#landen bearden

[igglemouse]

Episode 15 ~ Harmony

Landen Bearden had found himself across the world and in Windenburg. It was a nice place for a planned vacation after all. It did bring him closer to the Villareal's but honestly, he didn't care about what they did here. This was their town, he'd grant them that. But Oasis Springs? Could he really let that go? He took a deep swig of his coffee but made sure to take careful sips but enjoyed the warmth of the drink...

[igglemouse]

Episode 11 ~ Friends In High Places

Sherrif Bearden was close. He could feel it. Putting Saul behind bars was like finding that missing puzzle piece under the sofa and then getting on a roll to finish the picture.

It was all so clear to him now. Saul WAS tied to something bigger and thanks to a deep dive of the man's past he was getting closer to finding what that thing was. Saul was an ex-military man, worked on strike teams, high-level stuff...then retired suddenly and was apparently hired by the Villareals in Windenburg. The Villareals, a super wealthy family whose source of simoleons had always been dubious. It was just that no one could pin them down.

"Well look at that," another clue fell into his lap from an agent named Talon. He had been in some contact with the agent through email and just as he browsed through his mail the computer dinged and delivered a doozy of an email. A real doozy! It definitely connected Saul to the Villareal's as a hired gun/assassin. Aurelia Villareal married a man named Arturo Castaneda and they had two daughters and one son. Vicente Castaneda seemed to be a clean kid. Carolina Castaneda was a socialite. Marta Castaneda though...it made sense. It was all beginning to make sense. He'd need one more thing from Talon...

[igglemouse]

Episode 15 ~ Harmony

When he put his mug down he was confronted by a somewhat familiar face. The face of a man that he thought could save his old town, the man he wanted to win the election, the man he wanted to back. "Thought you wouldn't show?" He called out.

"Ah, I've been couching at my brother’s place. Trying my best to tolerate his very odd and crazy girlfriend. I wake up late because I don't get a good night of sleep anymore. Now, you said you had some information for me?"

"Oh boy do I? It's about Marta, Belinda, that whole thing," Landen said, barely able to hide his satisfaction. He was going to go through with this, he had to, he knew the risks but... "You know, they find out you try to leak this stuff, you know-"

"Yeah, they'll feed me to the sharks or something like that. It's a risk I'm willing to take. We can't be bullied by killers and drug dealers, now can we? Someone has to save the people." Henry Fournier may have lost the election but he planned on winning the war.

[igglemouse]

Episode 16 ~ No Country For Old Men

"So," a voice popped up behind him. He had been waiting for Agent Talon but he still managed to sneak up on him. "Just so you know, I can't promise you protection. That's not how this works."

Landen turned his head back slightly, getting a quick glimpse at the man. "I've been working in law enforcement my entire life, I know how this works."

"Nothing wrong with chasing glory. I just wanted to let you know, this is a dangerous game you play. These people, they aren't two-bit thugs. They will chop you up piece by piece and send the remains to your children."

"I know. That's why I'm doing this."

[igglemouse]

Episode 11 ~ Friends In High Places

Yet, he never had a chance. She shook his hand, firmly, and sat down without permission. Before he could say anything she was already on him.

"You've worked so hard, so very hard for this town Mr. Bearden. Sherriff, I should say," she started at once. He feared this. He should have known this was coming. "I do feel that the city appreciates your service, so loyal, so diligent. I can't imagine the offers you've turned down to remain sheriff of this little town. Others would have ran off to Bridgeport or San Myshuno at the blink of an eye."

"It's home to me, been livin here my whole life-"

"And that's why I must ask for your resignation."

"Excuse me?" He knew it.

[igglemouse]

Episode 16 ~ No Country For Old Men

Landen rushed back to Oasis Springs. He had energy now, he had hope. He was an old man, sure, but he had too much pride to be taken out back and put to rest. He wasn't going to let Belinda win. He wasn't going to let his home fester and rot...

[igglemouse]

Episode 11 ~ Friends In High Places

"You see, you arrested a man recently that didn't deserve arresting-"

"Saul," he knew it. He knew it. A sigh slipped from his lips as he sat across from her, shocked. The mayor, the mayor herself...

"I think that may be his name, I'm not entirely sure. Either way, you put the wrong man behind bars and the issue I've won on is crime and cleaning up this city..."

