[CLOCK TICKING RAPIDLY]
[RAPID FOOTSTEPS]
♪ ♪
[RAPID FOOTSTEPS]
[COCKS RIFLE]
[SPLASHING]
[RAPID FOOTSTEPS]
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
♪ [OMINOUS MUSIC] ♪
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH NEARBY]
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
[COCKS RIFLE]
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
[CELL PHONE RINGS, PLAYS "1812 OVERTURE"]
[PICKS UP CELL PHONE] Danny: Sorry, sorry. Hey honey!
I know mint chocolate chip. I know you.
Yeah, me and the guys are just gonna grab a beer and-
SKOOTER: What is going on?
DANNY: Hold on, I can't... No, I'm losing you.
SKOOTER: Guys, come on! DANNY: Hold on.
Well, I'm in the woods. Hold on, hold on.
SKOOTER: Really?!
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
DANNY: Bree, I'm trying to find a spot.
Are you even- Are you even there?
You're not there.
♪ [OMINOUS MUSIC] ♪
Hey Garrett, you know the county line is out of bounds, right?
Garrett?
BREE ON PHONE: Hello? DANNY: Garrett?
BREE ON PHONE: Dan? Hello? Hello?!
♪ [OMINOUS MUSIC] ♪
Oh honey, I gotta call you back!
♪ ♪
♪ [JUKEBOX PLAYS COUNTRY MUSIC] ♪
I'm all in.
CLIFFORD: Uh-oh.
[SNICKERS]
With all due respect, you and your good ol' boys
need to work on your good ol' bluffs.
What's that supposed to mean?
OFFICER DANTE: Well, your honor some new evidence
has just come to my attention. I call.
Dang!
CLIFFORD: Great flush! [LAUGHING]
Thanks again for letting me take Sheriff Thorne's seat.
CLIFFORD: I'll never understand why he didn't request a re-count
after losing by so few votes.
SHERIFF ALDEN: His wife Jordan's been hounding him for years
to retire and move to the Keys.
I reckon once he lost, he lost his excuse not to.
How is it dealing with his successor?
Different.
[ALL CHUCKLING]
[DOORBELLS JANGLE]
[FOOTSTEPS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[FOOTSTEPS]
[SOFT THUD]
[FOOTSTEPS]
ZACK: A sheriff... a judge...
A politician... and a lawyer...
They all walk into a diner.
Sounds like the set-up to a joke, don't it?
[CHUCKLING]
If you're gambling on the
York side of the county line...
and consuming alcohol in Maksville County...
isn't that an overt county ordinance violation?
Are you planning on making a citizen's arrest?
No... rules are made to be broken.
Hey Johnny, you got a concealed carry for that
9 millimeter you got tucked in your pants?
You bet!
Care to show it to me?
JOHNNY: I would, sheriff, but you know you ain't
got no jurisdiction here.
[CHUCKLING]
Looks like somebody needs to rebuy.
Get outta here.
[ZACK AND JOHNNY CHUCKLING]
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]
[DOORBELLS JANGLE]
Who is that? - Zack Van Zant.
I brought charges against him
more times than I care to remember.
HUGH: Clint's biggest regret was that he never put
that low-life behind bars.
SHERIFF ALDEN: The top item on my agenda is
to finish what Clint started.
[JUKEBOX CLICKS, PLAYS NEW COUNTRY SONG]
I got your wings...
cheeseburger...
bacon cheeseburger.
MADDIE: Ta-da!!! SHERIFF ALDEN: Veggie burger?
Is it too much to ask to eat what I want one day a week? It's called a "cheat day."
MADDIE: Maybe if you hadn't already averaged 365 cheat days
every single year of your entire life. [KISS]
Thank you. [CELL PHONE RINGS]
Hey, Skooter. Whoa, whoa whoa... slow down, now what happened?
♪ [OMINOUS MUSIC] ♪
SKOOTER: Being that his body's right here in the middle of the
road that splits both the counties,
I thought it might be best if I...
called both you and Sheriff Jo here. - Appreciate it.
SKOOTER: The victim is uh... Garrett Barlow.
SHERIFF ALDEN: No kidding? OFFICER DANTE: Who?
The ambulance chaser. Van Zant's attorney.
OFFICER DANTE: Did York County institute a new dress code
for its deputies, Skooter?
SKOOTER: No, no... this is that Revolutionary War
re-enactment thing we're doing here.
And you chose ♪ to fight for the British?
I did not, I did not.
I got traded; me and Phil Wilks got bumped for Benedict Arnold
and some guy named Cornwallis, I don't know...
Hey Warren, I wouldn't have thought you'd be a re-enactor.
Oh, just getting back into it.
Barely fit into my uniform.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Warren here is medical examiner for both counties.
OFFICER DANTE: Pleasure to meet you.
SHERIFF ALDEN: So what do you think?
WARREN: Well, it looks like a single G.S.W. to the chest;
lack of soot deposition and gunpowder stippling.
SHERIFF ALDEN: I wonder if maybe he was shot back there
in the woods and drug himself out here?
♪ ♪
[FOOTSTEPS]
Found ya.
[POCKET KNIFE CLICKS OPEN]
Y'all use live rounds at these things?
Never, it's probably gonna match the one I dig outta Barlow there
No, that exit wound sure didn't look like a musket ball.
Eh... you may be right.
Oh, here she comes.
SHERIFF JO: Hey guys...
can you make sure no one else comes back in there?
I feel like I'm back at basic training
with my drill instructor. Hey, Sheriff.
It was a real nice service you had for Steph.
Ember was sorry she couldn't be there.
Tell her that defending her country is more than a valid reason.
SHERIFF JO: What were you thinking?
SKOOTER: He was out in the middle of the road.
I didn't know what to- Save it, save it.
Thanks for coming, but I got it from here.
What makes you assume this is a York County case?
Everything but his sneakers are on my side of the line.
Well, the re-enactment took place in my county.
The victim happened to live there and he also got shot there
Possession is 9/10ths of the law
and I'm in possession of 9/10ths of the body.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Okay, fine...
you play lead, I play rhythm.
You want to work together?
Well in situations like this where there's a question
of jurisdiction, me and Clint always worked together.
I'm not sure if you heard but
your B.F.F. lost.
Is this a crime scene...
or a costume party, deputy?
SKOOTER: It's a crime scene.
SHERIFF JO: Then treat it like one.
SKOOTER: I need you guys to back up if you would.
Look...
I just figured since this is your first homicide that
maybe you could use a little assistance.
You figured wrong.
♪ ♪
MADDIE: That was a kind gesture that you made.
She can't look a gift horse in the mouth.
She looks at this horse like
she thinks I'm ready to be put out to pasture.
MADDIE: If this is her jurisdiction,
there's nothing you can do.
I could solve it before she does.
MADDIE: You'd solve a murder out of spite?
Not just out of spite.
Oh, that's good to hear.
Also so I could gloat.
Alden! Really?!
So what if she beats you to it?
SHERIFF ALDEN: She probably cares more about
being in charge than actually putting in the work.
MADDIE: I know that look. SHERIFF ALDEN: What?
MADDIE: Oh I don't know, what are the odds something
in there rhymes with "Van Zant?"
[MOTOR SLOWING]
[MOTOR STOPPING]
♪ [TRANQUIL COUNTRY MUSIC] ♪
[KEYS JANGLE, UNLOCKS DOOR]
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]
[PAPERS RUSTLING]
SHERIFF ALDEN: A little early for ski season, ain't it?
