Haven and Audrey stood in line at Larissa's bakery, as Haven sketched away. "Are you drawing him again?" Audrey asked, trying to get Haven to talk about Duke as opposed to holding what she was feeling inside.
"Nope." Haven replied, without taking her eyes off the sketch, but she knew the right moment to take a step forward in line.
"I don't believe you." Audrey replied in a high pitched, skeptical tone.
Haven sighed and turned the sketch around to reveal what she was working on. "I'm drawing Lucy and her sister." She explained in case Audrey thought she was drawing the two of them.
"The resemblance is uncanny." Audrey replied, still not believing the resemblance between herself and Lucy and Haven with Lucy's sister.
"If I didn't know any better I would have thought I was the sister's kid." Haven replied with a laugh and went back to her drawing.
"You feel more connected to her sister because you look more alike?" Audrey asked as they both stepped forward again, in line.
"I don't feel connected to either of them." Haven replied, lying.
Audrey clearly didn't believe her but didn't continue on with the questioning because it was time for them to order.
"Somebody's in trouble." Haven said in a lyrical tone as she saw Eleanor writing something on Audrey's car. "You shouldn't have parked there." Haven added in before drinking some of her coffee.
Audrey looked at her sister briefly before turning her attention to Eleanor. "What are you doing?"
"I'm teaching the summer folk that they can't park here. No one parks here anymore since Melody Barnes got hit here a few years ago since she couldn't see because the parked car." Eleanor replied as she finished writing 'No Parking' with lipstick on the windshield.
"Told you." Haven replied before taking another sip.
"Well I didn't know that. How was I supposed to know that?" Audrey replied to Eleanor then looked at Haven and asked, "How did you know that."
Haven just shrugged, "Everybody knows that."
Audrey looked at Haven with an 'unbelievable' expression then voiced it aloud, "Unbelievable."
Haven laughed at Audrey as Eleanor said, "Give it about fifteen years. You'll get the hang of it. Oh by the way, Larissa's baked good are too dry."
Haven added in, "She's right. Rosemary's are better."
Audrey had the same 'unbelievable' expression on her face then got a phone call. As she listened to the call she asked, "Do you know where the Hunt Club is?"
"Okay." Haven said to Audrey as they got out of the car, "If there are wild animals up here then I so want a gun."
"Pass the shooting range test and you will." Audrey replied, "That's a scary thought, but I am proud of you."
Haven stopped in her tracks when she heard what Audrey said. "What?" Audrey asked her when she stopped as well.
"That's the first time you've ever said you were proud of me." Haven replied a bit dumbstruck.
"That's not true. I've said it lots of times." Audrey replied, on the defense.
"No." Haven countered, "You've said good job and such before, but never have you said you were proud of me."
Audrey thought for a moment and realized that Haven was right. She hated to admit it, but she was. "Well, get used to hearing it a lot more now." Audrey replied and Haven couldn't stop herself from smiling.
Nathan met them halfway and Audrey asked, "What is this exactly? I'm picturing a lot of deer heads staring down at everyone."
Haven pretty much shuddered at the thought, "I hope not. I hate taxidermy animals. I feel like they're going to come alive and attack at any moment."
Audrey laughed at the thought and Nathan replied with, "It pretty much is. Though the shots that are taken are in the glass as they close business deals. It's pretty exclusive. Well, not too exclusive, they let my father join."
"You mean the chief?" Haven asked since she has only ever heard Nathan refer to his father as anything suck.
"I mean my father. This is his personal life." Nathan replied as he gestured around them.
"Not yours apparently." Audrey stated.
Nathan lifted the tape for them to cross under as he said, "Nope. I'm not a fan of killing for fun."
Haven proceeded into the crime scene and Nathan kept Audrey back for a moment. "How is she?" he asked.
"Better. She still holding a lot in, but that's what she does. She'll find an outlet for it eventually." There was a worried tone in Audrey's voice when she said the last bit. Nathan looked at her in question, so Audrey said, "Haven hasn't always had the best outlets for what she's feeling." And left it at that.
"I'm sorry she's hurting, but I also have to say that I'm glad. Haven deserves better than Duke." Nathan replied and before Audrey could reply Haven called over to them in a joking manner, "You guys! Save the flirting for your own time."
Audrey sighed with a shake of her head as she and Nathan went further into the crime scene, over to the car where the victim was killed. "Okay, Haven. What's the first thing to check?" Nathan asked, quizzing her a bit since her last exams were coming up to become a legitimate deputy.
"Who's the victim?" Haven asked instantly and Nathan nodded before replying, "T.R. Holt, divorced, old money."
Haven and Audrey both looked in the car and both went "Whoa." They didn't know what to expect but neither were exactly expecting that. "Did Cujo jump into the real world?"
Nathan didn't think he'd ever get used to hearing them talk at the same time like that, but moved on. "The ME says it was a wolf attack, but we'll have to analyze the fur to be sure. It was probably rabid. They think it broke the window to get in."
Haven and Audrey each looked at the car in their 'wtf is this' kind of way. "Do you?" Haven asked as she moved around the car to get a different look.
"Rabid wolves bite and run. They don't feed like this." Nathan replied and Haven said, "Good to know." She never knew when that tidbit of information might be important.
"But they break into cars apparently." Audrey added in as she looked at Nathan.
Haven went from looking under the car to standing up and saying, "So the wolf used his head to break through the window? It must have been as numb as you, Nathan."