She went on and on, delivering quite the monologue about how crime has corrupted the city and how she believes it has infected his department. She faked her empathy, asking for his resignation while at the same time threatening that if he refused he would be tossed right under the bus and she'd do the tossing. She made that completely clear even if she didn't plainly say it.

He knew it. He knew he had come too close to the sun and there was no pulling back now. She'd finish him. He slumped in his chair, nodded when he needed to, and was more than willing to submit and accept his retirement, and perhaps finally move out of the city just in case. It all began to make sense...their last politician wasn't going to play ball so they removed him from the game...if only Henry Fournier had won...

[igglemouse]

Episode 11 ~ Friends In High Places

Belinda was more than willing to play ball and she had hit a home run, knocked down a three-pointer, and scored a goal all in one day...

~End~

[igglemouse]

Episode 9 ~ Way Down We Go

"You're wasting your time, Sheriff," Saul spat out his title, glaring at that shiny metal badge that was pinned so proudly to his uniform with nothing but disdain. "I did nothing wrong, didn't kill the man, in fact, I would have voted for him."

"Now look," Sheriff Bearden remained calm, he was always calm. This small city with its crimes and drugs had humbled him. Although he had to admit, he had never seen worse than a potential mayoral candidate being killed. "I just want to get to the bottom of this, just trying to do my job and would like your cooperation is-"

"Fuck that! You fucking burst into my house, aimed guns at me, and dragged me out in handcuffs!"

"We heard you had guns, we wanted to be-"

"It's my fucking right to have guns!"

"True," the old man sighed. He had seen this type. Loyal to the core, but not only that, sharp. He wasn't going to budge. He had spent the past three hours trying to get just a pinch of a confession out of this man and it simply wasn't going to happen. "If you've done anything, Saul, anything at all, you need to fess up and do it now son. We'll be more lenient on your sentencing and-"

"Fess up to what? I had nothing to do Renner's death. Like I said, I would have voted for the man if he lived. You're wasting your time, officer, and I imagine you don't have much left to waste."

[igglemouse]

Episode 8 ~ The Contract...

Justin led him to the dining room and sat across from him. The old man wasted little time. "How do you feel about the death of Rory Renner?"

Justin shrugged. He had little to do with that. "It's a shame, it really is, especially knowing that robbers snuck into his gated community and just...I really appreciate the newly added security for our neighborhood in particular Sheriff."

"It's our job," Landen said. "It's just, well, we are starting to think it's not a robbery."

"Oh?" Again, Justin raised his brows. He had nothing to do with the death of Rory Renner. That was Aldo's plan and was carried out by Marta. "You think he was targeted then?"

"It's certainly possible, at least the P.I that his wife Catalina hired makes a compelling case for some kind of foul play here."

"I see," Justin puffed out. "Well, that would be unfortunate. I have no idea what Mr. Renner was up to. I certainly approved of his campaign and was likely to vote for him."

"Coulda been something political, sure, but for a mayorship?" The old man shook his head, wondering where this world was going. It surely was no country for him.

"Well, I should really get my rest, it's going to be a busy day for me tomorrow. If that would be all-"

"Yep," the officer gave him a bit of a smile but Justin couldn't make much of it since his beard shielded his expression well. "Well, just wanted to let you know. Maybe there's someone out there targeting the rich and powerful, such as yourself, so be on the lookout. A big time entrepreneur like yourself would be a pretty good target for robbers like that. We still haven't caught em either so...be safe."

"I will, thank you for your concern, Sheriff."

Landen tipped his hat in respect but Justin couldn't help but imagine that he was under some kind of scrutiny here.

[igglemouse]

Episode 8 ~ The Contract...

"It really is a pleasure to see you again Sheriff Bearden," Justin greeted our other guest this day with a firm handshake and a sneaky smile. "You'll have to apologize if I decline this visit, tomorrow is a pretty big day. I become a husband."

"Oh? Congratulations! Well, I don't plan on being around here too long, just wanted to discuss a few things with ya."

One great thing about Justin is that he is pretty charismatic. He's a big-time drug dealer and he's not shaken at all when the Sheriff of the town drops by for a visit. He happily gives him a short tour of the place and can carry on with ease when it came to small talk.

"I wish being a Sheriff paid this well," the old cop said. He was a man named Landen Bearden and he grew his beard because of his name. "But I didn't come here to just blow the breeze and whatnot, came here to ask a few questions."

"Well, Sheriff, I'll be glad to answer any question you throw at me to the best of my ability.”