The Stepfather

One female in her late thirties and three minors.

Multiple stab wounds and blunt-force trauma.

What about the ex-husband? Court said the wife had a restraining order against him.

Dylan Bennet. He spent the night with a bottle of Jack Daniel's.

- It was his first Christmas without his family. - All the more reason.

Well, you didn't see him when he ID-ed his family.

Looked like he'd been hit by a freight train.

Seeing his kids like that. All the blood. Yeah, it was definitely a nightmare for him.

If this guy did it, he gets my vote for a goddamn Academy Award.

Let's say the stepfather, this Grady Edwards did it.

- What do we got on him? - Nothing.

Said he was from Kansas.

Except we can't find a match in any database.

And he stopped the newspaper to have time to disappear.

And we think he might have done this before.

Three years ago in New Jersey, a wife and three kids.

Gunshot wounds to the back of the head. The stepfather disappeared.

Lived in a rented room where he met the victims.

Both rooms were owned by older women.

One of the women who lives in New Jersey said,

"He's a wonderful man, always paid his rent on time and in cash. "

So, of course, she never asked him for any identification.

No, he's smart. The Toyota Land Cruiser that we found abandoned?

Paid for in cash. No driver's license required for registration.

No credit cards, no anything. Which means...

- No photo ID required. - Always a divorced or widowed situation.

I'm telling you, this guy's a monster.

Even if this is your guy,

it's been six months. He could be anywhere by now.

Mom, Beth says I can't get these.

- Sean, we're not getting these. - Hey! You two stop arguing.

Why does she always get to pick the kind of cookies we get? It's not fair!

Life is not fair. Life is about the woman getting to pick the cookies.

Sorry, they get a little out of control sometimes.

They're just kids.

But the sooner you figure out the cookie deal, the easier your life's gonna be.

I'm just saying.

It's a woman's world and we're just guests here.

Wise man. I'd say your wife is very lucky.

I'm not married anymore.

I still wear it, but I lost my wife and daughter in an accident last year.

- Drunk driver. - God, I'm so sorry.

It's okay.

- I could use a little help, though. - Sure.

Where is the peanut butter?

I just moved to Portland and I don't know this store yet.

- It's actually two aisles over. - This way? Thank you.

You're so welcome.

Remember what I told you.

What?

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were following me.

No. Hey.

I'm not usually this forward, but I'm recently divorced and...

I'm taking my kids for pizza, so I thought maybe you might want to go.

- Pizza? - The truth is,

I'm just dying for some adult conversation.

Well, I'm not usually this easy.

David Harris.

Susan. Susan Harding.

- It's very nice to meet you. - It's nice to meet you.

I still can't believe she didn't come to the airport.

I told you, she had some things to do.

- A little help here. - Yeah.

At least you have me.

So, have you met this guy?

Yeah, a couple of times. You know, when I came by to say hi to your mom.

- He seems cool. - Okay, but she's only known him since,

- what, like, after Christmas? That's so fast. - Well...

Come on, give it a chance. You know? Before you do something stupid.

- Like what? - I don't know. Like,

irritating your mom and getting sent back to military school.

I'm just saying, it seems like she's rushing into things. Don't you think?

I think it's her business what she does with her personal life.

And she tends to screw that up, mostly.

Come on, Michael, chill on this one, please? No fights with your mom.

- Okay. - Okay. I got something to show you.

Surprise!

Well, this is a surprise. This is a surprise. Thank you.

- I'm so happy to have you home. - Hey, Michael. What's up?

- Hey. Sean. Holy crap, you're huge. - Thanks.

- I missed you. Come here. - Beth. I missed you, too.

- Welcome home. - Hey, Aunt Jackie.

- Leah, hey. - Hi, sweetie.

Let me look at you. Your hair's gotten longer.

- Yeah. They ease up on you after a year. - You look so...

So much like a man. I was expecting a boy.

That's what the military does. Builds men. Good, strong men.

Michael, this is David. David, Michael.

- Is that a regulation cut? - No.

It wasn't real military. It was just a school for screwups.

Well, good to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you.

Everything seems to be going great.

- Sean and Beth love him. - What's not to love?

- Yeah, he's almost too good to be true. - Don't start, Jackie.