Audrey leaned closer to the broken back windshield of the car as she said, "Or they really wanted to get in."
"No offense by the way. About the comment...sorry." Haven made sure to get in because she didn't want to get under his skin. Nathan shrugged it off, "Don't worry about it. I have heard worse."
Audrey didn't acknowledge their conversation because there was no need for her to, so she spoke what she was feeling. "Something about this just feels creepy."
Nathan looked up to the sky as he replied, "Well, there was a full moon last night."
"Werewolves?" Haven said a bit too excitedly, "Is that like a real...trouble?" She said the word trouble in a hushed tone.
"He was joking." Audrey said in reply then looked at Nathan, "Right?"
He just looked at them stoically, not going to give it away just yet. Finally he couldn't hold it in, their silents looks of question were too much. "Yes, I was joking."
"You should smile more. That way people will be able to tell if you're joking." Audrey replied at that.
Nathan shrugged a little, "Probably right."
"Damn." Haven said as she crossed her arms, "I was actually hoping to see a wolfman."
Nathan moved on from this topic as he said, "Back to the case, we have a problem. The manager says that Holt was arguing with a guy named Brad Donnelly when he left last night."
"Alright...what's the problem?" Haven asked, apparently missing something.
"My father." Nathan replied, "They're both friends of his." Haven had an 'ah' look on her face when he explained. Now Haven could see how that was going to be a problem.
When the chief came over to them he looked at Haven and asked, "You prepared for your finals?"
"Yes, sir." Haven replied affirmatively.
The chief looked like he was thinking then said, "Good." He turned his attention to the car and said, "So you want to blame this on Brad Donnelly? How does that even begin to make sense?"
"Chief," Nathan began, "wolves don't just..."
The chief cut him off, "I don't care what they do or what they don't do. I'm talking about what one of them did. That animal has to be killed, that's it."
"You're afraid the wolf is going to rally up his buddies to team them how to break into cars?" Audrey asked with a bit of sass and Haven almost said something similar, but her sister beat her to it.
The chief ignored Audrey and said, "We're going to organize a hunt. Put out a call for volunteers." He then pointed at Nathan when he said, "You're helping on this one."
The trio followed the chief as he walked under the tape. As they walked, Nathan said, "Putting a dozen men in the woods, guns blazing at everything that moves, is not a good idea."
The chief disagreed, "You see, now that's where you're wrong."
Haven finally decided to speak. She had convinced cops into letting her get away with things before, now she was testing her little skill on the chief. "But if we don't investigate, and something comes out later, it might come across as you covering your friends." The chief looked at her like he was trying to figure her out so she added more in, "Look, it's going to take some time to organize your hunt. So just give us the day. What's the harm?"
The chief narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment then said, "Fine. Take the day." As the chief walked away he said, "Nothing else better happen."
Once the chief was out of earshot Nathan looked at Haven and said, "I have never seen anyone sway him once his mind is made up."
Haven wasn't the one who answered to that, Audrey did, "Nathan, you have just seen first hand Haven's magical manipulation on the species known as the cop." Nathan raised his brow at that so Haven explained, "I'm really good at convincing cops not to arrest me."
Haven tried very, very hard not to look at the taxidermy animals inside the Hunt Club. They seriously freaked her on. The way to question the manager, Audrey snuck up behind her sister and said, "Boo" Audrey jumped about fifty feet then swatted her sister's arm. "That's not funny, Audrey! These things really freak me out."
Audrey finally started to contain her laughter when she said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." a few laughs blended with the words as she did.
Haven glared at her sister before she went into the next room with Nathan and the manager. Once Haven and Audrey were both in the room, Nathan began the questions. "What were Holt and Donnelly fighting about?"
The manager replied with, "A woman."
"Was it the kind of fight someone would kill someone over?" Haven asked and the manager looked at her oddly. "Aren't you too young to be a cop?" he asked.
"I'm training." Haven replied and the manager just put a 'whatever' expression on his face before he answered her question. "I don't know. The guys here live to piss on each other. Go find Landon, talk to him. I think he's around here somewhere."
"Landon Taylor?" Nathan asked, "Who owns the dry cleaners on Prince?"
"Yeah." The manager replied, "He hangs around here a lot ever since his wife died in that fire." He then added in some more info, "I hear Holt and Donnelly almost blew Landon's head off the other day, fighting about something." The manager continued on with his work and left the room.
Audrey and Haven were tasked with talking with Landon, so that's where they headed. Landon and some others were outside shooting at targets with their shotguns.
"I didn't lead it enough." Landon said as he missed his shot.
Audrey was going to say something to that in order to draw attention to them, but Haven beat her to it. "No, your lead was fine. Your aim was just a little low."
"I think I can tell, thanks." Landon replied.
Haven laughed as she said, "Okay, if you say so."
Landon looked a little annoyed as looked at Haven and said, "I bet you think you could do better." He didn't think she could given that she was young, and not to mention a woman.
"That's not..." Audrey began and Haven replied with, "By better do you mean actually hit the target?" She was definitely sure of herself.
Landon held out his gun to her and Haven handed Audrey her bag. "School me." Landon said to Haven and she took the gun as she said, "With pleasure."
"Haven..." Audrey said to her sister in a worried and warning tone. Haven just looked at her sister, her face telling her to trust her. She turned her attention back to the matter and hand and pumped the shotgun, "Keep em coming. Pull!" A target flew through the air and Haven hit them, one right after another.
