into the country club. Custom mountain homes around the golf course.”
Grant frowned.
“But he never built it.”
“No.” Burton shook his head. “Roads got cut in. Utilities partially run. Then the whole thing stopped.”
Burke leaned closer.
“Remote?”
“Very.”
Burton pointed again.
“Only one road in. Mountain on one side. Preserve land on the other.”
Grant and Burke exchanged a look.
Perfect cover.
Then Burton slid his finger across the county map toward the opposite side of Sylva.
