28: Evidence

"So, are you going to tell me what's going on with you or are we going to play twenty questions?" asks Sky as they make their way to the Stilinski household to meet Stiles and Scott. They figured out who was controlling the Kanima.

Ariel sighs, "Do we have to talk about this now?"

"Yep."

Ariel slowly pulls them to a stop outside the front door as she rubs her free hand over her face, "I just -- " she stops and shakes her head.

Sky takes a step closer and rubs a hand up and down her back, "Hey, it's okay," she pauses. "It's Allison, isn't it?"

Ariel nods, eyebrows pinched in frustration, "She's supposed to be a friend, but I can't not feel on edge around her anymore," she admits. "I don't know if it's because of what I am or my instincts to keep you and others safe, but I don't trust her or her family anymore."

Sky looks at her for a moment, "As much as I would love to blame her, you know what happened to me wasn't her fault, right?"

Ariel's eyes flash for a second before she takes a breath, "I can't help it! It was her mother! Her family trying to kill you and your brother. And now? Now she gets more and more caught up with them, her grandfather, every day. And I can't help but think that one day soon she's not gonna be Allison, our friend, anymore but Allison the hunter who's going to kill us!" she rants.

"Okay," Sky shrugs with a smirk. "So we're mad at Allison then. Do you want me to maul her a bit?"

Ariel snorts, "No."

"Not even a little bit?"

"Sky," Ariel can't help but grin, shaking her head.

Sky nods with a mock sigh of disappointment before turning serious and pulling her into a hug, "I'm sorry," she mutters.

Ariel pulls back confused, "What? What for?"

"You're going through all this and I'm an oblivious asshole --"

Ariel shakes her head with a disbelieving laugh, "Sky, I think we've been kinda busy. And you died a little."

Sky shrugs, smiling, "Just a little, though. I'm never too busy for you. Even if there's a killer on the loose."

Ariel rolls her eyes with a smile as she starts to pull them along again, "C'mon, trouble. We've gotta help catch that killer."

***

"This kid's the real killer?" The Sheriff asks sceptically as they all surround a yearbook in Stiles's bedroom, focused on a picture of Matt Daehler.

Stiles nods, "Yeah."

Sheriff shakes his head, "No."

"Yes!"

Sky huffs, "Please, just listen for --"

"No."

"Ugh, you're worse than Stiles."

Stiles groans, "Dad, come on," he pleads. "Everybody knows that the police look for ways to connect victims in a murder, okay? So all he had to do is, like, look through their transcripts and figure out which class they all had in common."

"Yeah, except for the fact that the rave promoter Kara wasn't in Harris's class," the Sheriff points out.

"All right, okay, you're right, sorry. Then I guess they dropped the charges against him?" wonders Stiles, narrowing his eyes at his father.

Stilinski glares back for a moment before sighing, "No, you know what? They're not dropping the charges. But that doesn't prove anything."

Stiles goes to argue but the Sheriff cuts him off, looking to the others, "Do you believe this?"

"Yes!" cries out Sky, exasperated.

"Not you either, Sky. Ariel and Scott."

Sky pauses and purses her lips, crossing her arms at the same time as Stiles, "Oh," they mutter.

Scott sighs, "It's really hard to explain how we know this. We know it's Matt," he tells him.

Ariel looks at him pleadingly, "As idiotic as Sky and Stiles can be sometimes --"

Sky scoffs, "Excuse me --"

"-- you can't deny how smart they can be," Ariel continues. "You have to trust us on this."

Stiles rolls his eyes but nods, "Yeah, he took Harris's car, okay?" he tells him. "Look, he knew that if a cop found tire tracks at one of the murders, and that if enough of the victims were in Harris's class, that they'd arrest him."

The Sheriff rubs his eyes for a second, "All right, fine," he relents. "I'll allow the remote possibility, but give me a motive. I mean, why would this kid want most of the 2006 swim team and its coach dead?"

Stiles waves his arms, exclaiming, "Isn't it obvious? Our swim team sucks! They haven't won in, like, six years and --"

Sky puts a finger over his mouth, "We don't have a motive yet," she admits, moving her finger back.