Audrey stood back with wide eye and a 'holy hell' expression on her face. Haven hit another target then looked at the shotgun as she said, "How many more of these do I need to do? My shoulder is getting a little sore."
"I have been to school and I have learned." Landon said in reply then Haven headed back over to him and Audrey as she said, "Here's another lesson; Sometimes the prettiest roses have the sharpest thorns."
Landon nodded his head, "Duly noted." he replied.
Haven handed Audrey the gun and took her bag back as Audrey looked at her sister in a way that told her they would be talking about this later then looked at Landon and said, "Can we talk for a few minutes Landon?"
Landon agreed and they went off to a more quieter place with fewer people around. "We hear you've been shot at." Haven said as she adjusted her bag on her shoulder.
"It's no big deal." Landon replied but Audrey didn't buy it, "Getting shot at is a pretty big deal." she pointed out the obvious. "You were with TR and Donnelly, right?" Audrey continued on.
"Yeah." Landon replied, "But..."
"But you don't think you were the target?" Haven asked and Landon looked at her when he said, "No. I don't."
"Alright, so who was shooting at who?" Audrey then asked and Landon looked like he didn't want to answer any more questions, so Audrey said, "Look, we're not here to cause any problems, Landon. We just need to know what happened."
Landon finally spoke, "Donnelly fired, a bullet hit a tree right next to me. It scared me half to death."
"Donnelly shot at TR?" Haven asked, to see if she got the facts right.
"I hate to think so." Landon replied. "Accidents do happen out there."
Audrey and Haven got all they needed from Landon so they went to meet up with Nathan to question Donnelly.
As Donnelly was heading for his car, Audrey said, "Mr Donnelly, we need to speak with you for a moment."
Donnelly turned around and looked at Audrey as he said, "Hey, I know you. You're that FBI agent," he then looked at Haven, "and you're the tag along sister."
Haven hated being called that and she pulled her badge off her belt, "Hardly a tag along. But other than that, keen eyes. Kudos for that." Haven knew she was supposed to cut back on the sarcasm while working on cases, but she couldn't help it in that moment.
"Haven's right, keen eyes." Audrey spoke, "Makes me wonder how you missed that shot with TR the other day. Coincidences make me curious."
"TR wasn't shot and I didn't shoot him. There's a coincidence for you." Donnelly shot back.
"But you were fighting with him." Nathan said to him as he started back for his car.
Donnelly quickly turned back around and said, "TR and I were like brothers! Fought, drank, raised hell. Like brothers. Nobody is going to miss that poor bastard more than me." Donnelly went to his car and the let him. That was that...for now.
In the car, on the way back to the station, Nathan said "Every target? You hit every target? How is that possible?"
"I'm a good shot." Haven replied, simply enough.
"Haven, I have never seen you hold a shotgun before today and yet you hit every target. How did that happen?" Audrey replied as she turned around to look at her sister in the back seat.
Honestly, Haven wasn't sure if she should answer that or not. Finally she did answer because the look Audrey was giving her was downright scary. "The chief has been giving me extra lessons after hours."
Nathan shifted a little as he switched driving hands. "Why would he do that?" Audrey asked her sister, partially not believing it or figuring there was more to it than that.
"I don't know. He's just really adamant about me passing" Haven replied and Audrey could tell that her sister was telling the truth.
"Okay." Audrey replied, leaving it at that.
As soon as they got back to the station, Haven was carted off to take her final shooting range test, leaving Nathan and Audrey to take care of the next part of the case. "Good luck." Audrey said to Haven. "Not that you'll need it." Nathan added in a bit sullenly before Haven headed off.
"So..."Audrey began to say, meaning to talk about Nathan's reaction to his father teaching Haven to shoot, but that wasn't what Nathan wanted to focus on.
"Donnelly is hiding something." Nathan said as he walked down the hall with Audrey walking right with him. "Besides his charms? Yeah, I don't doubt it." Audrey replied, "But I don't buy murder by animal."
Before their conversation could continue Vince and Dave appeared hoping for some details about the case. None were given but questions were asked off the record. Nathan and Audrey discovered that TR and Donnelly were arguing with an animal rights activist and the rumor mill stated that TR had an affair with Donnelly's wife.
These findings were presented to the chief but he did not find that to be enough. The town was scared and the mayor wanted a curfew so the chief told them that if they had no proof, then the hunt was going to happen and they were going to kill the wolf.
Haven passed with flying colors and was now certified to carry a weapon. She was at the station on the way to the armory to receive her firearm when the chief called her over. "I hear you did well." he said to her, almost sounding a bit proud.
"Thanks to your help." Haven replied sincerely.
"I didn't do much. You're a natural with a gun." The chief replied and for a moment he looked like he was almost about to say something else but stopped himself and said, "I hope you realize that you need to take your position more seriously now. Granted your guidelines are not as...strict, but still.", instead.
Haven nodded in understanding, "I know." she replied. The circumstances were odd to say the least and hell, she didn't even know if how they went about things deputizing her was even legal anywhere else, but that's how things went down in Haven, so Haven was going to just have to accept it and move on.
"When you're done with your weapon I want you to meet back up with Audrey and Nathan. There's another body" The chief told her and she replied with, "I'm on it." and continued on her way to the armory. The chief watched her go and shook his head slightly, "She hasn't changed at all." he thought aloud before going back to his work.
"Oh, that's not pretty." Haven said as she walked into the crime scene.
