Joseph buttons the last button on his shirt, putting his hair up in a tight bun. He decides not to wear his glasses tonight. Joseph walks out into the hallway, hands in his pockets. Jacob comes out not too long after an Army jacket, and slacks. They both open the door to John's room, Joseph flicks on a light, John groans shutting his eyes to the sudden brightness. Jacob looked around the room, it was dirty, they were going to have to clean it out tomorrow to make it more presentable. Joseph comes over to John, John opens his eyes staring at his brother.
"Jacob and I are going out to eat," Joseph explains. "Get some rest, okay?" John just nods yawning, turning his head to look at Jacob.
"We'll be back in no time," Jacob says. John just nods sleepily. "Go back to bed, John." It doesn't take long before John is back asleep. It is Jacob's turn to pry Joseph away from their younger brother. When they get outside, the air is cold, Jacob opening Joseph's door for him. Joseph doesn't complain and jumps in rubbing his hands together. "You sure you don't want a jacket?"
"I'm fine, Jacob," Joseph answers. He looks out the window, they have to pass by Nick Rye's place, the lights were on in the hanger. "Someone going for a night ride?"
"Probably," Jacob says.
Staci hates flying at night, but he had to get this practice in before the upcoming recertification of his pilot's license through the department. Nick is behind him, insisting that Staci not go alone. Staci starts to flick on the switches, putting on his headset, Nick doing the same thing.
"Ready for takeoff?" Staci asks.
"Ready," Nick responds. Staci nods, as he slowly starts to drive the plane down the airstrip, he has to steady his hands as they start the ascent. "Little rocky there don't you think?"
"I don't need your backseat driving, Nick," Staci quips.
"Alright, sorry," Nick says. Staci rolls his eyes, turning the plane to go toward John's ranch. "Hey, where we going?"
"Just want to see if they've done any renovations," Staci says.
"How you gonna know from way up here? You ain't planning on landing this plane down there, are you?" Nick asks worriedly.
"I wouldn't have brought you along if I was planning that, Nick," Staci responds.
"Yeah, listen about my text," Nick says. Staci sighs, this was almost the fourth time Nick has apologized for that first text. He didn't have all the information or else he would have never said those things to Staci.
"Nicky, it's fine," Staci says.
"You know, sometimes I wish you weren't a deputy," Nick says.
"You gonna offer me a job again?" Staci teases.
"You gonna agree this time?" Nick responds hopefully.
"No, Nick, I love my job," Staci says.
"You really had to talk to that psychopath?" Nick asks, looking down at John's ranch. Staci doesn't answer. "Heard over the radio some peggies talking about these two young deputies talking to John Seed. Joseph kicked them out."
"He isn't as bad as you might think," Staci says.
"Listen, Stace, I get that you know where the guy is coming from," Nick says. "But you can't let your guard down around him. He's still that crazy bastard that tattoos and baptizes people against their will." Staci turns around heading back to the hanger. "Well, guess he can't do any of those things now can he?" Nick says. "Hey, let me take you out to eat, my treat."
"Yeah, sure," Staci says.
"Great, cuz Kim and I had a reservation but she ain't feeling up for it," Nick says. "Think this pregnancy is kicking her ass." Staci lands the plane easily, easier than it was to take off. They get the plane back into the hanger and are off to dinner. Staci looks down at the clothes he is wearing. He didn't look very fancy right now. They pull up to the restaurant and the first thing they see is a white truck with the Eden's Gate symbol on it. "Just our fucking luck."
"You want to skip out?" Staci asks.
"No…no it's fine," Nick answers. Staci just nods sliding out of the truck. Staci's mouth is watering the minute they step foot in the place.
"Ah, Nick!" The owner shouts. "Glad you could make it after all. Hello Deputy Pratt."
"Hey, Logan," Staci says in return, he has to almost shout because of the noise in the restaurant. Why did they have to play the music so damn loud? "You just cook bread or something?"
"Yes," Logan responds. "The Seed's ordered it." Staci nods, looking around the restaurant, his eyes finally landing on the two brothers. Joseph had his arm wrapped tightly around Jacob's arm.
"Where's our table?" Nick asks.
