| October 6, 2023 – 8:00 PM
The drive-in was already filling up when Eric pulled in, parking toward the middle. A good spot—not too close, not too far. He was a man who thought ahead.
Lin, arms crossed, glanced at the concession stand."You're paying."
Eric raised an eyebrow."Excuse me?"
Lin smirked. "You dragged me here, Deputy. The least you can do is buy me popcorn."
Eric exhaled, shaking his head."That how it works?"
Lin grinned."That's how it works."
Without arguing, he climbed out of the truck and gestured for her to follow."Fine. But if I'm paying, I'm picking the snacks."
Lin sighed dramatically but followed him to the concession stand anyway.
| October 6, 2023 – 8:10 PM
Eric handed over a large bucket of popcorn and a pack of peanut M&Ms. "Happy now?"
Lin examined the loot."I suppose this will do."
Eric chuckled. "You are painfully high maintenance."
Lin tossed a piece of popcorn in her mouth."And yet, here you are."
Eric smirked, leading them back toward the truck. "Yeah. Here I am."
They settled in, the screen lighting up as the first movie started.
And for once—Lin allowed herself to just sit back and enjoy the night.
| October 6, 2023 – 8:30 PM
The first movie was some old-school action flick—the kind with too many explosions, dramatic one-liners, and an absurd amount of slow-motion punches.
Lin, sitting comfortably in the passenger seat, popped another handful of popcorn into her mouth and smirked."This is terrible."
Eric, lounging in the driver's seat with one arm resting on the open window, glanced at her."You say that like it's a bad thing."
Lin pointed at the screen."That guy just survived a grenade to the chest."
Eric shrugged, amused."Takes skill."
Lin scoffed. "Takes bad writing."
Eric chuckled, stealing some of her popcorn."You got a better suggestion?"
Lin tilted her head, considering."Psychological thrillers. Heist movies. Anything where the characters have more than one facial expression."
Eric hummed. "Didn't peg you as a thriller fan."
Lin smirked. "I like watching smart people win."
Eric gave her a sidelong glance."Ah. Explains why you're always ten steps ahead of everyone."
Lin shrugged, tossing another piece of popcorn into her mouth. "Some people like to be prepared."
Eric watched her for a moment, then smirked. "So… you gonna admit you're having a good time?"
Lin rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.
The truth? It had been a long time since she'd done something this normal.
And maybe, just maybe, she didn't mind the company.
| October 6, 2023 – 9:45 PM
The first movie wrapped up with an explosion so absurd even Eric had to admit it was overkill.
Lin smirked, tossing a kernel of popcorn at him. "Takes skill, huh?"
Eric caught it before it hit his shirt, popping it into his mouth like it hadn't just been used as a weapon. "I stand by it."
Lin rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
The screen flickered, switching to the second movie—a horror flick, older but still unsettling, all grainy film and eerie silence.
Lin glanced at Eric. "You a horror fan?"
Eric smirked. "You about to tell me you scare easy?"
Lin snorted. "Please. I've lived through worse than whatever's on that screen."
Eric hummed. "Yeah. I figured."
Lin didn't respond to that—because he wasn't wrong.
She leaned back, propping her feet on the dashboard, letting the movie play.
For the first time in a long time, she let herself just exist.
| October 6, 2023 – 10:15 PM
The horror movie was predictable but good. The kind that built tension in the silence, where the scariest part wasn't the monster—but the moment before it appeared.
Lin watched as the main character—a lone survivor—stumbled through the wreckage of their old life, staring at what was left.
Then came the question.
"If you could do it over… what would you change?"
Lin popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth, speaking casually. "If you had a second shot at the ending, what would you do?"
Eric didn't answer right away.
Instead, he watched the screen, the faint glow casting shadows across his face. "Depends."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "On?"
Eric exhaled, voice thoughtful. "Do I remember the first time?"
Lin nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yeah. You remember everything."
Eric's jaw tensed slightly. He took a sip of his drink before answering.
"Then I'd get ahead of it."** His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "Fix things before they go wrong."**
Lin tilted her head. "Even if no one believed you?"
Eric smirked faintly. "People don't have to believe you. You just have to be right."
Lin let out a slow breath, staring at the screen.
She hadn't expected him to get it.
But he did. Too well.
"Good answer, Deputy," she murmured.
Eric glanced at her, something knowing in his eyes. "Yeah. I thought so."
