Page 161 of Taken Away

Then he drew a breath.

“Here’s what I’ll do,” he said. “I’ll start with paper. Records. Timelines. I’ll see when your aunt first started sending money. When the cards started coming back. If there are any gaps.”

He paused.

“Eventually, I’m going to have to talk to Ted.”

Aubrey’s throat tightened.

“I know.”

“You want to be there when I do?”

She shook her head immediately.

“No.”

His gaze softened again.

“Didn’t think so.”

He closed the folder and rested one hand on the box.

“I’ll photograph everything before I leave,” he said. “Paper trail, dates, postmarks. Then I’ll start digging.”

Aubrey nodded.

“I’ll be discreet,” he added. “No one needs to know I’m poking around except the people I have to ask.”

“Burke?”

“Doesn’t need to know,” Declan said. “This isn’t his case. Not yet.”

That steadied her more than anything else had.

“Okay,” she said.

Declan pulled out his phone and glanced toward the folder.

“Give me a few minutes with these.”

Aubrey stood.

“I’ll be in my office.”

He nodded.

“I’ll find you before I leave.”

She started toward the door.

Then stopped.

“Deck?”

“Yeah?”

“If this goes where you think it might…” She hesitated. “Do I want to know?”