"Follow me," Logan says. Staci and Nick, both follow him closely. Staci hears the end of Joseph's statement, and it confuses him.
"It is a common name, Jacob, he isn't one of us," Joseph says. "We have no reason to believe that the town folk are involved. I need you clear headed right now."
"Yes, Joseph," Jacob whispers. Staci looked around; it was busy. Normally it wasn't this busy but then again Staci has only been here during the weekday. They are seated a few tables away from the brothers. Staci can feel their eyes on him.
"Your server will be with you shortly," Logan says.
"Thanks, Log," Nick says, nodding to him. "Geez, Stace, you must have really gotten under their skin." Nick whispers elbowing him softly. Staci just rolls his eyes at him. He didn't know why he sat here, he had the perfect view of them, and they had the perfect view of him. Joseph was wearing just his plain button up, he had to have been cold, right? Jacob was wearing some sort of Army jacket, a knife hanging from his belt, the red handle standing out. He wondered if Jacob ever left the house without a weapon. Joseph gestures to Jacob, and Jacob looks behind his shoulder at him. Staci gulps dropping his gaze immediately. "You want to change seats?" Nick asks.
"I'm fine," Staci says.
"Hello, gentlemen," Their waiter says. "I'm Paula, I'm gonna be serving you today. Can I get something to drink for ya?"
"What kind of alcohol you got here?" Nick asks. Staci looks at him. "I'll only have a few, Stace, don't worry."
"I'm holding you to that, Nick Rye, I do not want Kim coming for my ass," Staci says.
"We got champagne, wine, tonic, and our usual handcrafted beer," Paula answers.
"I'll take a beer," Nick says.
"I'll just have water," Staci says. Paula nods to him writing down their orders. She goes over to the Seeds.
"I'm very sorry for the wait," Paula says. "Your food should be out in just a moment."
"It is quite alright," Joseph says.
"Someone flew over John's compound, you think it was them," Jacob asks gesturing toward Staci and Nick.
"Does the young deputy fly?" Joseph asks.
"I think so," Jacob answers. "I know they have a pilot on the force. If he's such good friends with Nick, it's more than likely him."
"His partner seems rather protective of him," Joseph says.
"He's weak," Jacob says.
"You can tell that by looking at him?" Joseph asks. Jacob coughs, laughing at his brother. Joseph frowns, not understanding what was funny about what he said.
"Joe, look at him, really look at him, what do you see?" Jacob asks. Joseph sighs but looks at the young deputy. Staci is having a conversation with the pilot, his hands firmly in his lap, his posture was terrible, he was rather small, skinny. He seems to be riddled with anxious energy.
"An anxious, small man?" Joseph says.
"He needs a good helping hand if you ask me," Jacob says. Joseph looks at him.
"You believe he would benefit from the project?" Joseph asks.
"I do," Jacob replies. "He's a cop, so he HAS to have some balls." Joseph smiles at Paula when she brings their dinner. They both decided on steak, Jacob insisted on the French fries as a side and Joseph went with the only healthy option, a baked sweet potato. He would have gone with a regular potato, but they didn't do that apparently.
"Yes, I do imagine he does have to be brave to be a deputy," Joseph says. Jacob looks down at his phone, watching as John sits up, wide awake, it was too dark to see much else.
"You couldn't have added sound to these cameras, Joe?" Jacob asks.
"If you would prefer that then I will have some ordered," Joseph answers. Jacob nods, he can see John on the iPad in the dark, the screen illuminating his face. "What is he doing?"
"On his iPad," Jacob says. "Without the light on. He's gonna hurt his eyesight if he keeps doing that." They look over at Staci who has spit out his drink, staring at his phone.
John: Uh…had nightmare. Succeeded this time. Went to hell, tortured…again. Said you knew my past. Feel…urge to hurt.
Staci bites his lip, he can't call him, John can't talk.
"Just give me a minute, Nick," Staci says, standing up, walking away out into the lobby.
Staci: Do not hurt yourself, John. Please. I know those dreams can be terrifying.
John: You have to?
Staci: Yes, I do. Not as much anymore but it was really bad the first 3 months. It will get better. It has been how long since your attempt?
John: A week
Staci: you can't expect yourself to heal in a week, John. This takes time.