Alright, put your hands up.
And while you're at it, let's see your face.
[FLASHLIGHT CLICKS OFF]
[FIGHTING]
[GRUNTING, THUDDING SOUNDS]
[CRASHING SOUNDS]
[GRUNTING, THUDDING SOUNDS]
[FIGHTING]
[PUNCHING]
[THUD]
[PUNCH]
[CRASHING]
[LOUD THUD]
[LIGHTS FLICKERING]
[PANTING]
[PUNCHES THROWN]
[BIG THUD DOWN]
[PANTING]
Now, who do we have-
[PUNCH TO THE HEAD] [THUDS DOWN]
POLICE RADIO: Liberty 25, code 6, 105 North Avenue 52.
OFFICER DANTE: Do you think it was Barlow's killer or killers?
It's kind of hard to say.
He represented half the crooks in this part of the world.
Probably a long list of ex-clients
who'd be glad to get rid of any paper trail.
This type of mess is gonna be impossible to figure out
what or if anything was taken.
Should we just call Sheriff Jo and...
let her know what happened?
She wants to be a one-woman show.
I think we should respect that.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
[FOOTSTEPS]
♪ ♪
[EXHALES]
NEWS REPORT: ...100 acres of grassland saved,
and a merit badge well-earned.
The hills east of Maksville ran red, white, and blue yesterday
as the rotary performed its annual re-enactment
of the Battle of Blue Ridge.
When the dust cleared, local attorney Garrett Barlow
remained lying where he had fallen.
Reports indicate Barlow died
sometime during the re-enactment,
in what newly-elected Sheriff Joanne Porter's office
describes as suspicious circumstances.
The family of the deceased...
SHERIFF ALDEN: Suspicious? Ha!
Someone suspiciously put a bullet
in the middle of his chest!
MADDIE: I'm sorry, the policeman is just a big ol' grouch before he has had his coffee.
NEWS REPORT CONTINUES: ...the inexperienced young sheriff
in what would be- [MADDIE CLICKS TV OFF]
Why'd you turn it off?
MADDIE: Because watching it is
bad for your blood pressure,
and listening to you is bad for mine.
[PHONE RINGS]
Maddie's.
Skooter!
In all the years that you've been coming here to eat,
have you ever known us to deliver?
Hey Maddie, let me talk to him.
Good morning, Skooter!
SKOOTER: Oh, bless your heart!
I am starving to death, Alden.
Thank you, thank you!
Kept you here all night, huh?
She is treating me like some kind of...
glorified security guard, Alden.
She's got me going through files for
speeding tickets from 1985.
So you're in the doghouse?
Yeah, I am. She's ticked at me for uh...
for calling you about that body.
Ah!
SKOOTER: And uh... I'm a biscuit short.
Oh, don't be so hard on yourself.
No, not me... the order; I'm a butter biscuit short here.
Well if I were you, I'd suspect the delivery boy.
Now what's Jo thinking by not declaring this a murder?
SKOOTER: Oh, she uh...
She thinks that one of the re-enactors might have used
a live round instead of a blank.
SHERIFF ALDEN: So it was a musket ball and not
a bullet that killed Barlow?
Well, I ain't really in the loop on that but um...
she reasons that uh... there's too many witnesses
out there for somebody to plan a murder.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Witnesses who are half-disguised shooting
other witnesses who are falling down
and playing dead; can you imagine
a better place to commit a murder?
SKOOTER: No. No, I agree.
Well, she had me collect all the weapons including mine.
I guess she expects to get a ballistics match.
Hey, who found the body?
Hmm... a fella by the name of Danny Boone.
SHERIFF ALDEN: You're kiddin' me. SKOOTER: No.
No, he's a dentist here in York County.
Ha!
These are good.
DANNY: Sure, everyone knew Garrett.
He was known for cheating.
[SAYS GARBLING] Cheating?
You could shoot him at close range,
and then he would pretend to do this Matrix move.
Open wide for me.
Well this one time he brought a paintball gun
to the Battle of Gettysburg.
He shot Robert E. Lee right in the crotch!
It got to the point where the re-enactment society president
had no choice but to ban him.
Well, how'd he get back in?
Garrett filed a lawsuit against the society,
and Riley had no choice but to reinstate him.
So it'd be fair to say that Riley's no big fan of Garrett's?
It's fair to say that Riley has thrown a barbecue in celebration
of the fact that Garrett is no longer a dues-paying member.
My wife's not letting me go.
Riley live in Maksville?
York.
Oh. Well thanks, Doc.
We're not done. You've got 3 cavities.
Actually I do have to go.
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
- Thank you. - You're gonna need it.
[EXHALES]
[DOOR CLOSES]
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
What are you doing here?
I got a free toothbrush!
Maybe I wasn't clear about not ♪ needing your assistance.
You were perfectly clear,
but I've still got the right to investigate the murder of one of my constituents.
First off, we're most likely looking at manslaughter. [SCOFFS]
And do whatever you want in your county,
but you have no legal authority once you cross into mine.
Since when do I need legal authority
to ask a guy a couple of questions?
Since I say you do.
And if I catch you playing cops and robbers
on my side of the line again,
I'm gonna arrest you for interfering with
an official police investigation.
Really?
Try me.
SHERIFF ALDEN: I think she wants to arrest me.
MADDIE: You gave it a shot. What are you gonna do?
You can't cross the county line.
[TEARS RECEIPT, WALKS AWAY]
[JUKEBOX CLICKING]
♪ [COUNTRY SONG PLAYING] ♪
RILEY: My BBQ was uh... was planned
before Garrett died and uh...
and I know I uh... shouldn't have joked
about it being a celebration.
Too soon.
But uh... in my defense...
comedy is uh... subjective.
When I told people I wished Garrett was dead,
I-I... I meant it figuratively.
♪ [COUNTRY SONG PLAYING] ♪
Should I be talking to a lawyer?
Nah.
Criminals are stupid, but not this stupid.
Thanks?
Look, I'm gonna need the names of everybody
who was involved in the re-enactment.
can you do that for me?
[DOORBELLS JANGLE] Um-hmm
Excuse me.
Uh, yeah.
SKOOTER: I think Jo is getting suspicious, Alden.
If we're careful, she won't find out.
Yeah. We got the ballistics report back.
Guess what? You were right.
Barlow wasn't shot with no musket, it was a 9 millimeter.
Do you reckon a 9 was pretty popular back in the 1700s? - I reckon not.
That's because Georg Luger didn't invent 'em until 1902.
♪ ♪
OFFICER DANTE: I stopped by that new microbrewery
after frisbee golf last night. After what?
OFFICER DANTE: Frisbee golf. twice a week.
SHERIFF ALDEN: You were an All-American at Georgia Tech.
OFFICER DANTE: It's good for the hand-eye coordination.
Anyways, I heard you're an I.P.A. guy.
Well, thank you.
Sucking up to the boss is not only appreciated but encouraged.
I also came in early to finish entering in
the list of re-enactors into the system.
Anybody with a record?
A disturbingly high number but uh...
only one was represented by Barlow.
Oh yeah... Brody Haywood.
Yeah, he used to work for Van Zant.
OFFICER DANTE: He just got released after doing
6 years for a bank robbery.
Well, maybe he's back on Van Zant's payroll.
Or he's just another disgruntled client looking
for more than a refund.
His parole information has him
working at a body shop in York.
You see that?
A month with me and you're doing first-rate work.
Or it's my uh... criminology degree.
Heh.
Yeah, you might wanna hang back.