"Hey, how did it go?" Audrey asked and Haven lifted her shirt a little to reveal the gun on her belt, "It's weird." Haven admitted. "You'll get used to it." Audrey replied.
"Okay," Haven said, getting down to business, "TR and Donnelly are both dead within twenty for hours of each other?"
Nathan gestured to Audrey, "She just said that"
"I'm up to speed then." Was Haven's answer.
Nathan looked at the window as Haven crouched down to get a better look at the body. "Wolf attacks don't just happen in people's garages." Nathan commented.
"How are you stocked on silver bullets?" Audrey then questioned. "Funny." Nathan replied.
Audrey shone her light around the room as she said, "I don't think I'm joking."
"The full moon was last night. How many nights do they need?" Nathan asked, meaning it to be rhetorical but Haven answered.
"Usually three. The night before, the night of, and the night after." Haven looked at Audrey and Nathan when Audrey asked, "There are rules? Who says?"
"Probably the same people that say silver bullets actually work." Nathan replied.
"Actually, that probably based off the last name Argent who was the king's best hunter in France way back." Haven stated and Nathan looked at her with raised brows, "What?" Haven asked him, "I like fairy tales." Granted her use of the words fairy tales was rather broad, but still.
Audrey stood up and said, "Before we start looking for Michael J Fox, we should probably question Donnelly's wife."
Nathan agreed, "Good idea." and followed her out. Haven just simply shrugged a little and followed. Perhaps her knowledge of werewovles wasn't going to be useful in this scenario, but it was Haven after all. Bright side...at least she had a gun now.
Outside, interviewing Donnelly's wife, Nathan said "There were reports of the two men fighting over a woman."
"And you assumed it was me." The wife replied in an 'of course you did' tone of voice. "But I bet it was that Jess Minnion woman. She's been hexing us."
The three of them looked at her with...odd expressions. The wife responded to those expressions by saying, "You didn't know?" she pointed to something off to the side of the road, "Right there." She led them over to it and explained, "She told my husband it was some kind of witch mark. It's supposed to say something to the animals about us."
"If we need anything more we'll be in touch." Nathan informed the wife. Since she wasn't needed anymore, she walked off.
Haven got closer to the mark that was painted on the fence and said, "I've seen this before."
Audrey took a picture of it as Nathan asked her, "Where?"
"The hunt club. It was on the sign." Haven replied and it clicked with Audrey so she said, "She's right. I saw it too."
"Do we really think this Jess Minnion woman is a witch?" Nathan asked and got a question in reply. "Who is Jess Minnion?" Haven asked and they remembered Haven wasn't there for that part. "Animal rights activist." Audrey explained and Haven made a silent 'ahh' expression.
Haven got back on topic, "Weren't we just discussing werewolves as a possible explanation? And yet witches are off the table?"
"She has a point." Audrey said as she pointed to her sister. "Minnion is an animal rights activist and this mark was at the sights of both attacks."
Nathan didn't seem to be buying it, "Witch or not, she is a...person of interest."
"Okay then." Haven replied, "Let's be interested."
"Took you long enough." Jess Minnion said to them as they got out of the truck. "I was expecting you last night." Jess set aside the piece of wood she was chopping and turned her attention back to them.
"You were expecting us?" Haven asked, finding it a bit...odd.
"TR is dead and he hated me." Jess replied, "It seemed inevitable you'd show up here." Jess looked at Haven and said, "Haven Parker, new deputy in town." she then looked at Audrey, "Audrey Parker, FBI agent in exile." and then Nathan, "And Nathan Wuornos, Detective, son of chief. I'm Jess Minnion suspect de jour."
"You seem to know a lot for someone who's only lived here for a year." Nathan commented. "You're from Quebec aren't you?" He then asked, recognizing the accent.
"Quebecois, yes." Jess replied. "You checked up on me too." she added in with a flirty grin.
"Is there anyone in this town that doesn't flirt with him?" Haven whispered to her sister and Audrey nudged her to be quiet.
Jess went on to explain herself, "This was my grandmother's farm. I used to summer here as a child, but now it's mine."
Audrey spoke this time, "Okay, back to why TR hated you." it was high time to get back on track.
Jess sighed as she crossed her arms. "I have ninety acres here." she replied, "I'm letting it go back to the way it wants to be."
"I've heard you've taken some pot shots at them back there." Nathan replied, to which Jess said "At five o'clock in the morning, how is one to tell a beggar from a thief. It's hard enough in full daylight."
Haven thought Jess' choice was words was...odd. Haven was definitely getting tired of calling just about everything odd in this town. She made a mental note to pick of a thesaurus on the way home so she could find a better word.
"Can you explain this?" Audrey asked as she showed Jess the photograph of the symbol.
"It's a Mi'kmaq glyph." Jess explained, "It means offering forgiveness."
As Audrey put the picture away, Haven asked, "Are you aware that Brad Donnelly died last night?"
"The same way TR did." Audrey added in, "By a wolf."
Jess simply replied with, "I guess they didn't forgive them."
Haven and Audrey both looked at Nathan with 'is she serious' expressions. Nathan turned his gaze away because he wasn't even going to attempt to answer that.
"Come with me." Jess requested and led them to the back of the house. There were quite a lot of stones placed on the yard there. "Each of these stones marks an animal that has died on this land. Wounded by guns, maimed by traps, poisoned. One step from being stuffed and put on display."