I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I like him.

Do you think I'm crazy to be engaged to someone I've only known for six months?

You've always been crazy. That has nothing to do with him.

He seems a little crazy, too, about you.

- Everyone have enough to eat? - Yeah...

I would like to propose a toast.

First of all, I want to thank Susan and Sean and Beth,

who, in a very short time, have taken me in and made me feel at home.

This is... It's a dream come true for me.

Thank you.

And to Michael. Your return makes us complete.

Family is the most important thing. Without it, we have nothing.

- Welcome home, Michael. - Hear, hear.

Hear, hear, Michael.

I think I'm a little nauseous after that.

Stop it.

- You want something to drink? - No, no, no, I got this.

We have a surprise for you, too.

- Really? - Jackie pulled a few strings

and she can get you a job working with her as a real estate agent.

- I couldn't. - Wait a minute. Of course you can.

Okay? Just follow me around and I'll get you all set up.

It's a great opportunity for us and she really went out of her way.

Well, I can't say no to my bride-to-be or her sister, can I?

- Thank you, Jackie. - Don't thank me. Thank her.

Because she's the one who convinced me to get you off the road

- so she can keep an eye on you. - Did you?

Thank you. I'm gonna go have a word with your son.

God, I hope Michael takes to him.

He will. He's just been blindsided by the divorce.

He'll bounce back.

Michael. Give me four minutes. Meet me in the basement.

So, what'd he say?

He said he wants me to meet him in the basement.

- In the basement? - Yeah.

Why?

I don't know. Well, I guess I'm about to find out.

Those two are mine. But you're welcome to use the others.

What's all this for?

Well, I'm a bit of a wannabe carpenter.

I built these storage cabinets myself.

And I'm working up in the attic right now on some termite damage.

I think we need a real toast.

Just the guys.

This is where I keep the good stuff.

There we go.

Now, don't let your mom know I've got a tequila stash.

I've worked my ass off trying to convince her I'm perfect.

I know this must be a bit of a shock, your mom and me getting married and all,

but I want you to know, I want us

to be a real family.

Because without it, we have nothing?

Okay. Touché.

So I get a little corny sometimes, but I meant what I said.

You just let me handle your mother,

and I'm gonna make sure you stay right here, where you belong.

No more military school.

We're gonna put this family back together, you and me,

- father and son. - Stepfather.

Stepfather

and son.

That's smooth, isn't it?

So your mother tells me you're one hell of a swimmer.

Yeah, I do okay.

You know, I used to swim in competition. In college, at U of O.

Your senior year is gonna be very important.

You could maybe get a college scholarship swimming.

You should be training this summer.

It's kind of hard to train in a backyard pool.

Maybe. But I hear your old school has a summer swim program.

It does, but I can't use that pool anymore.

That's the past.

Here is to the future.

Remember, I have to go see my grandparents tomorrow.

- Yeah, that's right. - But I'll be back the day after. I'm sorry.

No, that's all right. I mean, it's the day I get back, but that's fine. I'll call someone else.

Shut up. I'm sorry.

Listen, I want to get my license.

So, can you take me by the DMV?

- Maybe. I'll think about it. - Why not?

I kind of like having you dependent on me, actually.

All right, get in the car.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Good night, Leah. - Bye.

Glad you're home, Michael.

Thanks, Aunt Jackie. I'm so glad to be home. Thank you for coming.

Do you think David meant what he said about getting your mom to let you stay?

He said he was gonna make it happen, so we'll see.

Sweet. Bye.

A lot for one day, huh?

No, no, it was... It was nice. Thanks.

I'm trying too hard. You can say it.

Look, Michael, I know it's difficult to come home to another man in the house.

I just need you to try and get along, okay?

Mom, can we just hold the lectures, please? I've been home for two seconds.

Okay.

He's a really good guy.

And he cares about me and we're trying to start a new life together.

- And you don't want me to mess that up. - Well, that's not fair.

No, no, no, I get it. I'll try not to inconvenience you and your new life.

- Michael. - I'm sorry. I...

I'm pretty tired, Mom.

Okay. Okay.

Good night.

Maybe he should stay there his senior year.

- But his place is here with his family. - Yeah, but you don't know what he was like.