Elijah Craigh
Interacting with: DeMarcus and Parker Blake, Lynnette Marshall, Maclinton.
Location: Sheriff's office.
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Eli's face cringed the second he figured out what was going on. The fact that DeMarcus was the one going out there only made things worse. Eli never held anything against the Blake boy. In fact... Eli kinda liked him. Eli also thought DeMarcus took after his mother in all the right ways. It would have been easy for him to turn out very angry and bitter but as far as Eli could tell, he was a good kid.
After DeMarcus, next was Parker to leave. Eli didn't deal much with the sister but he had known the girls crack whore of a mother but she seemed like a sweet kid. It was easy to see that she was better than her mother.
After mutter a few cuss words under his breath Eli looked back at Lynnette.
"No matter what happens... Keep your chin up and do not cry. You can not let them see you bleed. No matter what happens, you're safe." It was Eli's pep talk. It may have lacked some panache, but he was sincere about it.
He walked towards the front office but stayed as far in the back. Eli needed to see as many details as possible without being seen. He could hear the shouts, and even identify more than a few of the voices, especially Maclinton. Eli couldn't help but chuckle when he heard DeMarcus say they were all good people.
Eli kept watch from his corner. He was more interested in what was going on in the background. This was the perfect for someone to do something incredibly dumb and get away with it.
It wasn't until DeMarcus chokeslamed Maclinton that Eli even start to watch those too. He knew Maclinton deserved it and more. Then Linehouse showed up with three shotgun toting deputies in tow. When he heard Linehouse's order to call for State backup. Eli knew this was all about to go to shit and he wasn't going to sit around and wait for it.
As soon as Linehouse called for back up, Eli pushed through the front doors.
"MACLINTON! JACOB MACLINTON!"Eli shouted almost jovially he had a smile on face as well. The surprise in the rioters was easy to see. The died down, they all seemed to stop and turn as one.
"Don't run away now! Fun just getting started!" He shouted with his arms extended but he got no reply.
"Aw! Yall gonna go home now? Tell you what... Come night fall I'll be out here waitin for Yall!" Elijah let out a few laughs like he was talking about the best party the county of Harlan would ever know.
He started to turn back for the door. His hand was almost touching the door handle when he met eyes with Elston Linehouse. Eli knew if they called for back up it'd be a long time coming. It would take hours, if they came at all. He knew that feeling of calling for help but it never coming.
Eli turned back and shouted
"MACLINTON! I GOT A PRESENT FOR YAH, SPECIAL! I WANNA SEE YOU MOST" If Eli hadn't stirred the hornets nest before, he damn sure kicked it now.
Eli ran to his truck and grabbed the bags he had packed. On his way in he lit a cigarette. As he walked in the front door, the enraged eyes of Elston Linehouse was upon him.
"What?" Elijah said like he didn't know what everyone was mad about.
"They're coming back anyways better them pissed than focused."