| October 2, 2023 – 9:00 AM
Lin was elbow-deep in work, sweat on her brow, hair pinned messily back as she went over the supply inventory when she heard the distinct crunch of tires on gravel.
She sighed, wiping her hands on her jeans. The last thing she needed was visitors.
Then she caught sight of the black and white patrol SUV rolling up the driveway.
Her expression didn't change, but her shoulders tensed slightly.
Cops showing up unannounced? Never a good sign.
The door opened, and a man stepped out—tall, lean, early forties, the kind of build that said he used to be military or still trained like it. His uniform fit him well, and when he took his sunglasses off, sharp green eyes assessed her with casual interest.
Not bad.
The badge on his chest read Deputy Eric Porter.
She raised an eyebrow. "Morning, Deputy."
He smirked, strolling toward her with an easy confidence that was almost annoying."Morning, Miss Zhang. Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Lin leaned against the porch railing, arms crossed."Depends. You here to write me a speeding ticket or just looking for a coffee break?"
Eric chuckled, glancing around the property."Neither. Just following up on some things."
Lin tilted her head. "Following up? On what?"
Eric flipped open a small notepad."For starters, Tom Dawson's cows."
Lin's expression didn't shift, but her interest sharpened."What about them?"
Eric tapped his pen against the paper. "Word is, you and your mother pulled an all-nighter saving them."
Lin smirked. "Word travels fast."
Eric nodded. "Small town. And when a farmer nearly loses half his herd, people talk." He paused. "Tom says the feed was bad. That check out?"
Lin exhaled. "Yeah. Mold contamination. Probably from improper storage before it got to him."
Eric's gaze flickered. "And where'd he get it?"
Lin gave him a measured look."Some warehouse in the city. Paid cash, no real trail."
Eric muttered a curse under his breath. "That's what I thought."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care? Farm problems aren't exactly police matters."
Eric clicked his pen, expression thoughtful."Normally, no. But this isn't the first bad feed case we've had reported in the last six months."
Lin stilled for half a second before covering it with a casual sip of coffee. "Oh?"
Eric watched her carefully. "Yeah. A couple of ranchers in the next town over had the same issue last month. Different supplier, same problem."
Lin set her mug down. "That sounds more like a business issue than a legal one."
Eric smirked. "Unless someone's deliberately selling bad product to cut costs. Then it's fraud."
Lin hummed. "So you're not just here to check on Tom. You're looking for a pattern."
Eric chuckled, slow and deep."Like I said—small town. We don't let problems go if we can help it."
Lin's lips twitched. "Efficient."
Eric's gaze flicked over her, assessing."You always this blunt?"
Lin smirked. "You always this nosy?"
He laughed. "Fair." Then, without missing a beat—"So, why'd you buy the old hotel?"
Lin blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "What?"
Eric tapped his notepad again. "People are curious. You move in, start buying up supplies, putting up fences, and hiring contractors at record speed. And now you're bringing in livestock and security?" He tilted his head. "Kinda looks like you're prepping for something."
Lin's smirk didn't waver."It's an investment."
Eric chuckled. "That your answer for everything?"
Lin shrugged. "When it works."
Eric studied her for a beat, then closed his notepad. "Alright, Zhang. Just checking in. But I'll be around."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"
Eric grinned, slipping his sunglasses back on. "Only if you're up to something."
Lin smiled, sharp and unreadable."Guess you'll have to wait and see."
Eric let out a low laugh, then turned and walked back to his SUV.
Lin watched as he drove off, the dust kicking up in his wake.
Deputy Porter was interesting.
She'd have to keep an eye on that one.
| October 2, 2023 – 9:15 AM
Lin stood on the porch, coffee in hand, watching as Deputy Eric Porter drove off.
She wasn't sure what she was watching for, exactly—but something about him stuck in her mind. The way he moved, calm and deliberate, like he was always three steps ahead of everyone else.
His SUV rolled down the gravel driveway at an unhurried pace. No rush, no tension—like he wanted her to know he wasn't done with his questions.
Lin's smirk lingered as she leaned against the porch railing, eyes tracking the vehicle until it disappeared past the trees.
She took another slow sip of coffee, letting the moment settle.
Eric Porter wasn't just some local cop doing his rounds.
He was curious.
And worse?
He was smart.
Lin liked smart men. Liked the way they tested boundaries, the way they read between the lines.
But she also knew—smart men were dangerous.
And this one? He was already watching her too closely.
She tapped her fingers against the mug, thinking.
Then, with a small smirk, she turned and headed back inside.
If Eric Porter wanted to keep watching her?
She'd make sure he only saw what she wanted him to see.
| October 2, 2023 – 10:00 AM
Lin walked alongside Ethan and Richard, the crisp morning air carrying the distant hum of power tools.
Ethan, grinning like a man who had pulled off a miracle, gestured toward the perimeter wall—standing tall, reinforced, and finished in record time.
"Less than a week," he said, clearly proud. "Told you we'd get it done."
Lin ran a hand along the smooth concrete finish. No weak points. No shortcuts.