"Your people kill animals too." Nathan replied.
"We use them." Jess countered, "We don't mock them. The spirits of these animals knocking on the door, looking for revenge is not a crime. That is justice."
"Ms Minnion, why do people think that you're a witch?" Audrey asked Jess, a question that she beat Haven to asking.
Jess replied, "Maybe they just don't like the way I think."
"So you're not a witch?" Haven asked, just for clarification purposes...of course.
"What's a witch?" Jess asked, "Someone who does magic?" her attention turned to Nathan when she asked, "What do you think the troubles are?" Jess looked at Haven when she said, "Magic is everywhere here. It's in the soil, the water, in us." Jess went back to looking at Nathan, "You suffer so much because you can't understand what's happened to you. You know it's not a medical condition, you just don't want to face the real truth. You've been transformed by magic, Nathan. You're not less, you're more. The only thing wrong with you is your perspective." Jess looked Nathan over after saying that.
Audrey, moving on, asked "So where were you last night around eight PM?"
"Relax. I didn't kill anyone." Jess replied, "If you don't believe me, call AAA. I had my car towed in Derry."
"Easy enough." Audrey replied, "Thanks for your time."
Haven stayed put for a moment as Audrey and Nathan walked off. She just couldn't stop thinking about Jess' perspective on magic. Jess didn't say a word, just looked at her. Finally Haven followed after Nathan and Audrey, still not saying a word.
"I don't believe she's a witch." Audrey said when Haven approached. Nathan grinned as he replied with, "Whatever she is, she's certainly interesting." Haven and Audrey looked at each other in 'alrighty then' kind of ways before going back to the truck.
Back at the police station, since the had nothing but theories about the animal attacks and who...or what could be behind them, the chief said that they had nothing and in one hour they were going back to the club to hunt the wolf down. The chief looked at Haven and said, "You're coming too. Bring a shotgun." Haven didn't even have a chance to try and get out of it before he was out the door. "Seriously?" Haven said in an 'I can't believe that just happened' voice. She looked at Nathan and Audrey who just looked at her with 'apparently' faces.
"Wonderful." Haven spoke with sarcasm. "I would have thought you'd be up for using your shooting skills." Nathan said with a bit of sarcasm of his own.
"Shooting at targets is one thing. Shooting at a living thing, that's different." Haven replied firmly and Audrey cut off whatever was about to go on between Haven and Nathan when she said, "Let's just hope it won't come down to that."
"Leave the bag." Audrey said to Haven as they got ready to go out on the hunt.
Haven laughed, "I don't think so."
"I'm starting to think that thing is fused to your body." Audrey replied in an only partly joking way.
"Yup." Haven replied and moved her shoulder strap from one shoulder to the other so it was now across her.
Audrey rolled her eyes just before Nathan came over and said, "Us four with the chief." referring to himself, Audrey, Haven, and Dave. "This is going to be fun." Dave said to them and Audrey replied with, "Oh yeah, loads of fun." The Parkers shared an eye roll then Haven started to follow. Audrey grabbed an orange vest from the mantel and said, "At least wear this."
Haven sighed and put the vest on, "Happy?"
"Better." Audrey replied then they followed the boys outside.
"Remember the time we had that ultimate game of laser tag?" Audrey asked Haven as they walked in the forest.
Haven thought for a moment, "You mean where we lost the path and got lost for three hours?"
"Yeah." Audrey confirmed, "Let's not have that happen again."
"Deal." Haven agreed and the sisters shook on it.
Have walked ahead a little and Nathan said to Audrey, "I want to hear that story some day."
Audrey didn't say anything but her face said, 'We'll see'.
Their group heard shots coming from another group and Nathan said, "They're going to be shooting at their shadows all day." He deliberately spoke loudly, hoping the other group would hear.
"Where is Vince?" Audrey asked Dave, who replied with "He doesn't hunt. Vince loves all creatures big and small."
"Hold up!" Nathan called out to his group when he saw the 'No Hunting' sign. "This is the back end of the Minnion farm. We can't go in there."
The chief was going to have none of that, "Ever hear of cop pursuit?"
"This direction isn't any more plausible than another." Audrey replied.
The chief wasn't budging, "Or any less." he replied as she crossed over onto the Minnion Farm. "This is all part of our area to sweep. Come on, let's go."
"You going to use your magic?" Audrey asked Haven in regards to trying to convince the chief to stay off that land.
"I doubt it will work." Haven replied, then further explained due to Audrey's facial expression, "I've never used it on the same cop twice." Without further explanation than that, she proceeded to follow the chief onto the land, even though she didn't agree.
Nathan didn't like it either and he wasn't afraid to voice it, "This is a bad idea." and yet there was nothing he could do but walk with the chief and the others onto the land.
After walking on the farmland for a bit, they heard something. "Whoa." The chief said and signaled for the others to stop.
Haven heard a growling sound and said, "Please tell me it's in my head."
The sound came again and Audrey said, "Afraid not." She replied and raised her weapon. The chief was about to shoot what was growling but Nathan pushed the chief's gun upward. "That's not a wolf!" He exclaimed.
"It's a dog." Dave pointed out, the obvious.
"You pushed my gun!" The chief shouted at Nathan.
"Of course I did. It was Jess Minnion's pet!" Nathan shouted back.
"That's not!" Haven screamed out when moose came out of nowhere. The moose ran right for Dave and the chief, throwing them to the ground.
