October 10, 2023 – 3:26 PM
The romantic comedy was still playing when Lin heard tires screaming across gravel outside.
She lowered the volume.
Another engine roared closer.
Fast.
Too fast.
Lin sat upright.
The sound came again.
A vehicle tearing down the driveway.
Then came the unmistakable sound of a siren.
Lin dropped the remote onto the couch.
"What the hell?"
She crossed the living room and looked through the window.
A black SUV came around the bend near the front gate.
Behind it—
The sheriff's cruiser.
Both vehicles were moving far too quickly for the driveway.
Lin's stomach tightened.
The SUV swerved.
The cruiser followed.
Then the SUV blew through the open construction gate and continued directly onto her property.
Lin stepped away from the window.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
She grabbed her phone.
Before she could call anyone, the sheriff's cruiser slammed to a stop near the warehouse.
The driver's door flew open.
Sheriff Brooks jumped out.
His hat was gone.
His jacket was open.
He was breathing hard.
He looked toward the SUV.
Then toward the farmhouse.
"LIN!"
She stepped onto the porch.
"What's happening?"
He pointed toward the far side of the property.
"Stay inside!"
Lin frowned.
"Why?"
"Bank robbery."
She stared at him.
"...What?"
He looked toward the SUV.
"Two suspects."
"They robbed the bank in town."
Lin's eyes widened.
"And you chased them here?"
The sheriff gave her a look.
"They drove here."
That distinction seemed important to him.
It was not important to Lin.
"Why are they on my property?"
"Because they didn't exactly ask permission."
The black SUV fishtailed near the warehouse.
Gravel sprayed across the driveway.
The passenger door opened.
A man jumped out.
He looked young.
Maybe thirty.
Dark hoodie.
Jeans.
Running shoes.
He shouted something Lin couldn't make out before disappearing behind the warehouse.
The driver followed.
The sheriff drew his weapon.
His voice changed completely.
Calm.
Firm.
Professional.
"Lin, inside. Lock the door."
She didn't argue.
She stepped backward into the farmhouse.
Locked the front door.
Then the deadbolt.
Her hand remained on it for a moment.
Her heart hammered.
"You have got to be kidding me."
She moved away from the windows.
General Fang appeared from the hallway.
He had heard the commotion.
"What's happening?"
Lin lowered her voice.
"Sheriff says two bank robbers are on the property."
General Fang's expression changed immediately.
He reached for his radio.
"Richard?"
Richard's voice answered from outside.
"Already heard."
General Fang looked at Lin.
"Stay here."
Lin nodded.
"Where's Mom?"
"Clinic."
That helped.
At least Helen wasn't here.
A loud voice echoed across the property.
"SHERIFF!"
Lin froze.
The voice came from behind the warehouse.
The sheriff answered.
"Drop the weapon and come out!"
A pause.
Then—
"You don't understand!"
The sheriff's voice remained calm.
"I understand you robbed a bank."
The suspect shouted back.
"The whole system is collapsing!"
Lin stared at General Fang.
He stared back.
The man continued yelling.
"You people don't understand what's coming!"
Lin muttered,
"Apparently I'm having that problem too."
General Fang almost smiled.
Almost.
A second voice suddenly shouted from farther down the property.
"He's got a gun!"
The sheriff immediately shouted,
"Drop it!"
A metallic clatter followed.
Silence.
Then the sheriff's voice again.
"Hands where I can see them!"
Footsteps.
Several.
Lin stayed behind the wall near the entryway.
She could hear everything.
Boots on gravel.
Commands.
Heavy breathing.
"Get on the ground!"
Another voice protested.
"We're trying to prepare!"
The sheriff snapped back.
"You're preparing for prison!"
Lin couldn't help it.
She covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
General Fang gave her a sideways glance.
She whispered,
"Sorry."
A few minutes later, someone knocked firmly on the farmhouse door.
Lin didn't move.
The sheriff's voice came through.
"Lin. It's Brooks."
She checked through the window.
He stood several feet away from the door.
Weapon holstered.
Hands visible.
She unlocked it.
Opened the door only a few inches.
"Are they caught?"
He nodded.
"Both."
Lin exhaled.
"Good."
The sheriff looked past her toward the television.
The romantic comedy was still playing.
He blinked.
Then looked back at Lin.
"Bad timing?"
Lin stared at him.
"You have no idea."
He laughed.
For the first time since arriving, some of the tension left his face.
"Sorry about the property damage."
Lin looked toward the driveway.
Tire tracks had carved deep grooves through the gravel.
One of the temporary construction signs had been knocked sideways.
She sighed.
"I'll add it to tomorrow's repair list."
The sheriff shook his head.
"You know..."
He looked toward the road.
"...I warned you about city people."
Lin raised an eyebrow.
"You warned me about neighbors."
"Same basic category."
She laughed.
"No, Sheriff."
She opened the door wider.
"These two are their own category."
He smiled.
The sheriff smiled.
"Fair enough."
He started toward his cruiser, then stopped.
He turned back toward Lin.
"Actually..."
Lin waited.
"There's one more thing."
Her expression tightened.
"What now?"
The sheriff pointed toward the far end of the property.
"Those two didn't choose your place randomly."
Lin's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"They were looking for somewhere they could disappear."
He glanced toward the warehouse.
"Big property."
"Multiple buildings."
"Trees."
"Private roads."
"They probably figured they'd lose us once they got through your gate."
Lin looked toward the tire tracks carved into her gravel.
"So they picked my farm because it looked isolated."
"That's my guess."
She folded her arms.
"Wonderful."
The sheriff chuckled.
"Welcome to owning a large piece of property."
Lin gave him a flat look.
"I was hoping for more cows and fewer bank robbers."
He laughed.
"Most days, that's exactly what you'll get."
He started walking again.
Then Lin called after him.
"Sheriff?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
"Next time someone decides to use my property as an escape route..."
She pointed toward the damaged sign.
"...can they at least avoid the construction?"
The sheriff looked at the tire tracks.
Then at the crooked sign.
Then back at her.
"I'll put it in the department memo."
Lin smiled.
"Appreciated."
He shook his head with a grin and climbed into the cruiser.
The engine started.
Lin watched the sheriff's vehicle follow the second cruiser down the driveway.
The siren remained silent this time.
She waited until both vehicles disappeared through the gate.
Then she looked at the damage.
A few feet of torn-up gravel.
A bent sign.
One crushed traffic cone.
She sighed.
"Phase One."
She looked back at the farmhouse.
"Five hours into celebrating it..."
She shook her head.
"...and apparently Phase One has already developed a maintenance department."
From behind her, General Fang spoke calmly.
"We can replace the sign."
Lin turned.
"I know."
She smiled.
"I'm just disappointed it lasted less than a day."
General Fang looked toward the road.
"The sign performed admirably."
Lin laughed.
"You really are trying to make me feel better."
"Yes."
She looked at the damaged cone.
"It's working."
They stood together for another moment.
Then Lin glanced toward the living room.
The romantic comedy was still playing.
She pointed toward the house.
"I'm going back to my movie."
General Fang nodded.
"Good decision."
Lin turned toward the porch.
Behind her, the property was already returning to normal.
The farmhouse.
The warehouse.
The barns.
The fields.
Everything she'd spent months building was still there.
Except for one traffic sign.
And, apparently, her afternoon of doing absolutely nothing.
She smiled to herself.
"I was having a perfectly good lazy day."
Then she walked back inside.