I don't think Jo's gonna be too happy about this.
Are you sure we shouldn't just pass along the tip?
[CHUCKLES]
Dante, old cop rule number one:
it's better to beg forgiveness
than ask permission.
I just don't see Jo as the forgiving type.
Yeah, it works out.
I'm not exactly the begging type.
[DOOR OPENS]
[MECHANIC SHOP SOUNDS]
Mr. Haywood...
Is that a late 18th century rifle in your pocket,
or could it be a 9 millimeter?
Oh, you gotta be kidding me.
Whoa!
[FIGHTING, PUNCHING]
Ugh!
[FIGHTING, PUNCHING]
[THUD]
[KICKING]
[RAPID FOOTSTEPS]
Ahhh...
[RAPID FOOTSTEPS]
Dante!
[RAPID FOOTSTEPS]
[THUD]
[GROANING]
Look what I found.
[PANTING]
[EXHALING DEEPLY]
SKOOTER: The word "name," or their name?
SHERIFF JO: No, no... their name.
SKOOTER: Okay so Ross Wetherford [TYPING]
SHERIFF JO: Um-hmm, and just click enter.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Hey folks...
I come bearing gifts. Sit down.
This most likely is the weapon used
to murder Garrett Barlow.
Brody here used to break heads for Van Zant,
and I figure he's back on the payroll.
SHERIFF JO: What reason would he have
to murder his own lawyer?
You wanted to be the lone wolf,
you gotta learn to hunt on your own.
[JUKEBOX CLICKING]
♪ [COUNTRY SONG PLAYING] ♪
Do you smell burnt toast?
SHERIFF ALDEN: No, why do you ask?
Because it's the only plausible explanation
for why your boots would be on my table.
You're having a stroke.
I am basking in the glow of victory.
[CHUCKLES, DOORBELLS JANGLE] Oh, oh!
What's going on?
Oh, well this is Alden's version
of a victory lap, and now it's over.
♪ [COUNTRY SONG PLAYING] ♪
Well I, uh... heard about Barlow.
Thought I might be able to offer some insight.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Well I appreciate it, but I think
I already got the guy... the guy you
put away, Brody Haywood, remember that case?
I remember it well.
What do you make for his motive?
Well, revenge on Barlow for a job not so well done.
Makes sense.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Or maybe Van Zant put him back on the payroll
to off his attorney.
And you've got evidence for that?
- A gut feeling. - Hmph... at least you're still
running the show.
♪ ♪
[DOOR CREAKS OPENS]
[CUTTING]
♪ ♪
Hi, Dad.
Hey! I didn't think you'd be home
for a couple of weeks! [CHUCKLING]
♪ ♪
How long you on leave?
EMBER: T.B.D. SHERIFF ALDEN: T.B.D.
Well F.Y.I. it's nice to have you home.
I'm getting tired of my own cooking.
[CHUCKLING]
How's the first month of your new term going?
Eh, okay... alright...
It got better today.
Yeah? Why's that?
Well, the new sheriff in York
has been kind of a burr under my saddle.
You see, Clint's replacement is a female.
She's only had a couple years experience,
but she thinks she's God's gift.
Why does her gender matter?
It doesn't.
EMBER: Then why emphasize it? SHERIFF ALDEN: Well...
Dad, I can't tell you the number of times that I have needed to
go above and beyond to impress my male superiors.
And even then, it's not always appreciated.
Well, I'm sorry you had to experience that but...
this situation's different.
Okay.
I was surprised to hear you were even running for reelection.
I've got some loose ends I'd like to tie up.
Maddie didn't encourage you to retire?
Oh... oh, yes she did.
How is that going, by the way?
That's going fine by the way.
I guess... good... okay...
She likes giving me a hard time.
Kinda like mom used to do?
Like you ♪ do.
♪ ♪
[FOOTSTEPS]
What's he doing here? - Sit.
Ballistics confirmed his gun did not ♪ kill Garrett Barlow.
So he used a different 9 millimeter.
He may be as dumb as a box of rocks but even he knows
how to ditch a murder weapon.
He wasn't even at the re-enactment.
- He was on the list. - I sprained my ankle.
I had to go to the E.R. to make sure I ain't busted it.
My gut still tells me Van Zant's involved.
And my brain is telling me to stop listening to your gut.
Resisting arrest is a parole violation.
SHERIFF JO: You deal with it,
I have a murder to solve.
[SIGHS]
♪ ♪
SHERIFF ALDEN: Sam, I really appreciate you
helping me out with this case.
SAM: Truth be told, I'm glad you stopped by.
Retired life can be a bit mundane.
I'm sure it's a lot slower than being D.A.
[POURING DRINK] Yeah I figured I'd love all the
free time but it turns out all I wanna do
in my retirement is work. [GLASSES CLINK]
These are the ones who got away.
SHERIFF ALDEN: So when you put something together,
what do you do with it?
SAM: Give it to my successor.
And Barney helped her close a couple.
And you don't take any credit?
I gotta admit it has been humbling.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
But it has also been gratifying.
I uh... spoke with Van Zant a couple weeks back and let it
slip that the Feds were building a RICO case against him.
Are they?
Nah, I was bluffing but the thing about RICO...
it supersedes attorney-client privilege.
They could get Barlow to testify against him.
Unlike you, I'm a good bluffer.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Do you reckon you scared Van Zant enough to sacrifice
his own lawyer?
The thought crossed my mind.
The word is Johnny Prattler spoke with Barlow a few days ago
and apparently there has been tension likely stemming because
Johnny's growing tired of playing second fiddle.
I've been expecting a Prattler uprising for years.
There's certainly enough of 'em to make a move.
I'd love to go after Van Zant.
Unfortunately, he lives in York.
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
We gotta quit meeting like this.
Now it don't matter how Jo treats me, I don't care.
You know me, Alden.
I just don't wanna be disloyal.
Skooter, look...
I'm not asking for information,
I'm giving it.
I reckon this way you can take credit,
and probably earn some brownie points alongside.
But wouldn't you be helping Jo though?
I figure it's for Clint.
Oh.
But for it to work,
she cannot know it came from me.
You got it?
I got it, got it.
[PATS HIM] Okay.
...which is why I think it's worth looking into Van Zant.
[CLEARS THROAT]
SHERIFF JO: You do? SKOOTER: Yep!
And you came up with this theory all on your own?
All on my lonesome.
Seriously?
I mean yeah, um...
sometimes I-I think of things, you know?
And-and-and they become thoughts, you know?
And... [MUTTERING INDISTINCTLY]
That's solid police work.
SKOOTER: Yeah, thank you.
I just have a couple follow-up questions.
♪ [COMICAL MUSIC] ♪
You honestly thought I'd fall for Skooter
feeding me fake intel?
The lead's legit.
I seriously doubt that.
You clearly have a vendetta against Van Zant.
Well, I got plenty of reason but actually
I'm trying to do the right thing.
The right thing would have been to keep your nose out of it
from the start like I asked.
[SCOFFS] You didn't ask, you told!
Look, all I wanna do is develop a good
working relationship with you like I had with Clint.
No, this is payback for me beating Clint, the horse you backed.
Of course I backed him, he's my best friend!
Well big difference between supporting someone,
and slinging mud.
You played the old ♪ card.
I never once called you old.
You said that Clint and I were set in our ways,
that our policing method is old-school.
It is.
That doesn't mean it doesn't work.
I didn't turn down your offer to help because
you're past your prime, my mayor backed Clint...
going so far as to warn voters of an impending crime
spree if I were to be elected.
