Jason Weir

“You’re correct. We’re an old family business around here. There’s a lot of old money in town, it’s just one of the things you have to get used to.” The question about the Council caught his attention. “Mostly just community members who are representative of different industries and points of view. We try and allow for a diverse voice. We exist in an advisory capacity and try and help keep the community safe and inviting for the very diverse population we have, especially with the immigrant population being so high.”

“Old money, got it.” He hoped that didn’t mean a lot of bored rich kids, but it was always possible. Jason listened attentively as Simon explained about the Council. It sounded a bit like a PR pitch but it was the best explanation he’d gotten so far so appreciated it anyway. “I guess you work with the Sheriff’s Department quite a bit, then. When you say diverse, I assume you mean ethnically? That seems kind of surprising for a small town, same with the high immigrant population.” Simon seemed to be a willing well of information and Jason felt like he needed as much as he could get. 

“Insanity is a relative concept. In this town, I recommend maintaining normalcy as much as possible. If the little things are normal, the big things being completely outside the realm of normalcy can feel more manageable. You really should come by the Conservatory some time. We’re having a spring picnic next week. Meet the neighbours, so to speak.”

“This town must be a lot crazier than it seems if you’re suggesting that. How outside the realm of normalcy are we talking, here? That sounds nice, maybe I will. It would probably help if I got to know the community a bit. I’m guessing you work at the Conservatory?” 

“I can switch sides but I’m more a realist but I am more of those then a pessimist if that means anything.”

“It does. There’s nothing wrong with being a realist, it’s probably the most practical way to live.” 

“Oh, just a couple of weeks now and I’m quite enjoying my little stay here-might want to stay her for good.”

“Yeah? This place must have some charm, then, outside of all the death and murder.” 

“I don’t mind telling you, but I’m afraid I’ll twist and turn them maybe because I only pick them up with half an ear in the bar. What I can tell you is that quite a few have a strange fascination with death and how to murder people. Even discuss the fact how deaths aren’t creative enough, as if they are writing Saw or something. It’s definetly not… normal” Summing it all up didn’t make it much better. It reminded her of how worried she possibly needed to be, and that she may needed to do some more personal investigation. “Happy to see my family, yes. I’ve missed them a lot. Also, it’s nice to just take a break from bright vegas lights. - Where did you live before moving here?”

“That’s okay, it’s still more information than I have now.” Jason shrugged and frowned as he listened to the gossip she’d overheard. “You’re right, it’s definitely not. The fact that there’s more than one person talking about it is concerning, to say the least. “You were in Vegas? Red Creek must be quite a shift, then. Toronto, my whole life. I miss it already but leaving was...for the best.” 

“Yeah, I do, though sick psychopath is up ‘dere,” he answered with a shrug. “I haveta agree wit’cha dere, I mean I lik’ dis town, but who th’ hell wanna destroy people jus’ fer shits an’-don’t answer dat, because I can think of one person I dislike righ’ bout now.”

“It seems most likely in terms of an ‘evil force’.” Jason blinked. “So you actually know someone who might want to destroy the town? You should probably tell me who that is.” 

“I guess, but this is a small town, it probably wouldn’t have a lot of stuff about it all on the internet”

“You’d be surprised. Most places at least have a wikipedia page.” 

“Terrible? Nah, I mean.. it’s not exactly the safest of places but, I’ve met a fair few of good people. Some pretty fucking awful ones too, but I’m sure you can find that everywhere. —Oh, no shit? Well, then I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of one another then. I’m a cop down there. You’ll definitely have a lot to work with, so be prepared, detective.” 

“That’s good to hear. I guess no one place is ever entirely bad. Oh yeah? What a coincidence. At least I’m getting to know my coworkers right off the bat. I’ve started to figure that out, but thanks for the heads up. Aside from the four recent murders, are there any other cases I should know about?” 

“Really? That’s basically how my friend described it when he told me to come here. I figured it didn’t sound so bad. Sounded a helluva lot better than LA. A perp. He got - aggressive. It wasn’t great. You should’ve come to LA. So many swimming pools, it’s hard not to know how to swim.”

“It’s really not that bad. From what I’ve been hearing, Toronto sounds like it’s safer than this place. Doesn’t sound like it, sorry to hear that. Oh, I can swim I just got...hurt during a chase so didn’t really have the opportunity. Is being a cop in LA as bad as I’ve always heard? Sounds like it would be pretty rough.” 

“Unless you count knowing definitively that we’re still at square one? Nope, nothing.” She took the file, leaning against the desk beside his seat as she flipped through it, brows furrowed slightly. “When did you say this happened again?” She glanced down at him and then back at. the file with a frown, “because I was working on a case last week– well, doing some research on it from two years back– looks like the same sort of work.”

Jason sighed. “I guess we just have to work harder then, comb over the evidence until we get something.” Not that he was trying to tell her how to work, that’s just generally how he operated. He’d been known not to actually leave the precinct for days back in Toronto if he’d really been invested in a case. Jason glanced up at her when she asked about the time. “A week or two ago, I think. It should have the date there.” He frowned. “Really? Was the perp from the old case ever caught? If not, they could be resurfacing.” 

