Defenders of the Night

03. Dead in the Water

Lake Manitoc, Wisconsin

EXT. CARLTON HOUSE – DAY

INT. CARLTON HOUSE – DAY

Will Carlton sat on the kitchen counter eating cereal, Bill Carlton at the table reading the newspaper. Sophie Carlton came through the room.

Sophie kissed her father on the cheek. "Morning, Daddy."

"Morning, sweetheart," Bill replied.

Sophie went to get something out of the refrigerator.

"All these workouts, Soph, I don't know. Guys don't like buff girls," Will said.

"Yeah, well, girls don't like guys who still live at home," Sophie shot back.

Will drains the milk from his cereal bowl and slid off the counter before saying, "Ha ha ha."

"Ha ha." Sophie opened the door to leave.

"Be careful," Bill warned.

"I will." Sophie closed the door.

EXT. LAKE – DAY

Sophie stood on the dock, looking at the lake. Will watched from a distance as she dove in. She swam and came up for air, looking around; she saw no one. She kept swimming. She came up for air again and looked around some more; still no one. Someone approached her from underwater and pulled her under. Bubbles formed, then there was nothing.

EXT. HOTEL – DAY

A truck went past a neon sign that said HOTEL, behind a building that said The Lynnwood Inn. The Impala was parked in front.

INT. RESTAURANT – DAY

There was a mostly empty plate in front of Dean, who was circling obituaries in a newspaper while Lana sat next to Rose, trying to get her to eat.

Dean circled an obituary that read: CARLTON, SOPHIE -The Carlton family is sad to announce the death of their beloved daughter in a tragic swimming accident. Sophie Carlton, 18, was having her [...] Lake Manitoc WI, an [...] suddenly [...]

An attractive waitress, whose name tag said Wendy, approached.

"Can I get you anything else?" Wendy asked.

Lana looked up and smiled as she shook her head.

Sam came over and sat down. "Just the check, please."

"Okay," Wendy replied, walking away.

Dean dropped his head, then looked at Sam. "You know, Sam, we are allowed to have fun once in a while."

Lana raised a brow. "And fun would be what exactly?"

Dean kissed her temple. "Anywhere with my girls or alone with you."

Sam looked at his brother.

Dean handed Sam the newspaper. "Here, take a look at this, I think I got one. Lake Manitoc, Wisconsin. Last week Sophie Carlton, eighteen, walks into the lake, doesn't walk out. Authorities dragged the water; nothing. Sophie Carlton is the third Lake Manitoc drowning this year. None of the other bodies were found either. They had a funeral two days ago."

"A funeral?" Sam repeated.

"Yeah, it's weird, they buried an empty coffin. For, uh, closure or whatever."

"Closure? What closure? People don't just disappear, Dean. Other people just stop looking for them."

"Something you want to say to me or Lana?"

"The trail for Dad. It's getting colder every day."

"Exactly. So what are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know. Something. Anything."