Shimmer Lake 2017

As the sun sets on a fateful Friday, Andy Sikes ( Andy Sikes) busies himself cleaning up his cluttered basement, while his wife Martha’s hushed conversation with his brother Sheriff Zeke Sikes drifts down from above. Unbeknownst to Andy, their young daughter Sally’s sudden appearance in the dimly lit space prompts him to swiftly silence her and extract a solemn promise: she must keep his presence a secret. Meanwhile, Zeke’s curiosity is piqued by Andy’s clandestine activities, prompting him to launch an investigation that ultimately leads to a startling revelation - Andy’s recent whereabouts are eerily connected to a botched bank robbery in which Zeke himself was left seriously injured.

As the dust settles on this tumultuous day, Zeke meets with his trusted partner Reed Ethington and FBI agents Kyle Walker (Kyle Walker) and Kurt Biltmore to discuss the investigation into Judge Brad Dawkins’ untimely demise. The discovery of the judge’s lifeless body in his own home sends shockwaves through the small town, and tensions escalate as Zeke, Reed, and the FBI agents disagree on the best course of action to take.

In a separate but equally intriguing development, Andy finds himself in a secluded forest, where he is scheduled to meet with Steph Burton, the enigmatic wife of his alleged accomplice Ed Burton. As Andy loads the stolen bank funds into Steph’s car, he is suddenly and brutally cut down by an unseen assailant bearing the ominous tattoo: “State Champs”. The killer’s motive, much like their true identity, remains shrouded in mystery.

The following day, Zeke and his team shift their focus to Chris Morrow, a meth-addled suspect believed to have been the getaway driver in the botched bank robbery. Their search yields a grisly discovery: Chris lies dead, leaving Zeke to reveal that Andy’s reputation as a former prosecutor had long been tarnished by whispers of corruption following a questionable plea deal that allowed Ed and Chris to walk free after their involvement in the tragic death of Steph’s and Ed’s son in a devastating meth lab explosion.

As the investigation continues to unfold, Judge Dawkins becomes increasingly desperate to destroy an incriminating tape being used to blackmail him. Meanwhile, Steph’s erratic behavior takes a darker turn as she intentionally harms herself. The arrival of Zeke, Reed, and the FBI agents at her doorstep prompts her to reveal that Ed had physically assaulted her when she refused to leave with him. Under intense pressure, she eventually confesses that Ed had spoken of fleeing to Mexico.

In a shocking twist, Judge Dawkins’ secret teenage boyfriend is caught off guard by Andy’s unexpected appearance. Panicked to protect his own hidden life, the judge launches a violent attack on Andy but ultimately meets his untimely demise. Fleeing for cover, Andy retreats to the relative safety of his basement, where he will need to confront the consequences of his actions and the danger that now lurks at every corner.

As the fateful day after the heist unfolds, Chris and Andy find themselves grappling with a crisis of conscience, their trust in each other shattered by Ed’s duplicitous actions. The once-united trio is now divided, with Chris left to ponder his next move as Ed disappears with the spoils. Meanwhile, Andy ventures back into town, where the news reveals a devastating turn of events: Ed has been accused of shooting his own brother, Zeke (who shares a striking resemblance with Judge Dawkins). As Andy frantically searches for answers, Chris receives an unexpected phone call from Steph, who proposes a provocative proposition - to split the loot and seemingly bury their differences. But beneath her seductive veneer lies a sinister agenda, as she exploits Chris’s guilt-ridden conscience by revealing his complicity in the tragic demise of her son. The ensuing chaos culminates in a brutal confrontation between Judge Dawkins and Chris, whose murder sets the stage for Steph’s Machiavellian machinations.

In the days leading up to the ill-fated heist, Andy, Chris, and Ed (whose “State Champs” tattoo bears testament to his troubled past) carefully plan their audacious move, despite Steph’s impassioned pleas to abandon their reckless scheme. The trio’s bond is tested when Ed shares a devastating revelation: the heist is the only means by which they can escape the crushing weight of their current existence, forever tainted by the stain of guilt. Dawkins, the bank’s reluctant proprietor, yields to Ed’s promise to deliver the incriminating tape in exchange for the safe’s combination - a Faustian bargain that will ultimately seal his fate. As Ed and Andy infiltrate the bank, Zeke is left to keep watch, oblivious to the impending doom that lurks beneath the surface.

In a shocking twist, Zeke’s tranquil evening is shattered when Ed’s double-crossing instincts are revealed, and he finds himself wounded at the hands of his former partner-in-crime. As the true extent of their treachery unfolds, Steph and Zeke - united in their quest for vengeance - reveal themselves to be the bereaved parents of the deceased child. With Ed’s lifeless body hidden away at Shimmer Lake, Zeke embarks on a painstaking investigation, driven by a burning desire to exact justice upon those responsible for his family’s tragedy.