Audrey, Nathan, and even Haven raised their weapons and started shooting at the moose. All the shots fired caused the moose's head to detach from its body. Haven shuddered at the sight then moved closer to it. "It's stuffed?" she said to herself in disbelief then looked at the others and shouted, "It's stuffed! I told you they looked like they'd come to life!" That was Haven's reason for finding taxidermy animals creepy as hell and now her fear was justified.
Nathan and Audrey had no words. They went over and examined Haven's claims, finding them to be true. And yet...they still had no words. In fact, Haven didn't have any more of them either.
"So much for the werewolf theory." Nathan said a little while later as Audrey was collecting some bits from the stuffed moose.
"I can't believe we have real evidence now, but I have no idea what to do with it." Audrey replied.
"Was the wolf stuffed too?" Haven asked as she looked at the moose.
Nathan and Audrey looked at each other like they were considering the theory. The chief interrupted that when he came over and said, "Dave needs to get checked out. We need to get him out of here."
"Okay." Nathan replied, "What do you want us to do with this?" he asked as he gestured to the moose.
"You let me take care of this. What I want you to do is get Dave out of here and stop this nonsense." The chief answered.
Nathan scoffed, "Nonsense? You mean like this hunt?"
The chief did not appreciate Nathan's tone, "You think this would play out better on Main Street, Nathan? Is that what you think? Would you just do as I say and get Teagues out of here." The last sentence was not a question, but a request. "Like now." he added in when Nathan didn't move as quickly as expected.
"Real nice." Haven said to the chief, "You know he saved your life right?"
The chief grumbled, "Who do you think's been dealing with all of this before you two graced us with your presence? Who do you think's going to be dealing with it when I'm gone?" he shot back then said in a more hushed tone, "I wanted you two on this job because you both have a knack for dealing with this kind of crap. I'm just praying to god that some of it rubs off on him."
Audrey spoke right up and said, "You know, he's a lot better at this than you think."
"I'll tell you what Agent Parker, and you too Haven, this is a lot worse than what you think." The chief said to them then looked over at Dave, "How are you doing, Dave?"
"Weird looking moose." Dave replied and the chief grumbled again but didn't say anything audible. The chief took over for Nathan on assisting Dave, while the others hung back.
"We really need to talk to Jess again." Haven thought aloud and Audrey agreed.
"Yeah," Audrey replied then looked at Nathan, "Especially with her being sympathetic towards your problem, it'd make sense that she was troubled too."
"Okay, so you get to say the word but I try to and I'm practically gagged?" Haven asked with a 'wtf' tone.
"Yeah, pretty much." Audrey replied, teasing her sister.
"Unbelievable." Haven muttered to herself and Nathan chuckled before saying, "If Jess is troubled," putting emphasis on that particular word just to poke at Haven a bit, "how are we going to stop it?"
"I think the question should be whether or not she wants to be stopped." Haven countered after giving Nathan a bit of a glare for his trouble emphasis .
That questioned hung in the air all the way back to Jess Minnion's house.
"Are you hearing that?" Jess said to them as she walked off her porch over to the trio that exited Nathan's truck.
"Believe it or not, it's not our favorite sound either." Haven replied with a teeny bit of snark.
"We don't have time for this." Audrey said firmly and Nathan continued on from there, "There have been three animal attacks. At least one of them was...stuffed."
Jess looked like she didn't believe them, "Stuffed?" her tone was 'that's insane'. "You're joking right?"
"The three of us were almost killed my one of these things." Nathan replied with seriousness.
Jess still looked like she couldn't believe it, but she said "I'm sorry this has happened. But I can't help you."
Nathan had to try and get through to her, "Jess, if you're troubled then you might not even be aware that you're doing it. You just might think it's part of whatever...rituals you're doing."
Jess exhaled before she spoke, "I'm not performing any rituals. I'm not a witch, or a shaman, or anything else like that. The only Mi'kmaq in my family was my mother's mother and she was a half blood. Most of what I know is just...stories, third hand legends."
"What about the glyph?" Haven asked, wanting an explanation about that.
Jess looked embarrassed when she answered with, "Wikipedia." she then sounded regretful, "I'm not troubled. If I had any kind of power, those animals would have never died in the first place."
Haven felt frustrated and went back to the truck as Audrey said, "Thanks. That's all we need." and joined her sister.
"Nathan..." Jess said to him as he also proceeded to leave, "Everything I said about you is true." Nathan looked at her like he didn't believe her, in reply.
As Jess walked away, Audrey said "No werewolf, no witch."
"How about some real physical evidence." Nathan replied and thus that led them back to the Hunt Club.
Haven approached the trophy room and said, "Nope, not happening. I'm not going in there." she shook her head feverishly and waved her hands at her sides while stepping backwards.
"You'll be fine, Haven." Audrey tried to assure her but Haven was still hesitant. "You'll be fine." she repeated again and Haven took a deep breath before she replied with, "If anything comes to life in there, I'm tripping Nathan and running like hell."
"Hey." Nathan said, in mock offense.
"Noted." Audrey replied, trying not to laugh as the three went inside...slowly.
Haven walked over to one of the many stuffed wolves and said, "Please tell me that's paint." referring to the red substance on its fangs.
Audrey and Nathan got closer, upon sight Audrey said, "Oh man." and reached out to touch it. It was definitely blood.
"I'm out of here." Haven said as she headed for the door.
Audrey was feeling freaked as well as she said, "We're going to need some help."