It's his opinion that a woman isn't qualified to do this job.
If I need you to hold my hand and walk me
through my first murder, all that does is validate him.
[TAPS FINGERS ON DESK]
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
Well, thanks for the tip. I'll follow up.
Actually it was Sam Tate.
The retired D.A.?
Yeah, he'll walk you through it.
And if you feel like running anything by me,
you know how to get a hold of me.
Yeah...
I'll tell Skooter!
You-
[JUKEBOX CLICKING]
♪ [COUNTRY SONG PLAYING] ♪
[DOORBELLS JANGLE]
Oh hey, sorry I'm late. What'd I miss?
Alden bluffing his stack off.
[HUGH LAUGHING]
So nothing I haven't seen a hundred times before!
Not everyone is blessed with my gift of deception.
Not everyone is a politician where lyin's like breathin'.
Hey Maddie, could you spot me a loan?
MADDIE: The word loan implies that you're gonna pay me back.
I thought you were bringing Sam.
Well, I tried calling him but he didn't pick up.
MADDIE: That's a bit odd, don't you think?
Sam lives for these games.
Yeah, he sure does. Here, hold this.
[FOOTSTEPS]
[SAM'S VOICEMAIL] You got Sam...
leave your full name and number,
and if I don't get back with ya,
it's cause I'm playin' poker.
[FOOTSTEPS]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN]
Sam, you home?
Hey Sam, I'm coming in. It's Alden.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Sam?
[FOOTSTEPS]
Sam?!
[ENGINE RUNNING IN GARAGE]
[RAPID FOOTSTEPS]
[OPENS GARAGE DOOR]
Sam!
[COUGHS, CLICKS GARAGE DOOR OPENER]
Sam?! [OPENS TRUCK DOOR]
Oh, Sam. [ENGINE CONTINUES RUNNING]
♪ [SAD MUSIC] ♪
I've known Sam all my life; suicide ain't his style.
Do you think he was murdered?
I know he was.
Maybe he drank himself into a depressed state.
We found an empty bottle of bourbon.
Everybody was aware that bourbon was his drink of choice,
but not everybody knew that he developed an allergy to corn;
he had to switch to Irish whiskey.
If Sam planned on ending his life, I'd argue he might wanna
enjoy Bourbon for one last time.
You gotta dust for prints.
I will conduct a thorough investigation.
[SCOFFS]
You have my word.
Did you find a note?
Alden, that doesn't mean that this wasn't a suicide.
Listen, he argued for a living.
There is nobody in this world who loved the sound of his own voice more than Sam did.
If there's anything suspicious, I'm sure the autopsy will reflect that.
I don't need a coroner to tell me what I already know.
But I ♪ do.
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]
SHERIFF ALDEN: This ain't over.
♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪
[EXHALES]
♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪
[GLASSES CLINK]
[FLASHBACK OF SAM SPEAKING] And you got evidence for that?
♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪
♪ ♪
SHERIFF ALDEN: You're up early.
Ugh, my body clock's out of whack.
[INHALES, EXHALES]
How you holdin' up?
I'm fine.
You don't have to be so stoic, Dad.
Sam was a good friend and I'm sure his suicide-
He was murdered.
Uh... I don't mean to snap.
I'm just a little sleep-deprived that's all.
Oh shoot, I gotta get to work.
Have a great day.
♪ ♪
[KNOCKING]
Did you find anything?
No, but I'm... I'm bumping on the coincidence of two
adversarial lawyers dying within days of each other. - Exactly!
Especially since you pitched me Sam's theory that his fake RICO
case inadvertently motivated Barlow's murder.
And Van Zant's connected.
If you tell me what you know about him,
I'll start investigating.
I can do better than that, I can help.
Alden, you're not in the best frame of mind.
I'll follow your lead, I promise.
Honest to God.
I need this.
♪ ♪
SHERIFF JO: According to county records,
Van Zant uses this warehouse primarily to store plumbing parts.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Lot of firepower for some
showerheads and toilet seats, don't you think?
You recognize them?
Johnny and Darryl Prattler.
- Brothers? - Cousins.
I arrested a Prattler last week.
It'd be a slow week if you didn't.
Do you know every criminal in the area?
Pretty much.
I know Johnny better than most.
He took my daughter to the prom.
You're kidding.
Ember has a lot of good qualities,
but taste in men ain't one of 'em.
Alden, you know we can't legally use that without a warrant.
Eh, probably not.
It's not my style anyway.
Violating the fourth amendment? - Technology.
Once you start using it, you start depending on it.
You sure that's the sheriff in you talking,
or the boomer who hasn't figured out how to text?
I have FaceTimed before.
I use it to talk to Ember in Afghanistan.
She's a Sergeant in the Ordinance Disposal Unit.
Having to deal with bombs and I.E.D.'s would take
a lot of courage.
It's probably genetic!
It also requires a calm, circumspect temperament.
- How long is this gonna take? - We're getting 'em.
SHERIFF ALDEN: There's Van Zant.
SHERIFF JO: It doesn't look like Johnny's gonna
win employee of the month.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Not everyone knows how to talk
to their employees the way you do.
[FOOTSTEPS]
And there is our probable cause.
I'm not sure some stolen TVs will be
enough to get us a warrant.
Do you know Judge Mullins?
- No. - I do.
He has been a regular in our poker game for years;
the same game Sam played in.
The TVs will be plenty.
That poker game...
Fast-tracked Sam's toxicology exam like you asked.
And?
The cause of death was...
carbon monoxide poisoning.
You sure?
Sam had a CO blood level of 1600 parts-per-million.
He was alive and ingesting toxic fumes for
nearly 10 minutes before he died. - He must have been drugged.
He had nothing in his system, but his blood-alcohol level
was nearly 5 times the legal limit.
So in your professional opinion, was this a suicide?
Appreciate the quick turnaround. - Sorry, Alden.
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]
SHERIFF ALDEN: Warren knows his stuff...
You'd get no argument about that,
but he is dead wrong on this one.
You think you know better
than an experienced medical examiner?
In this case, absolutely.
Well no offense to your gut,
but I am holding off on the affidavit.
You gotta be kidding.
The Van Zant theory is predicated
on two lawyers being murdered.
So we agree to disagree on that count,
but why not bring him in for questioning?
I still haven't interviewed three-quarters
of the re-enactors. Look, if nothing pans out,
I'm willing to consider it.
SHERIFF ALDEN: Hugh let Van Zant slip through his fingers,
you can't do the same thing.
You're letting your disdain for him cloud your judgment.
And now I'm seeing why the voters in this county
were afraid to elect you Sheriff.
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
Thanks for your help,
but I can take it from here.
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
[JUKEBOX CLICKING]
♪ [SLOW COUNTRY MUSIC] ♪
Sam did say that retirement was
a lot harder than he expected.
Yeah well...
he was bored, not suicidal.
♪ [SLOW COUNTRY MUSIC] ♪
This is personal, Maddie.
I got an Ace up my sleeve.
Hmph.
Murdered?!
And I'm pretty dang sure Van Zant's involved.
Well, what'd he say when you questioned him?
We ain't got there yet, that's why I'm here.
[SIGHS]
How dare you go over my head!
You got the warrant?
Your buddy, the mayor, might be forcing me to do this
but I'm ♪ in charge!
Fine... as long as we get Van Zant.
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
[SPEEDING VEHICLES]
SHERIFF JO: Keep your weapons holstered.