Bentley forced a small smile to form on his face at the other’s words, giving him a chance despite being unsure of the situation. After all, Jason had been one of the nicer cops that hadn’t treated him like crap unlike some of the others who were dead set on the youth being the culprit. Still, it made him uneasy having someone in town who know of the event he and his family have been trying so hard to put behind them. He’s always heard the past comes to bite you in the bite eventually. “I see. Glad everything it okay. My dad moved us here shortly after my innocence of that night because people were horrible and we needed a break from all of it.” His eyes aimed down, chewing on the inside of his cheek before he looked back up and stepped closer to the deputy.”—Did they ever find who did it?”

Jason remembered how most of the other cops and inspectors had seemed to think Bentley was guilty almost immediately. It was strange that he was the only one to survive, which is why he’d been a suspect, but there was always something off about the case. Bentley had seemed genuinely freaked out and upset so Jason had never felt like he was truly the killer, though he’d been willing to let the evidence lead him where it would. Still, he’d been relieved when it hadn’t lead to Bentley’s guilt. Jason sighed. “People can be horrible. It’s too bad you had to move to get away from it, but maybe a fresh start was good for you?” He hoped it had been. Jason looked sympathetic at the question but shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. It got ruled as an animal attack, but anyone who worked on the case knew that wasn’t quite right. There was nothing we could do to prove otherwise, though.” 

The more they spoke, the clearer it became that her drowning him had caused more trauma than she could have imagined. Now she understood why Dawson had told her off for what she had done so often. All he said was true, but it wasn’t the case with him. She wished she would be able to explain it to him, but she doubted she would be able to fully convince him without showing him how much he needed the water. She would try, though. “It is in some people,” she agreed as her long strides took them closer to the lake. “But in your case, it’s not a hallucination nor a love for the thing that nearly killed you. Because it did kill you, but it’s turned you into what I am and I want to explain it to you.” As soon as she saw the lake in the distance, she picked up the pace a bit. “We’re called tetras. We’re the sweetwater equivalent of mermaids and sirens. My family is what we call ‘original’. The first of our kind. I’ve been around for over a thousand years. My whole family has.”

She kept insisting that somehow this was all real and he mostly didn’t want to believe her. But then, if it was, maybe he wasn’t going as crazy as he thought he had been. Still, it was all pretty hard to swallow, especially when she reiterated the part about being tetras and talked about mermaids. The mention of immortality had him staring and a bit of that hysterical laugh escaped him again. He shook his head and ran a hand over his face. “Right, okay, so now you want me to believe that you’ve been around for ages? Next thing you’ll tell me is that I’ll live forever.” Jason snorted, but it was a terrifying thought, actually. Eternity? How could anyone deal with that much time without going completely crazy? Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay, so, pretending that I buy all this for half a second, you all had to drown to become this? How come everyone who drowns doesn’t turn into a freshwater mermaid?” The fact that he was even saying that made the laugh came back. Jason was half afraid it might never stop. 

“Yes, the police station here has odd titles. I believe it’s known as Deputy Detective in your case, but Detective is fine for most situations, unless you’re in uniform.” Simon shrugged. Red Creek had always done things their own way. “Maybe not, but still, let me buy you a drink next time you’re out. I try and welcome people to town if possible. Working for the largest employer in town means I encounter a lot of the populace, and since I also sit on the Advisory Council, I want to be as helpful to law enforcement as possible.”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.” It would be easier to wrap his head around, anyway, just sticking to one term. “That’s very nice of you, thanks. I’m not sure when the next time I’ll be out is, though, considering I’ll likely be kept pretty busy. Talbot Enterprises, I’m guessing? I saw that on a building and was reminded when you told me your name. I’m glad to hear it, it sounds like we need all the help we can get. What can you tell me about this Council? I’ve heard it mentioned but no one’s really explained it to me.” 

“Nothing like a reality check, right? Yeah, Dex was complaining about them a few weeks ago but things have seemed to calm down a bit anyway. Shit. Mind if I look?”

“Right. That’s good. It’s better when consultants help rather than hurt progress. No headway on those murders, then? It seems like there’s not much to go on. No, go ahead.” Jason pushed the file towards her. 

“Nice to meet you, Jason. I’m Gibson.”

“Nice to meet you too, Gibson. How long have you been in town?” 

“I wouldn’t go that far but sure.”

“No? You don’t consider yourself an optimist? That’s funny, considering you’ve presented one of the most optimistic views of the town I’ve heard.” 

It did not settle well with him, a past he tried to get away from suddenly appearing in Red Creek out of the blue. There had to be a reason for him coming to town, right? Despite being told by Deputy Weir his appearance in town had nothing to do with his friend’s case, Bentley continued to wondering if it was a ploy or something to get him to act normal. Or maybe the older male was telling the truth and was brought in to help with the recent bodies found in the lake. “I don’t know you, but I get what you mean.” The wolf shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he kept his eyes trained on the officer, accessing everything and anything that could go wrong for him. His dad would be pissed if he found out moving them from Toronto, away from the mess that night caused did nothing to keep his son from judgement. “What brings you to town?”

Jason held up his hands. “Right. I wasn’t trying to imply anything.” Obviously Bentley wasn’t comfortable with this and Jason half wondered if he should just leave him alone. Still, it seemed important to reassure him that he wasn’t after him, that no one was after him, and that this was a big coincidence. Jason maintained eye contact but not in a challenging way, hoping he looked non-threatening. “A...break from the big city. There was an accident and I got transferred here to recover.” He huffed out a laugh. “It’s really not the peaceful place it was advertised as, is it?”