Haven stayed outside and paced back and forth as the ME performed and autopsy on the stuffed wolf. If she was hearing this second hand she might have actually thought it was amusing, but experiencing it first hand it was nowhere near amusing.
Haven kept tapping her phone in her hand as she paced back and forth. The first person...the only person that came to mind to talk to was Duke. But that ship had sailed, she hadn't spoken to Duke since what happened with Helena. She came right out and told him that she didn't want to try again, that too much had happened. Therefore calling him up out of the blue about a problem she was having was nowhere near an option.
"Dammit." She said to herself as she stopped and ran her hand through her hair. Haven reached into her bag and found what she was looking for, the little green box that held her locket within it. She opened the cover, pulled out the necklace, and traced her finger over the compass on front and inscription on the back. "Haven's Haven." she spoke the words aloud, softly. That had so many different meanings and she applied to all of them. Haven opened the locket to see the goofy picture of herself and Duke within. How she wished she could go back to that day.
Knowing that she couldn't get distracted like this, she returned the locket to its box and placed it back within her bag. Haven took a deep breath and went back inside.
"What did I miss?" Haven asked while in the doorway of the room and the ME replied with, "Wolfie here had a midnight snack." as she held up a thumb that she had just removed from the wolf's 'stomach'. Haven cringed a little at the sight and said, "I'm sorry I asked."
"It should be a match for TR's." The ME, Eleanor, continued "You mind filling me in on this or are my services no longer needed?"
"We've got it here, thanks." Audrey replied.
Eleanor sounded like she didn't believe her when she said, "Yep, you keep telling yourselves that. It doesn't have to be true to make you feel better." As Eleanor left she said, "Good luck."
"What don't you want her to know?" Nathan asked and that intrigued Haven enough to make her enter further. Once Haven was close enough, Audrey said "Nathan, remember the moose that attacked your dad? This says that he shot one up in..Arrows?"
"Aroostuck." Nathan finished for her, "Two years ago."
"Wait..." Haven said, starting to get on Audrey's thought train, "Are you thinking it's the same one?"
Audrey's answer was simple and to the point, "You see a moose?"
Haven and Nathan both looked around and there was no moose in sight. Audrey continued once they were both up to speed, "Wolfie over there," she said as she gestured to one in the corner, "was shot by Donnelly." Audrey then gestured to the opened up on the table, "This one here, was shot by TR."
Haven felt like she was in a horror movie...again. "The animals are coming alive and killing those who killed them." Even though the words came out of her own mouth, she couldn't believe she had said them.
"Then what?" Nathan asked, "They just go back to being stuffed?"
"I found this on wolfie over there. They all have them." Audrey said as she handed Nathan a metal plate that read 'C.L. - 6'.
"What does that mean?" Haven asked as she looked at it as well. "I don't know." Audrey replied, "But between the plaques and the tags we have a timeline. The most recently killed are the ones coming alive first."
Nathan walked around the room as he stated, "There are some animals missing."
"Okay, the first question is, how are the animals coming alive?" Audrey was voicing her thought process. Haven was about to say something but Audrey instantly said, "Don't say it." Audrey knew her sister was going to suggest it was a trouble again.
"No." Nathan countered with a more pressing question, "The first question is, where's the bear?"
"Who killed it?" Audrey and Haven asked in unison.
Nathan looked at the Parkers and replied, "Dave."
As soon as they arrived at Dave's house they heard Dave yelling for help. After drawing their weapons they went around the back of the house to find a destroyed wooden bulkhead with the bear down the stairs trying to break down the cellar door.
They all silently agreed to fire at the bear and they all emptied their clips into it, with no real damage done. "These are useless." Haven said as she returned the gun back to her holster.
"Any suggestions?" Nathan asked and Audrey saw a can of gasoline on the back stairs and said, "Yeah. Let's turn up the heat."
It didn't take long for Nathan to understand what she was saying and he quickly went to grab the can of gasoline. He poured it down onto the bear. "Let me?" Haven asked Audrey, wanting to light it up. Audrey handed Haven the matches and she lit them, "Fire in the hole!" she called out as she tossed the lit matches on the doused bear. Haven jumped back when the fire shot up into the air. Haven laughed and said, "I've always wanted to say that."
Audrey found herself laughing as well, "Way better than silver bullets."
Nathan looked at the laughing sisters and said, "You two are crazy."
"Batshit crazy." Haven corrected then slowly stopped laughing because that's what Duke had called her before and that recollection made her not want to laugh so much anymore.
Nathan put the fire out with an extinguisher and Vince looked like a kid in a candy store when he looked down at the bear and said "It's the damnedest thing I've seen in ages."
Dave didn't appreciate his brother's reaction, "You could be a little less thrilled, Vince. That thing almost killed me."
Vince's excitement didn't falter, "I know!"
"Look, I know you guys are excited, but we're really going to have to discuss how you're going to write about this." Audrey told the brothers.
"You're afraid what it's going to look like in the Herald." Dave stated.
"Does it have to look like anything?" Haven asked.
"What's it going to look like, Dave? Rabies." Vince asked and Dave replied with, "Right time of year."
"Oh, don't worry ladies. We'll think of something, we always do." Vince assured them.
"That reminds me." Haven said as she reached into her pocket. How exactly it reminded her, she had no idea, but it did. Haven showed Dave the metal plate that read 'CL – 6' on it. "It came off the animal that attacked TR."