Watch for my cue. York Sheriff Department,
we have a warrant to search your property!
You can huff and puff 'til you're blue in the face,
they ain't lettin' you in there.
York Sheriff Department, we're comin' in!
You're just giving 'em time to destroy evidence.
Let's go.
[FOOTSTEPS]
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
SHERIFF ALDEN: Jo!
[GUNSHOTS FIRED AT GROUND]
[JOHNNY CHUCKLING]
SHERIFF ALDEN: John, John, John...
[FOOTSTEPS]
[BULLETS RICOCHETING]
SHERIFF ALDEN: Van Zant!
Johnny here obviously didn't hear Sheriff Jo identify herself
he must have mistook her for an intruder.
I'm gonna give you 5 seconds.
5...
4...
3...
2...
Alright Alden, I heard you. My apologies.
As you surmised, my bodyguard didn't realize
you were in law enforcement; easy mistake.
We've all been a lil' bit on edge since
my attorney's recent passing.
[SCOFFS]
[FOOTSTEPS]
SHERIFF ALDEN: Darryl Prattler!
Come on out, or I'm comin' in.
[FOOTSTEPS]
[SHREDDER MACHINE WHIRRING]
[GUNSHOT, BULLET HITS SHREDDER]
It's out of order.
Sheriff!
What's with the Wyatt Earp routine?
Johnny was a sniper in the Marines.
If he wanted to hit us, he would've hit us.
He was just buying time for Darryl here
to destroy more documents... sad.
Zack, I told my daughter I had
some unfinished business and you're it.
SHERIFF JO: Hey Alden I drove here with Skooter,
can you bring Johnny back to my station?
Absolutely.
Nice to see you in cuffs! [PATS HIM]
SHERIFF JO: Okay so grits, A-B-C-D.
CLIFF: Well, we've got 3 guys counting you.
SHERIFF JO: Okay.
CLIFF: Who do you wanna have do the fourth?
SHERIFF JO: One of y'all can do two.
CLIFF: Why can't we do 3 'cause like we've got 3.
SHERIFF JO: It's a rectangle. It's a warehouse, Cliff.
How you gonna divide a rectangle into 3 even pieces?
CLIFF: Well, I'm not doing two, you or Skooter can do two-
[CAR BOMB EXPLODES]
♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪
Skooter!
SHERIFF JO: The car was parked at the station all morning.
The security video confirmed nobody tampered with it there.
HUGH: Who's in the body bag?
SHERIFF JO: Zack Van Zant. HUGH: Anybody else hurt?
SHERIFF JO: Yeah, my deputy suffered blast injuries.
HUGH: Skooter? SHERIFF JO: The last I heard,
he was headed into surgery.
HUGH: Lord, why did he come out of retirement?
How? How was someone able to plant
a bomb in one of your vehicles?!
I don't know.
HUGH: And how did they even know that Van Zant was gettin' in it?
Skooter transports the prisoners
so it's possible that they assumed Van Zant-
HUGH: If they knew about the warrant but Alden only
came to me about it this morning.
Alden, what you got to say about all this?
Alden!!!
[SIGHS] And what do they know?
♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪
Not much.
They're good with DNA and fingerprints,
but this is way beyond them.
HUGH: Alright, alright, alright. I...
I'm placing Alden in charge. - Excuse me?
Look nothing personal I just want an
experienced sheriff at the helm.
With all due respect,
you don't have the authority to make that call.
HUGH: No, I don't but I do have authority over your budget.
And if you don't want your department de-funded down
to a bike cop with a BB gun, you will follow his lead!
You got me?!
SHERIFF JO: Yes, sir.
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]
SHERIFF JO: Well old-school...
looks like you're up.
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]
SHERIFF ALDEN: Is this anything like what you
saw in Afghanistan?
EMBER: So this bomb itself is pretty basic.
But whoever made it does have some chemistry knowledge.
The tertiary explosive was acetone peroxide with
an ammonium nitrate oxidizer.
- Fertilizer? - Yeah.
SHERIFF JO: What about how it was detonated?
Remotely, likely a cell phone.
So they could have set it off from pretty much anywhere.
Except they must have had line of sight
so they could tell when Van Zant got in the car.
There's quite a few vantage points out there.
Yeah and even more in here.
You think it was an inside job?
I heard that Johnny ain't happy.
Except his hands were cuffed behind his back.
His cellphone was in his back pocket.
So it's possible he set it up but he couldn't have planted it.
[CHUCKLING]
Prattlers breed like rabbits.
If Johnny had decided to make a move, you can bet his kin were involved.
And shooting at us would have made for the perfect distraction
Dad, do you still have his cell?
Yeah, sure.
EMBER: Okay, well it looks like Johnny made a call to
an unlisted number right around the time of the explosion.
Can you tell if that call detonated the bomb?
I guess there's only one way to find out.
[INHALES, EXHALES]
[DIALS CELL PHONE]
[ON CELL] CARL: Hey Johnny, How'd it go with Zack? Johnny?
[EMBER HANGS UP CELL PHONE]
This phone wasn't used as the trigger device.
But whoever that was could have given someone
the green light to detonate it.
That was his cousin, Carl.
Are you sure?
Isn't Carl still in prison?
He must have got out.
And you didn't think running with a bad crowd
would pay off one day.
[CHUCKLING]
Well, we should question him.
Easier said than done.
Carl ain't exactly the cooperating type.
I might be able to help out with that.
♪
CARL: I was surprised when you called out of the blue like that
and was worried it might be too good to be true.
♪ [COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING] ♪
Sorry... but it was.
Hey, Carl! Look, I just want to talk to you.
Nah, that's what Clint said the last time he locked me up.
Now listen-
No, you ♪ listen!
[SIGHS]
♪ ♪
I was gonna take you to the fish fry.
Hey-!
[WHISTLING]
♪ ♪
[DOOR SLAMS, GRUNT]
Dang, Carl, that had to hurt.
I ain't done nothin' wrong.
Besides aggravated use of a weapon and evading arrest?
I meant before that.
Johnny called you on the cell right before
Zack Van Zant was killed.
So what?
So he needed somebody to plant that bomb
and then detonate it.
I don't know nothing about no bomb.
Then what did he call you about?
Just stuff.
Cousin stuff.
[LAUGHS] Carl how about this-
You tell us what you know and if I believe you I will forget
about the parole violation I just witnessed.
Trying to keep you from going back to prison, son.
Zack's been tellin' Johnny for years he's gonna set him up
with his own territory.
Never happened.
So Johnny got tired of waiting.
He was fixing to do some business on the side but
Zack caught wind.
SHERIFF ALDEN: What did he do?
Nothing yet.
So he decided to make the first move?
If he did, I ain't had nothing to do with it.
And why should we believe you?
I was picking up trash under Harris bridge
when Johnny called.
Ask my PO.
I'll do that.
Then we talk to Johnny.
SHERIFF JO: I want to take the lead.
I know he riled you when he took a shot at you,
but I know these Prattlers.
You owe me one.
[SIGHS]
John...
Sheriff, I hear Ember's back.
I'm thinkin' I might give her a call.
You know, once I make bail and all.
This is Sheriff Joanne Porter of York County,
interviewing Johnny Prattler.
We have reason to believe your...
employer's death was an inside job.
Oh, okay...
Honey...
I got nothing to say without my lawyer.
We also have it under good authority that you
and your boss had a falling out.
Listen here sweetheart...
this is not my first rodeo...
okay?
So I...
want...
my lawyer.
