Bluebird, Bluebird

Darren drives until they cross the county line, stopping only to change the blown tire. Randie is terrified and in shock. Both are disheveled in their appearance. Darren is planning his next move, but Lieutenant Wilson is upset with Darren for going in on a possible drug charge. Darren is confused and angered by Wilson’s lack of resolve. He does not tell Wilson about Keith and Brady shooting at them. Darren takes Ronnie to a juke joint to decompress and have a drink. The two order multiple drinks and listen to the blues band play. Darren’s thoughts are chaotic as he tries to figure out what to do next. He also flashes back to when William was killed in the line of duty. Randie turns the conversation to her marital problems. She shares that she planned to leave Michael. She reveals the story of the guitar. It belonged to Michael’s uncle Booker Wright, a former bandmate of Joe Sweet’s. The two were close friends and played blues together for many years, hopeful to make a record and become famous. One night on tour, they stopped in Geneva’s, near where Booker was raised, on their way to Houston to sign with Peacock Records as The Midnight Revelers. They played music and ate Geneva’s food late into the night, and Geneva and Joe fell instantly in love. Joe proclaimed he was leaving the band and staying in Lark. Booker left, accidentally taking the guitar. Booker always intended to return the guitar, despite his sadness over the lost friendship, but he was busy with his career and died from cancer. He left the guitar to Michael in his will with a note telling the story. Randie does not like the story and feels Michael used it against her as she was often gone from home. Darren thinks about his own family, particularly Lisa. Darren tells Randie about Michael and Missy, and she is not surprised. Michael was often unfaithful to their marriage. Both Darren and Randie are drunk and admit to being bad at marriage.

The two stumble from the bar towards the truck where Darren sees blood. Someone has placed a dead fox in the cab of the truck. Darren carefully removes it and surveys the scene with his weapon drawn. He cleans up as much blood as he can but decides to drive to Geneva’s for help. Faith and Isaac are the only ones at the café when they arrive. They are alarmed at Darren and Randie’s disheveled appearance. Darren tells them to lock the door and find Geneva. She is in the kitchen with the cook. Someone shoots into the café, shattering the front door. Darren sees a truck leaving the parking lot headed north. Darren searches the perimeter and the trailer, finding nothing. Isaac is upset and Darren wonders if he is neurodivergent. Randie has taken cover under the counter and Geneva consoles Faith. No one is injured but everyone is disturbed by the event, especially Randie. Darren runs across the highway to Wally’s home where Van Horn has set up a makeshift office. Isaac ran home on foot. Wally thinks Darren is drunk and dismisses his story about the shooting. Van Horn listens and agrees to go investigate. The Sheriff and Wally accuse Darren of being drunk. Darren and Wally argue over the confrontation at the icehouse. Darren tells them about the dead fox left in his truck. Wally dismisses the shooting at Geneva’s as recompense for the death of Missy. He asserts people in town have long since held a grudge about the type of people Geneva serves. Darren returns to the icehouse confrontation and tells them Brady and Keith are ABT. Wally takes every opportunity to discredit Darren. Darren finds it odd that Missy Dale’s child is still staying at Wally’s home. Darren demands the Sheriff get him an interview with Keith Dale at the Sheriff’s office in Center. Van Horn agrees if he is present.