And neither of them were talking about the movie anymore.
| October 6, 2023 – 10:30 PM
The movie played on, but Eric wasn't watching it anymore.
Instead, he looked at Lin, thoughtful. "What about you?"
Lin didn't blink. "What about me?"
Eric tilted his head slightly. "Same question. If you had a second shot, what would you do?"
Lin leaned back against the seat, eyes still on the screen. "I'd prepare sooner. Move faster. Cut the right people in and the wrong ones out before it's too late."
Eric studied her. "Sounds like you already have an answer."
Lin gave him a slow, knowing smile."Sounds like you do too."
For a long moment, they just looked at each other.
Then Eric smirked, shaking his head. "This is the strangest not-a-date I've ever been on."
Lin chuckled. "Yeah, well. Welcome to my life."
Eric exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's a good answer."
Lin finally glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "I know."
And just like that, they both turned back to the screen—watching the ending unfold, already knowing how it would go.
| October 6, 2023 – 11:45 PM
The movie ended the way most horror movies did—not with a victory, but with survival.
Lin stretched, cracking her neck as the credits rolled. "That was decent."
Eric chuckled, starting the truck. "Better than the first one?"
Lin smirked. "Low bar, but yeah."
They pulled out of the drive-in, the glow of headlights stretching across the dark road. The town was quiet, most people already asleep, but Lin? She was wide awake.
Eric glanced at her. "You tired?"
Lin huffed a laugh. "I don't get tired. I get efficient."
Eric smirked. "Of course you do."
They drove in silence for a bit, the hum of the truck filling the space between them.
Then—"So, Zhang. This a one-time thing, or am I allowed to invite you places again?"
Lin raised an eyebrow. "That depends."
Eric tilted his head. "On?"
Lin smirked. "On whether or not you bring better snacks next time."
Eric chuckled, shaking his head. "Noted."
Lin leaned back, watching the road ahead. For once, things felt... easy.
And that was dangerous in its own way.
| October 7, 2023 – 12:30 AM
Eric pulled into the driveway, the truck's headlights cutting across the darkened farmhouse. Everything was quiet, save for the faint rustling of trees in the night breeze.
Lin unbuckled her seatbelt but didn't move yet. She wasn't sure why.
Eric glanced at her. "You good?"
Lin smirked. "You checking on me, Deputy?"
Eric leaned back against the headrest, his smirk lazy."Wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't."
Lin rolled her eyes, pushing open the door."I'm fine. Thanks for the movie, Porter."
Eric tapped the steering wheel."Yeah, yeah. Just make sure you don't get too used to me buying your popcorn."
Lin snorted."No promises."
She stepped out, shutting the door behind her, but before she could take a step toward the house—Rex's sharp bark cut through the silence.
Lin froze.
Eric's expression immediately sharpened. "That normal?"
Lin's instincts screamed. No.
She turned toward the house, her eyes scanning the shadows. The porch light was on. Everything looked the same.
And yet—Rex never barked for no reason.
Eric was already out of the truck, moving silently beside her."Inside. Now."
Lin didn't argue. Something was wrong.
And she was about to find out what.
Chapter 146 – Back-Up Position
| October 7, 2023 – 12:33 AM
Eric moved without hesitation, hand instinctively going to the holster beneath his jacket. The casual energy he'd carried all night was gone—replaced by the coiled stillness of someone who'd been trained to expect the worst.
Lin didn't argue. She didn't follow.
Instead, she pivoted on her heel and slid right back into the driver's seat.
She kept the door open, one foot planted on the gravel, the engine running quietly beneath her.
From this angle, she had a full view of the porch, the front yard, and the tree line just beyond the fence.
Classic tactical position. She wasn't just waiting—she was covering him.
Eric gave her a nod before pulling out his weapon, the matte-black pistol held low against his leg as he crept up the steps.
Lin scanned the area. No broken lights. No obvious movement. But Rex wasn't barking anymore. That was worse.
Too quiet.
She gripped the steering wheel tighter with one hand and reached under her seat with the other, fingers curling around the cold metal of her compact pistol. Just in case.
Through the windshield, she watched Eric ease the door open. His body disappeared into the entryway.
Seconds dragged like minutes.
Lin kept breathing slow and steady. Eyes sharp.
Ready.
If something was off inside that house—if something had slipped past the perimeter, past the dogs—they weren't dealing with coincidence anymore.
They were dealing with something deliberate.