Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 207

Chapter 207: Does She Miss Him?

I think his name was… Taylor. Gavin. Right, Gavin Taylor. He was a cop

“Gavin Taylor‘ He got Caleb a job as a temporary security guard?” Aubrey muttered, her mind racing. Suddenly, Caleb’s alibi clicked. It was easy to fake an alibi when you had a cousin on the force covering for you.

It was the perfect setup.

“Aubrey, you think Caleb is the killer? That’s impossible. That was his father,” Theodore said, clearly skeptical. “You’re looking in the wrong direction.” Aubrey looked at him, disappointed. Was he just naive or actually stupid? “In the world of crime, nothing is impossible. There are only things you haven’t thought of yet. You’re not a criminal, yet you’re rotting in this cell. If that can happen, anything can.”

That shut Theodore up. He hung his head, speechless.

Aubrey didn’t remember Caleb, and she didn’t remember Gavin either. But looking at the case like a lawyer, this was a breakthrough. She had to tell Zach. It would save him from hitting a lot of dead ends in the investigation.

As the visitation neared its end, Aubrey looked him in the eye. “I’m going to get you out,” she said. “Not because you’re my father, but because I need a lean family background. If you still love me, then stay on the right side of the law once you’re free. Don’t stain my reputation ever again. I couldn’t hoose my gender, my birth, or my parents–but I can choose my future. If there ever comes a day when Brendan won’t look after you, come to me. I’ll nake sure you’re taken care of in your old age. Because I am your daughter.”

Theodore’s clouded eyes welled up as he stared at her.

he hung up the phone, stood, and walked away. She didn’t look back.

Outside the prison, she looked up at the Crestview City sky. It was ocean–blue, dotted with white clouds, and the sun felt warm and bright against her kin.

he wouldn’t let her life stay dimmed by these people. Distancing herself from them was her own kind of salvation.

he pulled her phone from her bag and dialed Zach.

He picked up immediately, his voice steady. “Aubrey? What’s going on?”

Zach, have you looked into Gavin Taylor yet?”

Who?”

Caleb Taylor’s cousin–Gavin Taylor. He’s a cop here in Crestview. Have you found anything on him?”

Hold on. I’m at the station. Let me check the database.”

Aubrey went quiet and waited. She hoped Gavin Taylor would be the lead she needed.

After a moment, Zachary’s voice came through. “Aubrey, Gavin was fired a long time ago.”

What?”

I checked the records. It was back when Caleb’s dog bit you. My brother stepped in because Gavin was abusing his authority. You know my rother–he wasn’t about to let that slide.”

It all clicked for Aubrey,

He was still a cop when the crime happened, though. He’s the one who arranged for Caleb to work out of town that day. He likely fabricated Caleb’s libi. Zach, can you have your colleagues in Crestview look into him?”

Will do. That’s a solid lead. I’ll have someone follow up on it.”

Thanks, Zach. I appreciate it.”

We’re family, don’t mention it,” Zachary said warmly. ‘I heard you’re back in Crestview City?”

Yeah, got in yesterday. I’m going to hang out for a few days before heading back to the capital.”

‘Well, have a good time.”

Want me to bring you back some local snacks? I can grab some for you.”

“Sure, that sounds great. Thanks.”

08:03

< Chapter 207:

Aubrey smiled, throwing his own words back at him. “We’re family, Zach. No need for thanks”

Zachary chuckled.

Chaim 50 Coins By Check in

After hanging up, Aubrey grabbed a ride. She headed to the busiest part of Crestview to do some shopping and check out the local spots.

I soon realized that in a tech–driven place like Crestview City, having no personality was its biggest personality trait. There were no local specialties to be found. After wandering around all day, I actually started wondering: should I just bring a drone or a robot back with me?

She spent the day hitting the stores. She grabbed some gifts for her brother and sister–in–law, then picked out some unique souvenirs for Tracy. Of course, she didn’t forget Victoria Stone and Chase Blackwood.

Shopping for the others was the easy part. It was choosing a gift for Damon that made her hesitate.

When Damon came back from his business trip, he’d given her a gemstone worth $250,000.

Her gift to him couldn’t be cheap. But she couldn’t afford anything crazy expensive, either. It couldn’t be too formal, but she didn’t want it to look like

in afterthought. She wanted to get him something he’d actually like, but she had no clue what he lacked–or what he even liked.

They’d only spent a few days together. To her, Damon was still a mystery. She had absolutely no idea what his tastes were

she’d managed to find gifts for everyone else. His was the only one she couldn’t settle on.

Late night arrived, and her phone was still silent. Nothing from Damon.

After a shower, she crawled into bed and stared at her phone. Finally, she sent him a message on the Grid.

You there?]

ust those two words were enough to make her heart race with anxiety.

He hadn’t reached out once all day. It made her doubt everything. Was his love for her really as deep as his family made it out to be?

uddenly, her phone buzzed twice.

he snatched the phone back up and swiped open The Grid. Damon had replied. A smile started to tug at her lips, but it vanished as soon as she saw the

nessage.

Here.]

Aubrey stared at the screen, stunned.

Here? Just… *Here?*

eriously? Was he paying by the letter?

he scoffed and face–planted her phone into the mattress. She snapped the light off, dove under the covers, and squeezed her eyes shut, determined to leep.

ut the moment she closed her eyes, that one word-*Here*-started looping in her head. A single word, yet it felt like a hundred different red flags.

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