She smirked. "I'll admit, I expected delays. You proved me wrong."
Ethan smirked back. "Not the first time. Won't be the last."
Lin pulled out her phone, already transferring the next payment."Consider yourself paid."
Ethan's crew, who had been eavesdropping, let out a few victorious cheers.
Richard chuckled, arms crossed."Alright, so the wall's done. What's next?"
Ethan jerked his thumb toward the old hotel."Today's the first real day inside. We're starting with repairs—sanding, sealing, reinforcing the old beams. The electricians and plumbers are scheduled for the next four days."
Lin nodded."Good. I want full maintenance done while we're at it—roof, insulation, foundation checks. I don't want to fix one problem only to find five more later."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Going all in?"
Lin smirked. "I don't do half-measures."
Richard stretched, eyeing the hotel."So, what's the bad news?"
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. "The kitchen's going to be out of commission for a week. Maybe longer, depending on the wiring."
Lin groaned. "Fantastic."
Richard shrugged, completely unfazed. "I've got a grill. We're good."
Ethan grinned. "I like the attitude."
Lin sighed, already calculating how much takeout they'd be eating."Fine. But I swear to god, if you take apart my coffee machine—"
Ethan raised his hands in surrender. "Relax. Coffee station stays untouched. I'm not a monster."
Lin muttered something under her breath before motioning for them to head inside.
| October 2, 2023 – 10:45 AM – Inside the Hotel
The moment they stepped into the grand lobby, the sound of sanding machines filled the air. The old floors—dull, scratched, and covered in dust—were finally getting the attention they needed.
Ethan gestured toward the main structure."Good news—most of it's solid. The worst issues are cosmetic. Your designer picked good finishes to work with."
Lin nodded. "That's why I hired her."
They moved toward the bar area, which was halfway gutted.
"Alright, so about the basement," Ethan started. "You still want the small wine cellar and the rest closed off?"
Lin nodded, already knowing where this was going."Seal it. Reinforce the structure, make sure there's no moisture issues. I don't want to deal with a flooded mess down the road."
Ethan smirked. "You're a real 'think five steps ahead' kind of woman, huh?"
Lin just smiled. "That's why I don't lose."
They stepped down into the cool, stone-walled basement, where workers were already setting up framing for the hidden door.
"Wine cellar goes here," Lin gestured to the front section. "Nothing fancy. Just enough for display and a bit of storage."
Ethan nodded, flipping through the plans."And the movie room?"
Lin smirked. "Big screen. Plush seating. Soundproofed walls."
Richard chuckled. "Fancy."
Lin shrugged. "If I'm going to own a fortress, I'm at least going to enjoy it."
Ethan grinned. "That's the most reasonable thing you've said all day."
Lin exhaled, watching as her vision for the place finally started to take shape.
This wasn't just a renovation.
It was a transformation.
| October 2, 2023 – 11:00 AM – Basement Walkthrough
Richard chuckled, running a hand over one of the old stone walls."Fancy."
Lin smirked. "If I'm going to own a fortress, I'm at least going to enjoy it."
Ethan, who had been quietly scanning the basement, tilted his head. "You might want to think bigger while we're already tearing things up."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Ethan pointed toward the far side of the basement."See that section? If you dig out a little more, you can run all your plumbing updates through here instead of trying to work around the old system. Makes future maintenance easier, and you won't have to rip up the floors upstairs later if something goes wrong."
Lin crossed her arms, considering. "How much more work are we talking?"
Ethan smirked. "A couple extra days. But if you're planning to live here long-term, you'll thank me later."
Richard nodded, already seeing the logic."He's got a point. No sense half-fixing things when you're already deep in renovations."
Lin exhaled, turning back to Ethan."And you're sure it won't mess with the foundation?"
Ethan grinned."Zhang, I build things for a living. I wouldn't suggest it if I thought your house was going to cave in."
Lin rolled her eyes. "Alright. Do it. But since you're so full of ideas, what else?"
Ethan tapped a hand against the thick basement wall."If you're running new wiring anyway, you should set up a proper control room for all your systems—internet, security feeds, power backups. Stick it in its own insulated space so everything's in one place."
Lin blinked, intrigued."You're talking a full setup?"
Ethan nodded. "Yep. Control panels, backup batteries, emergency switches. Right now, your systems are going to be spread across multiple rooms. One good power surge, and you'll be running around like a headless chicken trying to fix things. Put it all in one secure spot, and you'll have full control over your entire property from a single room."
Lin's smirk slowly widened."You should've led with that. I love control."
Ethan laughed. "Figured you might."
Lin turned to Richard. "What do you think?"
Richard nodded approvingly."Smart. The farm, the hotel, all of it—you need a nerve center. And if you're locking up half the basement anyway, might as well make use of the space you keep."
Lin clapped her hands together. "Done. Build it."
Ethan grinned. "Music to my ears."
Lin leaned against the wall, watching as Ethan's crew continued their work.
Her fortress wasn't just coming together.
It was going to be unstoppable.