Dave explained that it was the label that Landon Taylor used on the animals he stuffed. "Landon?" Haven asked, just to make sure she heard right. "Let's find out." Nathan replied and once again, off they went.
They went to Landon's dry cleaner's and found Landon in the back room cleaning up a mess of fabric, and stuffing. It was explained that what was happening was not caused by rabid animals, but the troubles. Landon believed that he was the one causing it since he had stuffed the animals and decided that all the animals had to be killed.
Landon's mother, Piper, came into the room and picked up a pair of shears. She told them to stay away from her son. When Nathan tried to reason with her, she swung the shears at Nathan, but missed and ended up cutting Landon's arm instead.
When Landon's arm bled sand as opposed to blood, Haven's eyes went wide. "Landon..." she took a step towards him and he pressed his hand on the wound and ran out of the place. "He didn't stuff himself!" Haven shouted at his mother.
Haven was right, there was no way he could have stuffed himself. That only meant one thing, that his mother was the cause of it. Audrey looked at Piper and said, "You did this...it's all you." Audrey said, more calmly than her sister.
Piper replied, "He can't destroy the animals. He can't...I can feel them. They're all waking up."
During the drive, Piper explained that she never sewed the animals up. She had only given him some of her sewing rags and never thought that would be enough to bring them back to life. She said in the fire that killed her son's wife, he had suffocated. That Landon just looked like he was sleeping and she couldn't help herself. When Landon woke up, she could feel it and everything was fine until Landon almost got shot the other day, then things...changed.
"From what we've seen, stress makes these things worse." Audrey explained to her.
"My father wanted me to be careful, I thought I was." Piper continued to explain. "All I ever wanted to do was keep him safe."
Haven could understand that, so very well. In fact, if she was in Landon's mother's shoes and Audrey was involved...Haven would have done the exact same thing.
They quickly arrived at the Hunt Club and Audrey rushed out of the truck, "Landon! Stop!" she called out to him.
"Piper, stay here." Nathan told her but refused, "He's my son." Piper replied firmly and followed them inside.
Once inside, they walked slowly through the room, looking at each animal they passed carefully. They didn't know when one might wake up and Haven said, "Keep sleeping guys, we're on your side." Haven doubted that would help, but it made her feel better to say it.
"Speak for yourself." Nathan muttered in reply.
"Landon!" Audrey called out again but no reply, "Dammit. We have to hurry." They rushed to the trophy room to find Landon.
"Landon stop!" Haven shouted at him upon seeing him raise an axe to the animals. "The animals you killed are waking up!" Audrey and Nathan got the axe away from Landon and Nathan practically dragged Landon out of the room.
Haven followed them then saw Piper run into the trophy room and closed the door. "What are you doing?!" Haven called out as she tried to get the door open. "Piper!" Haven called out again.
Audrey came over and also tried to get the door open or at least convince Piper to get out of there.
"This is my fault. If I day then they stop." Piper replied, ready to face death. Ready to do anything to protect the ones she loves.
Landon shoved Haven and Audrey out of the way of the door and started to hit the door with a fireplace poker in attempts to break the door down.
"This ends with me! You all go away!" Piper shouted from within the trophy room. The sounds coming from within that room of the animals awakening was terrifying, but it was nothing compared to the scream that followed.
Landon succeeded in breaking enough of the door to reach in an unlock it, but it was too late. Piper's body laid lifeless on the floor surrounded by the unmoving, stuffed, animals. Piper was right...it started with her and it ended with her.
This case had taken more of a toll than Haven ever thought it would. More than she realized. Haven couldn't be there when they talked to Landon, she wouldn't have been much help and knew it. She should have at least stayed around people because being alone brought back the past that haunted her.
Haven sat on the bed with the bottle of pills in her hand for...she didn't know how long. When Audrey walked in, Haven didn't even hear her. All she kept thinking was just a few of those and she wouldn't feel what she was feeling anymore. That everything would feel so good.
"Haven?" Audrey said to her in worry that quickly turned to one of anger when she saw what ws in her sister's hands, "Haven!" Audrey yelled as she ripped the bottle out of Haven's hands. "What are you doing Haven? Where did you get these?"
Haven bolted off the bed, "I didn't take them Audrey I swear I didn't take any."
"Why would you have these Haven? After everything that happened, all you went through, why would you?" Audrey tried to understand, but she couldn't. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't.
"I keep them to prove to myself that I can be around it and not take it." Haven replied then said more, "But I wanted to Audrey...I really wanted to." Haven looked away to hide the tears that were coming to her eyes.
Audrey had to keep firm, she had to. If she faltered even a little bit, then they might fall down the rabbit hole all over again. "You wanted to, but you didn't. Now flush them." Audrey held the bottle out to Haven for her to take. It was that moment that Audrey realized where the bottle came from, it was the bottle Haven was supposed to have flushed years ago. "Do now what you should have done then."
Haven wiped the tears from her eyes and took the bottle from Audrey. She knew Audrey was following her to the bathroom as she dumped the whole bottle, flushed the toilet, and threw the empty bottle away. Haven stood at the sink and gripped the edges of the counter, "I'm sorry, Audrey. I'm so sorry."
Seeing Haven get rid of the pills like that, let her know that Haven would be alright. She pulled her sister close and held her tight, "It's alright, Haven. You're alright I'm proud of you." Audrey didn't want to think it, but a part of her couldn't help it, she wondered just how long Haven being alright was going to last.
End Episode 6