The interview with Johnny Prattler is concluded upon
suspect's request of counsel.
So, here's what's gonna happen next...
First, I'm charging you with attempted murder.
Ah-ha, no, I missed on purpose.
Next, I'm gonna see to it that you don't make bail
before I leak it that you're our only suspect.
You- You can't do that.
Because everyone has a boss.
And I happen to know your boss Zack kicked up to
the Atlanta Syndicate or at least he did
before you blew him up.
Oh, come on now... And I'm willing to bet
Atlanta won't look kindly on the fact that
you shut down their business here.
Okay, okay see right there.
You can't do that.
Okay, she can't do that, alright because I'll be dead.
Sheriff...
I don't care.
I'll tell Ember you said hey.
Oh, come on Sheriff.
Sheriff it's me...
Okay, okay...
Okay you win, okay.
Listen okay, Zack and I, we didn't always see eye-to-eye.
Okay yeah sure, but I did not kill him.
And yes, I took a shot at you, I am sorry.
That was Zack's fault, he made me.
Unless you can point us in the direction of somebody else
who wanted Zack out of the picture I'm not inclined
to accept your apology.
I got no idea who did it.
Okay? Look I swear.
C'mon Sheriff!
Let's go.
Just wait, wait- Just wait one second!
Give me a minute okay, gosh.
[SNAPS]
The mayor, yeah.
What about the mayor?
Zack was blackmailing the mayor.
I got pictures and everything.
Yeah, if anybody needed Zack dead it's the mayor.
M'm.
Alden: Well you gotta hand it to him, he's pretty
intelligent for a Prattler.
SHERIFF JO: Just keep scrolling.
♪ ♪
There could be some explanation for this.
How about he's a corrupt politician accepting a bribe?
I understand you want to bring him down a peg or two.
And I understand why you're defending him, you're biased.
I've known him all my life.
He stood up in my wedding.
Alden, a picture's worth a thousand words.
Or, in his case, I'd say closer to $50,000.
He's got an alibi.
How do you know?
We were playing poker, during the time each of
those murders happened.
So...
maybe he used his bribe money to hire a hit man.
And you think I have it in for Van Zant?
Okay...
Okay for the sake of argument, let's say
the mayor had nothing to do with the first two deaths.
'Cause he didn't.
But he did know about the warrant before anybody else.
So?
If Van Zant really was blackmailing him...
maybe the mayor saw an opportunity to get rid of him.
And make us think all three deaths were connected.
I don't see him doing that to Skooter.
Alden, we served the warrant immediately
after the judge signed it.
The mayor's the only one who had advanced notice
about Van Zant's arrest.
Maybe not.
What if Johnny made us during the stakeout.
He would've known we were gonna arrest his boss.
He would've seen his opportunity.
Fine.
So we have two suspects.
What's our next move boss?
I don't know about you, but I could use a drink.
Finally, something I agree with.
[JUKEBOX SELECTING RECORD]
♪ [RECORD PLAYING] ♪
Thanks again, for staying open for us.
OH, it's fine.
Just... you guys find out whoever did this to Skooter.
Look, I want to go home.
Would you lock up for me?
Sure, I got you covered.
No matter how much he begs
don't share your bacon.
Promise.
Heart issues?
Doc says if I limit my drinking, get enough sleep,
avoid stress, I'll be fine.
Guess you have nothing to worry about then.
I couldn't help but notice that...
it seems like being at the bomb site was hard on your daughter.
Did she experience something in Afghanistan?
Ember's a lot like me.
I figure she wants to talk, she will.
She...
Had a childhood friend who recently passed.
M'm, was she sick?
No... back in her '20s she was t-boned by a drunk driver.
Invalid ever since.
What happened to the driver?
Walked away scott free.
Ugh... Thing is that...
the accident happened when Steph was on her way
to pick up Ember from an old abandoned mill
the kids used to party at.
Ember feels guilty about it to this day.
Look it's...
none of my business, but...
PTSD is not something to take lightly.
You should really check in on her.
And speaking of issues we prefer not to deal with.
What are we gonna do about the mayor?
Let me sleep on that.
[HEART MONITOR BEEPING]
♪ ♪
[DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN]
Good mornin'.
Hey.
You're sure racking up the overtime.
Yeah, I spent all night at the hospital with Skooter.
Any change? Nah.
I'm just gonna grab a shower and head back.
You can't keep burning the candle at both ends, dad.
You realize every time we have this conversation
is a time when you ought to be sleeping too.
I'm still on Kabul time.
About that...
I don't know what you went through over there but it
seems that it might've taken a bit of a toll on you.
So if you ever want to talk about it...
I'm willing.
♪ ♪
My convoy hit an IED.
I heard about what happened to Steph and I lost focus.
Made a mistake.
Nobody died but they could've.
That's what McNamara called the fog of war.
Yeah, that's what the Army psychiatrist keeps telling me.
Talking to her is helping.
That's good.
Maybe you should try it out.
Oh shoot, I'm fine, I'm alright.
You can always talk to me.
I appreciate the offer, Ember, but really...
I'm doing fine.
I promise.
♪ ♪
♪ [SUSPENSE] ♪
[GRUNTS]
[GUNSHOT]
Blowin' off steam?
My firearm recertification's next month
but, yeah... that too.
So I got up early and looked
through some of Clint's old cases.
Looking for what?
Anyone connected to Van Zant who was
defended by Barlow but convicted by Sam
who's subsequently been released.
And looking for revenge.
That's a good idea. Well...
Unfortunately, nobody connects the dots.
It's worth a shot.
Speaking of which, let's see what you got.
Maybe I can give you a little help.
That'd be great.
[GUN SHOTS]
[CHUCKLES]
Don't I feel stupid.
I was on SWAT team back when I was State Trooper.
[PHONE RINGING]
Excuse me.
[PHONE RINGING]
Dante, what's up?
♪ ♪
Dante: Alright so, between the time that Skooter parked the car
and came back for it, there's no one in the vicinity.
You're sure?
I've gone over this thing frame by frame.
The bomb was placed in the car before we arrived.
Which points us back to the mayor who had
the most opportunity to plant it.
Or Johnny, if he spotted us during the stakeout.
Have we considered the possibility that Van Zant
wasn't the target?
Skooter?
Maybe.
Or...
me.
♪ ♪
You really think you might've been the intended target?
Had it detonated a few seconds later I'd have been in the car.
That seems like a stretch.
A lot of people didn't like the idea of a female
running for sheriff.
I got my first death threat the day I announced my candidacy.
A regular occurrence by election day.
There's a long way from making a threat
to actually doing something.
Skooter and me being the target eliminates the question of
how killer knew how we'd arrest Van Zant.
Also eliminates Johnny and the mayor
from being suspects.
If the mayor wanted to get rid of Van Zant
I'd make for good collateral damage.
You actually think the mayor wants you dead?
He might be able to convince Clint to come back.
I'm not gonna waste my time on some conspiracy theory.
Not when it involves a card-carrying member
of your poker game?
Look...
when you've been on the job a few years
instead of just a few weeks you're gonna start to realize
that the obvious answer is usually the right one.
Let me guess...
Johnny making a move on his boss.
I guarantee you if you let him out the first move he's gonna
make is to stake a claim on Van Zant's empire.
You're so sure, why don't we?
Ah, ah Johnny.
Hey man, Johnny.
Get in the truck! -Johnny: Alright, back to work.
Rock and roll.
You know there was a white truck parked outside of Barlow's
office the night of his murder.
Did you have anything to do with his office being trashed?
