IE: Chapter 28. Need a Ride?

"N, your amazing man. Maybe we can go bar hopping and relax tonight? Come on man, you got all that bonus. You gotta treat me." As soon as the car left the headquarters, J started to imagine the good night they would have.

"Come on J, you know we can't drink on workdays. Besides, you can drink as much as you like at K's party tomorrow. We'd better go and buy a present for K. The shops will be closed if we're late."

"Okay, but I don't have any money with me, and you know we don't have credit cards now. Can you lend me some?"

Noah recklessly slammed on the brakes and J froze, "N, you're not turning me down with this too, are you?"

"If you want me to lend you money, get in the back seat, I need to pick up a pretty girl."

J looked ahead and spotted a familiar figure waving from the side of the road. It seemed that her car had broken down.

"Can we make contact with ordinary people?" J asked with some uncertainty.

"And you still want to go to a bar? Do we have a rule that stops us from making any contact with people outside? All I know is that we can't reveal our identity."

Weaver was overjoyed to see a Ford Raptor pull up beside her. At last, someone was willing to help. It seemed that not everyone in Manhattan was that indifferent.

"My car broke down. Do you know how to fix it? Or, can you call a tow truck for me? Maybe lend me a quarter to make a call? My phone is out of battery."

"Ma'am, no tow truck company would be open at this hour. Where are you going? I'll give you a ride. It's easier to call someone in the morning to fix it, and getting a taxi in this area isn't easy."

Weaver was a little worried when she saw two adult men in the car, but it would be even more dangerous if she waited until dark. She could still show her NYPD forensic ID. These two wouldn't be that bold. Besides, she still had the taser gun in her bag.

"Okay, you guys can take me two blocks ahead and I'll just take a taxi home."

After getting into the car, Weaver looked at Noah, "Um... why do I have a feeling like I've met you somewhere before?"

"Hey, lady, is he that popular with girls? But, I do feel like I've met you somewhere before too..." J couldn't resist asking.

Weaver looked at J carefully, then shook her head, "Sorry, I don't remember."

J helplessly spread out his hands. It was obvious that he had met Weaver a couple of more times than N, but why didn't she remember him? 'Am I not good looking enough?'

"Ma'am, I assume your name is Weaver and you're a deputy medical examiner for the NYPD? " Noah confirmed while driving.

"Do you know me? Have we met somewhere?" Weaver was a little shocked. She really couldn't remember him, but there was a sense of familiarity.

"I met you at the place where you work, a process I don't really want to recall because you dissected my friend. But, because of you, we could catch the murderer, and avenge his death. I even said I'd take you to dinner to thank you."

"I recognized you on the roadside just now. So, how about that dinner? Is that restaurant, Merlin's up ahead okay?"

"So, we have met. I'm sorry, I really have a bad memory. You're helping me out here, so I should be the one to invite you to dinner."

Weaver suddenly realized that although she was only a deputy medical examiner, she had worked for the NYPD for over 2 years. She had autopsied hundreds of bodies, how could she remember all of them, not to mention the families.

In the back seat, J was surprised. He knew Noah for so long, but he never realized that he was good at picking up girls.

At the restaurant, as soon as the food came up, J picked up a fork and started eating foie gras. The other two were chatting so passionately that he felt like a third wheel.

He couldn't understand why Noah was so talkative. 'When chatting with me, didn't he talk very little? There were some interesting stories about Asia in their conversation. How did Noah know? Didn't he grow up in America?

"Hahahaha, Noah, you're so funny. You know, when I first got in the car, I thought you worked at the funeral home and that's how we met."

J looked down at his black suit. 'They were uniforms made of special materials. The black ones are cool. Why did she say we look like funeral home workers? Have you ever seen a funeral home worker as handsome as I am?'

"There's a lot of interesting places in Asia, better beaches than Hawaii. When you have time, maybe we should go traveling together and have some fun?"

Weaver froze for a moment; the last time she was so directly invited was when she was in high school.

"I don't have time to go that far. If there's an opportunity, I'll call and ask you to be my guide."

J almost lifted the table. 'What the fuck is this? Are they... flirting? Just over a meal? We haven't even ordered drinks yet!'

When the bill came, Noah grabbed it first and even gave a large tip.

"Hey, didn't I say I'd buy you dinner? " Weaver seemed a bit annoyed.

"Yeah, you can get it next time. Besides, my friend is here this time."

J looked up at the sky and kept reassuring himself that at least it was Noah's treat.

After driving Weaver to her apartment, Noah got out of the car and opened the door for her, "I'll take you upstairs, it isn't safe at night."

When they reached the door to the apartment, Weaver opened it and turned to look at Noah, "I had a great time having dinner with you today."

"I had a lot of fun too." Noah quickly said, "My friend is still waiting for me downstairs. Let's have a cup of coffee next time—when he's not around."

"Next time you need any help, give me a call. Good night."

"Good night." Weaver closed the door and leaned against it, covering her cheeks with her hands. Why did she feel a little heat in her cheeks? She was hesitating to invite Noah in just now.

But Noah was a gentleman, and she was beginning to look forward to their next meeting. Maybe she should give Noah a call over the weekend? Was that too straightforward?

...

J was getting bored sitting in the car. When he saw Noah open the door, he was amazed, "Dude, so fast?"

"I just sent her upstairs. I didn't do anything. If you weren't waiting in the car, I would have had a wonderful night. This is your fault!" Noah muttered a curse and started the car.

Noah didn't know if the attribute points enhanced his physical qualities in 'all aspects', and he didn't get the chance to experiment with it.

"Come on! She didn't look like a girl who would invite a guy in on their first date. She looks smarter than that."

"Man... you just had to go eat first. Look at the time, no gift shops would be open now. Let's just go back, and buy a gift tomorrow."