"What do you want me to do?" asks Stilinski.

"We need to look at the evidence," says Scott.

The Sheriff raises his brows, "Yeah, that would be in the station, where I no longer work," he points out.

Stiles scoffs, "Trust me, they'll let you in."

"Yeah," grins Sky. "You're still the Sheriff, Sheriff."

Sheriff narrows his eyes at them both, "Trust you?"

Stiles pauses, glancing at Sky with wide eyes, pleading for help. Sky blinks back at him, then turns to the sheriff and pulls her last resort -- she pouts.

"Trust them?" she tries, pointing to her brother and girlfriend.

The Sheriff stares at her, before being unable to look any longer, turning to Scott and Ariel, faltering under Scott's pleading eyes and Ariel's hopeful smile.

The Sheriff sighs, "Them, I trust."

"Yes!" Sky cheers, looking to Ariel. "I knew I kept you around for a reason."

Ariel gives her a deadpan stare, "And here I cluelessly thought it was because you loved me," she drawls.

"That too."

***

"It's two in the morning," points out a Deputy as they all walk into the station.

"Believe me, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't extremely important," reassures Stilinski as he stops at the front desk.

Stiles holds the others back and lowers his voice, "We look at the hospital stuff first, okay?"

Scott looks confused, "Why?" he wonders.

"Because all the murders were committed by Jackson, except for one, you remember?"

"The pregnant girl?" reminds Sky.

Scott nods, "Jessica."

"Yeah. Since Matt had to kill her himself, somebody from the hospital could've seen him," Stiles points out.

"Guys." calls the Sheriff, ushering them over to go to his office.

***

The four teens huddle around Stilinski as he clicks through security footage of the hospital.

He sighs wearily, "I don't know, guys," he says as he looks through the footage. "I mean, look at this. There was a six-car pileup that night, the hospital was jammed."

Sky shakes her head, "His creepy face has gotta be on the footage somewhere."

Stiles nods, "Just keep going. Look, he had to have passed one of the cameras on that floor to get to Jessica, okay?"

"Wait!" perks up Ariel. "Stop it there," she points at the screen.

She glances at Scott to see him looking like he saw what she did, "Did you see that?" she asks him.

He nods, "Scroll back," he tells the Sheriff.

The Sheriff scrolls back and pauses on the image of someone walking up the corridor.

"That's him! That's Matt!" Stiles confirms.

The Sheriff looks doubtful, "All I see is the back of someone's head."

Stiles waves his arms in frustration, "Matt's head, yeah," he tells him. "I sit behind him in history. He's got a very distinct cranium, it's weird."

"Stiles," Sky hisses.

"Are you crazy?" his father asks.

Stiles sighs, "All right, fine, then look at his jacket, huh? How many people do you know who wear black leather jackets?"

Sheriff gives him a deadpan look, pointing to Sky who was coincidentally wearing a black leather jacket, "Millions, literally."

Scott focuses on the screen, "Okay, can we scroll forward?" he asks, "There's gotta be a shot of him coming at one of the cameras."

The footage keeps playing until Stiles shouts out, "Right there! Stop, stop! See, there he is again."

The Sheriff rolls his eyes, "You mean there's the back of his head again."

Stiles frowns, "Okay, but look," he points to the screen.

"He's talking to someone," Ariel points out.

Sky's eyes widen, "Mom," she breathes out.

***

"Do you know how many people I deal with in a day?" says Melissa through the phone to Scott and Sky who has it on speaker on the other side of the room.

Sky rolls her eyes, "I know, Mom, but this guy gives off distinctive creeper vibes."

"This one's sixteen, he's got dark hair, looks like a normal teenager," Scott tells her, giving Sky a warning look.

Stiles pops up behind them, "Yeah, he looks evil," he exclaims to the phone. Sky shoves his head away.

"I already talked to the police about this."

Scott looks frustrated, "Okay, mom, I'm gonna take a picture and send it to you," he sends the picture. "Did you get it?"

"Yeah."