John: Annoyed. Body doesn't work, mind isn't better, better off dead.
Staci: How would your brothers feel about that?
John is typing…
John: urged them to live for me. But Jacob…have harder time than Joseph.
Staci: I don't think that's true, John. Joseph would be just as heartbroken! He spent a long time looking for you John.
John: True. Joseph said to forgive myself. Don't know how, Deputy Pratt. Raised this way, raised to always repent, always sinning.
Staci: Living your life is not sinning, John. What your parents did was wrong!
John: Human.
Staci smiles, he was listening to him. Hearing what he had to say.
Staci: That's right, John.
John: Thank you. Feel better now. See you Monday, I ask that you not enter house, meet me out back at 2PM.
Staci: You got it. I'll be there.
Staci sighs, staring at his phone, he was being called in at this hour of the night? Staci makes his way back over to Nick tapping him on the shoulder.
"I'm being called in," Staci says. "I can call an uber to drop me off at home…"
"Nah, I got ya," Nick says. "Paula, we need the check."
"If it is just the drinks, they are on me," Paula says.
"No, we can't do that," Nick says.
"You can and you will," Paula orders. "Thanks for your work, Deputy, keeping this county safe. You take care now, you hear?" Staci nods. He brushes past Jacob.
"Stay safe out there, deputy," Jacob says to him. Staci blushes at that.
"Thanks," Staci responds, yelping as he is pushed to keep walking by Nick.
"It's a little late to be called in, right?" Nick asks, worriedly. Staci shrugs. It wasn't exactly out of the ordinary, but as of late he didn't have as many late calls. They make it to Staci's apartment in no time. Staci has to shoo Nick away, Nick only had half of his beer so he should be good to drive. Staci runs up to his apartment getting dressed as quickly as possible.
He rushes down the stairs, his jacket wrapped around him tightly.
When he gets to the station, Hudson, the Sheriff, and a few other deputies are all waiting for him outside. He is handed a backpack. Perfect, that meant they had to walk.
"What's going on?" Staci asks.
"Someone found a body in the middle of the woods," Hudson explains. "Strung up."
"Where?" Staci asks.
"Whitetail mountains," Hudson answers, starting the truck following the Sheriff's vehicle.
"Who found it?" Staci asks.
"Group of teenagers," Hudson says. "They were about to have a bonfire out by an abandoned house, one of the boys ran right into the body."
"Geez," Staci says. "How's your night been?"
"Uneventful," Hudson says. "Harry still wants us to move into that vacant place in Falls End."
"You still don't want to leave your mom's house, huh?" Staci asks.
"No, of course not," Hudson says. "I love it there. It's my home. But…it's apparently not his home. How about you?"
"Went night flying," Staci says. "Went out to eat with Nick, talked to John too…"
"Again?" Hudson asks. "That's what three times already?"
"Joey, I told him to text me anytime," Staci says. "He feels comfortable enough to open up to me."
"I don't want you getting hurt, Stace," Hudson says.
"I'll be fine, Joey," Staci says. It takes them a while to get there. They park on the edge of the road, all deputies having flashlights. They have to walk through thick brush to even get to their destination, how in the hell did these kids navigate this?
"Hudson, kids are inside the house, dispatch said that one of the parents are already inside, talk to them," Sheriff Whitehorse orders. "Pratt, McKinnon, Santos, with me." Staci nods shining the flashlight on the ground.
"Looks like someone dragged him," Staci says.
"Oh my God," Santos says, turning around and running for the tree line. Staci shines the light onto the body.
"Castrated?" Staci asks. He shines the light onto the ground again. "I would hope that an animal ate it…I hope whoever did this didn't take it as a trophy."
"Fuck, Pratt, seriously?" McKinnon asks. Staci maneuvers to look at the back of the body.
"He was sodomized, Sheriff," Staci informs him.
"He's a Peggie," Sheriff Whitehorse says. "One of Jacob's men."
"Sorry, sir," Santos says.
"It's alright, Santos, nothing can really prepare you for this," Sheriff Whitehorse says. "He's been here a few days."
"Just add another fucked up thing that has happened in this county to the list," McKinnon says.