Uh well, I walked in on some guy in a ski mask.
I'm pretty sure it was Carl.
And then Johnny cold cocked me.
SHERIFF JO: And you didn't think that that was worth sharing?
SHERIFF ALDEN: Well it was before we were working together.
SHERIFF JO: Is that what we're doing?
Aren't we?
We have two, just two viable suspects.
One currently being tailed by your deputy.
The other who you refuse to investigate.
Jo, I'm not sure you see it yet but... - More pearls of wisdom...
If you want to be more than a one term sheriff you're
gonna have to get the mayor in your corner.
SHERIFF JO: So you're just looking out for my best interest?
SHERIFF ALDEN: Not everybody's out to get ya.
Ugh Please...
You would love nothing more than to have the voters
recall me and reinstate Clint.
That is not true.
Now you're just being paranoid.
How can I not be?
You're circling the wagons to protect your poker buddy.
If the mayor wasn't your friend, would you have at least
questioned him by now?
He's been in office for years.
Not even a hint of corruption.
You can't go accusing the man of murder based
on what Johnny Prattler said.
I can, and I'm going to.
The only question is whether or not you're coming with me.
♪ ♪
MAYOR: So do you have any leads?
We're looking into one right now.
♪ ♪
This isn't what it looks like.
So you're not accepting a bribe?
Zack offered me a campaign donation but I didn't take it.
Right, because politicians hate free money.
Do you have a photo of me leaving with the cash?
What made him think you'd accept his...
donation in the first place?
The word got out that my campaign was broke and
I was trailing in the polls.
We have a witness who claims Van Zant was blackmailing you.
Well, he tried.
And he made a case that some folks might come to the same
conclusion you did if he leaked the photos.
But he was killed before he got the chance to.
Are you implying that I had something to do with his death?
I'm stating that you had obvious motive.
Are you just gonna let this woman waltz in here-
He didn't let me do anything.
This is my county and my investigation.
So you can threaten my budget all you want,
I'm taking back the lead. [Mayor] I see it's all about the budget
I should've seen this coming, huh.
Mayor I'm trying to do my job, the job I was elected to do.
The job you seem to think I'm incapable of,
and yet...
here I am sir.
In all my years of public office I have never
once accepted a bribe.
And I had nothing to do with making a bomb.
Now, if you're gonna arrest me, do it.
Otherwise, get out of my office.
♪ ♪
Clint never would've done this.
Clint never had reason to.
Jo's a good sheriff.
She's got a real bright future.
Alden? What?
The mayor drives a white truck.
Yeah...
Another detail that just slipped your mind?
[PHONE BUZZING]
♪ ♪
Looks like Johnny took the bait.
♪ ♪
I'm telling the truth Johnny.
Zack had it.
Hit him again.
[GRUNTING]
[LAUGHS] Whoo!
Carl, how do you reckon I question a man when
he's knocked out, huh?!
Congratulations Johnny, that must be some sort of record.
You're out for 37 minutes, you're headed back in.
This is the part where you slowly take out your guns
and place them on the bar.
Where's the third guy?
[GUN COCKS]
Don't move.
Alright, hey, hey. Hey.
Don't anybody do anything stupid you're gonna regret.
Sheriff you might want to put your guns down.
You know, unless you want your deputy back here turned
into Swiss cheese.
♪ ♪
[EXHALES]
Sheriff, you know, I should've killed you when I had a chance
back at Barlow's office.
John, John, John...
even you aren't dumb enough to murder a couple of cops.
Oh, see you don't know how dumb I am.
That was Zack's problem.
You see, he thought with his brain too much.
So blowing him up was your idea of persuading the mob
that he was killed by a rival gang?
I already told you both I had nothing to do with that.
I ain't got nothing against killing a man
...or a woman.
As much as I appreciate ladies first...
if you're gonna start shooting it really should be Alden
for getting me into this mess.
[CHUCKLES]
That is cold.
Okay.
[GRUNTING, FIGHTING]
[GUN SHOT]
Ahhh my foot!
♪ ♪
[FIGHTING]
Do something.
[GUNFIRE]
- Daryl! - Stay back!
I know that weapon only holds three rounds, you're done son.
[FIGHTING]
[LAUGHS]
Frisbee golf.
Twice a week.
Why were they beating ya?
I have no idea.
Come on, Billy.
Worst kept secret in the county.
Your name's on the front of this place, but Van Zant owns
it lock, stock and barrel.
Johnny wanted me to sign the deed over to him.
No offense but your club's a dump.
Why would he want it so bad?
Zack had a deal lined up to sell the land to some developer.
Planned to put up condos. - It's not zoned for condos.
Yeah, Zack seemed to think he could convince the mayor
to push it through.
How much we talking?
Millions.
Just said he'd let me go after I gave him the deed but...
I was kind of skeptical considering he already
tried shooting me.
When?
[CHUCKLES]
Yesterday.
[GUNFIRE]
And you're sure you saw Johnny?
Huh, no.
But he'd threatened me before and I saw
a white truck speed away.
Did you believe Johnny when he said he didn't kill Van Zant?
Yeah, I did.
Yeah, so did I.
Gonna put an APB out on that truck.
Oh, he's probably halfway out of
the state by now.
Copy that.
Thanks, Bill.
♪ ♪
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[CAR STARTS]
♪ [SUSPICIOUS] ♪
[CAR SPEEDS UP]
[GASP, SCREAMS]
[CAR SPEEDS AWAY]
Were you wearing your reflective gear?
Yeah.
And I know I had my earbuds in, but
there's no way that vehicle didn't see me.
I think I'll go take a look at the site of the accident.
Will you look for my watch?
I think it came off my wrist.
Oh sure, I'll keep an eye out for it.
You know, it's funny, uh-
I've been praying for years that you'd get home and I could
stop worrying about keeping you safe.
Apparently, God enjoys irony.
Yeah, I guess so.
About being home...
I have the option to take an honorable discharge.
So what are you thinking?
Someone in our family should know when it's time to retire.
[SCOFFS]
The truck sure swerved a long ways off the highway.
Yeah, and forgetting to turn on the headlights
the driver was definitely impaired.
You reckon that was about a 22 inch tread?
Dante: Oh yeah, it was definitely a truck tire.
- Alden: Hey! - Find something?
Ember's watch, white paint on the face.
You'd think Johnny would have more pressing
issues like getting a bullet out of his foot.
♪ ♪
[KNOCKING]
Did Jo send you down here?
No, I'm here on my own.
Mm, well with friends like you who needs enemies, huh?
How'd you get that fresh dent in your fender?
A runaway shopping cart, why?
Because whoever's behind all this is driving a white truck.
Lots of folks drive white trucks.
Well, this white truck side-swiped Ember.
Is she alright?
Busted wrist, cracked ribs, maybe a concussion.
Well now, hold on here.
I'm her god father, Alden.
You can't possibly believe I had anything to do with it.
Well, that's the problem Hugh.
I never can tell when you're bluffing.
♪ ♪
[HEART MONITOR BEEPING]
SHERIFF JO: I heard about Ember.
How is she doing?
Doc says she'll be fine.
She's pretty banged up though.
You okay?
Yeah, I get it.
Between Sam and Skooter and now Ember...
No.
No, it's more than that.
I'm afraid you were right; I think I'm a little
past my expiration date.
I never thought that.
At least I don't anymore.
Well, I do.
As a sheriff I've always relied on my gut feeling about things.
But now I...
I'm not sure what to rely on.
You're just exhausted; you're run down.