"Do you recognize him?" asks Scott.

"Do you remember him?" asks Sky.

Melissa's exasperated sigh can be heard through the phone, "Yeah, I did," she tells them. "I mean, I remember I stopped him because he was tracking mud in the hall. What's going on you two?"

Scott fumbles, "It's -- it's nothing, mom."

"We gotta go," rushes out Sky, hanging up as they turn back to the Sheriff.

"We've got shoe prints alongside the tire tracks at the trailer site," he tells them.

"And if they match," adds Stiles, "That puts Matt at the scene of three murders. The trailer, the hospital, and the rave."

"Actually, four," corrects Stilinski. "A credit card receipt for an oil change was signed by Matt at the garage where the mechanic was killed."

"When?"

"A couple hours before you got there."

Stiles claps his hands, "All right, dad, if one's an incident, two's a coincidence, and three's a pattern, what's four?"

Sheriff nods, "Four's enough for a warrant," he confirms. "Scott or Sky, one of you call your mom back, see how quick she can get here. If I can get an official ID, I can get a search warrant. Stiles, go to the front desk. Tell them to let Scott's mom in when she gets here."

"On it," says Stiles, jumping up almost giddily, ready to race out of the room.

"Actually, Ariel, would you mind making sure he does that without annoying the hell out of my colleagues?" Stilinski asks. Ariel smirks and nods.

"Dad!"

***

"It's quiet," whispers Ariel as they walk to the reception area, hearing heartbeats but not seeing anyone.

Stiles glances around, "Yeah."

"Where have they gone?" Ariel wonders as they look towards the empty front desk.

"Hello?" Stiles calls out, moving to the desk and opening the gate to see --

"Oh god," breathes Ariel from right behind him as they stare at the body of an officer covered in bloody slashes.

She pulls Stiles back and turns around, only to be greeted by the sight of a gun pointed directly at her head, gripped tightly in the hands of a smirking Matt.

***

Scott finishes his call with Melissa and pockets his phone, turning to Sky and Stilinski.

"She's on her way here," he tells them, pausing when the Sheriff doesn't pay attention and Sky goes absolutely rigid and stares behind him. He follows their stare to the open door where Matt has Stiles in his grip as he keeps a gun attached to Ariel's temple.

There's a tense silence before the Sheriff speaks calmly, "Matt? It's Matt, right? Matt, whatever's going on, I guarantee you there's a solution that doesn't involve a gun."

Matt smirks, "You know, it's funny you say that, because I don't think you're aware of just how right you are."

"I know you don't wanna hurt people."

Matt shakes his head, "Actually, I wanna hurt a lot of people. You lot weren't on my list, but I could be persuaded," He stares Sky dead in the eyes, daring her to do something.

"And one way is to try dialling somebody on your cell phone like Scott is doing. That could definitely get someone hurt," he adds threateningly, not even glancing at him.

Scott pulls out his phone and puts it on the desk, "Everyone," Matt prompts. "Now." the others take out their phones as well, though Sky's hand trembles in anger as she does.

***

"Tighter," Matt commands as Stiles handcuffs his father to a bench in the cell block.

Stiles glares at him until Matt moves the gun from him and back to Ariel, who he hadn't released from a tight grip, seeing it holding Sky back. Her jaw clenches.

"Do what he says, Stiles," says Stilinski.

Matt motions for the others to move to the corridor to make their way back to the office.

Scott watches a body get dragged away from next to Sky, "What, are you gonna kill everyone in here?" he asks.

"No," Matt smirks from behind them. "That's what Jackson's for. I just think about killing them, and he does it."

***

Stiles stands from when he finishes getting rid of the evidence, "Deleted. And we're done. All right, so, Matt, since all the people you brutally murdered deserved it because they killed you first - whatever that means - I think we're good here, right? So I'll just get my dad, and we'll go, you know? You continue on the whole vengeance thing. Enjoy the Kanima," he rambles.

The sound of a car engine interrupts them and they all still, though Sky doesn't take her eyes off Matt holding Ariel for a second.

"Sounds like your mom's here, McCalls," Matt taunts.

Sky's eyes flash and he shakes his head at her, harshly pressing the gun into Ariel's head until she calms down.

"Sky --" Ariel warns, seeing the look on her face.

"I swear to god, Matt," Sky quietly growls out, taking a single step forward with barely contained fury. "If you touch a single hair on her perfect little head, I will rip your tongue out and beat you with it."

Matt narrows his eyes at her.

"Matt, don't do this," Scott begs, gaining his attention. "When she comes to the door, I'll just tell her to leave. I'll tell her we didn't find anything. Please, Matt."

Matt frowns, "If you don't move -- now, I'm gonna kill Ariel first," he threatens. "Then Stiles and then your mom."

They make their way to the door that leads to the lobby, "Open it," Matt demands.

"Please."

"Open the door."

Scott pulls it open to reveal --

"Oh, thank God." he breathes, seeing Derek standing there, but not for long as the Alpha sinks to his knees and falls to the floor, revealing Jackson standing right behind him.

***

"This is the one controlling him?" groans Derek from his paralysed position on the floor. "This kid?"

Matt smirks at him, "Well, Derek, not everyone's lucky enough to be a big, bad werewolf. Oh, yeah, that's right," he looks around the room. "I've learned a few things lately. Werewolves, hunters, Kanimas," he sneers at Sky, gesturing to Ariel as he adds. "But nothing a bullet to the head can't stop. It's like a frickin' Halloween party every full moon. Except for you, Stiles. What do you turn into?

Stiles stares at him, "Abominable snowman. But, uh, it's more of, like, a wintertime thing, you know, seasonal."

Matt, unamused, motions to Jackson, who lashes out and swipes the nape of Stiles's neck, making him fall -- onto Derek.

Scott steps forward, "Hey!"

Stiles grunts, "You bitch."

"Get him off of me," demands Derek.

Matt smirks, looking down at them, keeping Ariel tight in his grip, "Oh, I don't know, Derek. I think you two make a pretty good pair," he laughs. "It must kinda suck, though, to have all that power taken away from you with just a little cut to the back of the neck. I bet you're not used to feeling this helpless," he flashes his smirk over to Sky, who glowers at him.

Derek glares back up at him, "Still got some teeth. Why don't you get down here a little closer, huh? We'll see how helpless I am," he goads.

"Yeah, bitch," adds Stiles.

Before Matt can retort, headlights flash over the office through the windows. Matt looks at the twins.

"Is that her?" he asks.

Scott takes a look out of the window and his look of distress makes Sky suck in a sharp breath.

"Do what I tell you to and I won't hurt her," Matt reasons. "I won't even let Jackson near her."

"Don't trust him!" calls Stiles.

Matt snaps, shoving Stiles off Derek and pressing his foot down on his throat. Sky steps forward in panic as Stiles chokes.

"This work better for ya?"

"No -- no, we will!" shouts Sky.

"Okay, just stop!" Scott exclaims. "Stop!"

"Then do what I tell you to," says Matt.

Scott nods, "Okay. All right. Stop!"

Matt looks at Jackson, "You, take 'em in there."

He looks between the McCall's, "You two -- you're coming with me," he glances at Ariel in his grasp, then to Sky.

"Wanna trade?" he smirks. "You for her?"

Sky scowls, but nods.

***

Melissa walks into the eerily quiet station and looks around in confusion.

"Mom?" a weak voice calls, making her whirl around to see her son and daughter standing by the desk in the dimly lit corridor.

"You scared me," she breathes out. "Where is every --" she stops when she sees Matt pointing a gun at their backs.

Sky stares at her and speaks calmly, "Mom, just do what he says. He promised he wouldn't hurt you," she tries to reassure.

Matt smirks, "She's right."

He casually turns the gun to Scott and fires, hitting him in the stomach, causing him to grunt and fall as their mom calls out his name in horror.

"No!" Sky shouts and lunges for Matt, Scott yelling her name as she's too slow and is faced with the barrel of the gun.

"But I didn't say I wouldn't hurt you."

He pulls the trigger again.