I shouldn't have run again.
I'm not fit for office.
I'm sorry.
Here I am whining on...
I guess I thought since you studied psychiatry you'd-
I read your bio.
Alden...
You spent your entire life protecting people.
The fact that cases still keep you up at night is a...
testament to your character.
But caring takes a toll.
You can't save everybody.
And you can't catch every criminal.
Once we figure this out, and we will...
Take a vacation. [LAUGHS]
Bad guys will still be here when you get back.
[LAUGHS]
Thanks for listening.
Oh, you'll be getting a bill from York County's new police
psychology office, don't worry.
[LAUGHS]
So any leads on Ember's hit and run?
Well, it was a white truck.
Johnny's?
I'm thinking the mayor.
I mean, you were right; I was looking out for him.
At least sub-consciously.
What reason would he have to do this to Ember?
I do not know.
I mean, maybe to distract me from things.
I mean, there's a dent in his truck.
I figure I'll test the paint against what's on her watch.
MADDIE: Alden!
Skooter's awake!
Being the victim of a crime has really had an affect on me.
It has.
It's like... I've been the lifeguard so long I forgot
what it's like to drown inside the pool.
But... Y'all can believe this if you want to but...
I sorta kinda saw my life flash in front of me
kinda like people say that they does, you know?
I saw things that I've done.
I saw things that I hadn't done yet.
Can't figure that one out, but it's made me look at my
life a lot different.
It-- it just has.
I'm just thankful to be alive, that's all I gotta say.
That's great, Skooter. You're right.
Any leads on the bomber?
Well.... um
It's kind of a long shot but...
there's a chance it was intended for you.
Yeah, have you had any threats made against you?
No...
No.
I yelled at Carl Baker the other day to cut his radio down
but I don't think that's enough to blow me up.
No, there ain't nobody out there gonna blow old Skooter
down for good, no.
♪ ♪
The victim.
What?
Skooter said he felt like the victim.
When we've been talking about folks who are affected by Sam
and Barlow together we've only been talking about
those who were convicted.
Right, to explain motive.
What about those who were acquitted?
There's a lot of folks who did not go to prison.
So, maybe it's not the accused but the victim
wanting justice they never got?
Or the father of the victim.
Let's have another chat with our friend Billy Morten. I'll take the house.
- SHERIFF JO: I'll swing by the bar.
- SHERIFF ALDEN: Keep your phone on ya.
♪ [BAR MUSIC] ♪
SHERIFF JO: Mr. Morten?
Billy?
Sheriff Joanne Porter.
Billy! Alden!
I'm here for your protection.
♪ [BAR MUSIC] ♪
♪ [SUSPICIOUS] ♪
(door opens)
♪ [SUSPICIOUS] ♪
Ember?
Hello Alden...
♪ [SUSPICIOUS] ♪
WARREN: Toss your gun to the side.
Now you back up.
My back up's in the truck!!
Okay...
Coming up.
♪ ♪
[STRUGGLING]
Stop.
Right there.
Warren...
I realize this is all about Steph.
She did not get the justice she deserved.
And...
it's got you all bent out of shape.
This ain't you.
Believe me, I know how you feel.
What...
exactly do you think you know?
SHERIFF ALDEN: It was Barlow who convinced the jury that
Skooter messed up.
And that got the case tossed.
When you missed him with the musket you didn't have
time to reload so you had to go with the 9.
Sam was the prosecutor who lost the case.
I'm guessing you drugged him to get him into the car.
It's easy enough to fake an autopsy when you're
the one doing it.
And you're the one who gave us Sam's phony
cause of death, right when Jo was typing
up the affidavit for that warrant.
With your chemistry background that gave you enough knowledge
to make the bomb.
You purposely waited till Van Zant was in the car
just to lead us down the primrose path.
[EXPLOSION]
Billy Morten, he was the bartender who got
that driver drunk the night he t-boned Steph.
Murdering him might've showed your hand.
But I guess you figured you were on a home stretch.
I know Steph was on her way to pick up Ember,
but that don't make Ember responsible.
It's not fair, Alden!
It should've been Ember, not my daughter.
Not Steph. - SHERIFF ALDEN: Warren.
Warren, wait.
Listen, I'm beggin' you father to father, let me-
Stop!
It's not supposed to be this way.
Warren, please. - WARREN: No!
I need to think. - SHERIFF ALDEN: It's okay, honey.
Something's not right. - I promised your mother
I'd take care of you, that's what I'm gonna do.
WARREN: It's not supposed to be this way.
Warren, stop!
Warren, no!
[THUNK]
[GUNSHOT]
[GRUNT]
SHERIFF ALDEN: Ember!
[SHOUTS]
[CRYING]
Ember. [GRUNTING]
Hang on.
Alright.
C'mon.
Oh honey, you okay?
SHERIFF JO: This is Sheriff Jo.
I need an ambulance to my location.
Thank you.
Alright, sheriff, look at this.
Maddie brought me some takeout there.
That's never happened before.
She... said that the only thing I had to do to qualify
for it was to nearly die.
[LAUGHTER]
Skooter...
I owe you an apology.
I didn't trust you and I should have.
I appreciate it, I do.
It kind of makes me feel better.
But, I guess now is about as good a time as any to tell ya
I went ahead and made a decision, I'm gonna retire.
Maybe go back to my wrecking business.
You know, I enjoyed that, so.
Well, maybe we could work out some sorta special deputy
advisory position.
That sounds good, that sounds good.
I'd be happy to help any way I could.
SHERIFF JO: Thank you, Skooter.
How you doing buckaroo?
Ooh, I'm a bit sore but I'll live.
Actually I meant more like if you'd care to
discuss things more.
I appreciate the effort,
not to mention the irony of how willing you
are to talk about my feelings...
[LAUGHS]
Truth be told I've been having a tough time dealing
with the fact that I'm...
in the home stretch.
You don't think you'll run again?
SHERIFF ALDEN: I don't think so.
I think it's more of a young man's game.
Or a young woman's game.
Or a young woman's.
Well, embrace it.
I know both Clint and Sam retired and they felt they
left things undone.
Matter of fact, Sam was working on a bunch of cases
that I think I can close before I walk away.
If I could do that... no regrets.
No regrets.
[JUKEBOX SELECTING RECORD]
♪ [RECORD PLAYING] ♪
♪ ♪
I am all in.
Don't feel bad, Jo.
You're not the first guppy who tried to swim with
the sharks and got ate up.
Wow, you really do live up to your
bad bluffer reputation.
I call, sir.
Well, that's fine, because I wasn't bluffing
I was using reverse psychology.
I know.
[ALL LAUGH]
Take all of this for me, thank you.
I suppose this is as good a time as any.
Alden uh, we... got you something.
We all chipped in, although in reality
it was your money.
[LAUGHTER]
Oh my goodness, look at that.
Learn from the best of 'em.
Well, actually the joke's on y'all because I did need
some reading material for the beach.
You're taking a vacation?
Not gonna be around next week to help you
guys pay your bills.
Maddie and I are heading to Florida to visit
Clint and Jordan.
I was so happy and not a little
shocked when Alden suggested it.
An actual cheeseburger.
One cheeseburger's not gonna kill ya.
At least hopefully until after our little vacation.
[KISS]
Enjoy.
M'm.
You know, some things in life are worth the gamble.
♪ Yodelayhee ♪
♪ Yodelayhee, oh yodelayhee oh, yodelayhee ♪
♪ [ROCK] ♪
♪ ♪