Chapter 2: The Aftermath
Chapter Text
"What's going on?" Pacey asked again climbing into the back of Doug's squad car beside Joey.
"I'm not sure, " Doug told him turning on the siren as he backed out of the hospital parking lot speeding towards the Potter house on the outskirts of Capeside.
As they pulled into the crowded yard Pacey noted the scene in front of them. There were 2 squad cars parked in front of the house beside Bessie's old truck. Bessie was standing on the front steps her face red and blotchy, eyes swollen from crying. Bodie was pacing on the porch, clenching and unclenching his fists. Alexander was wrapped up in a quilt sleeping soundly on the porch swing.
"Joey, I'm so sorry." Bessie cried running up to Joey and trying to hug her.
Joey put her arms out to stop her, "what are you talking about?"
"It's gone. All of it." Bessie stammered.
"What are you talking about?" Joey demanded.
"The money, Joey, my lock box. Mom's wedding ring and locket." Bessie reached out, Joey jerked away and ran into the house.
Pacey followed her inside. He walked into the living room that doubled as Joey's bedroom and found her sitting on the floor staring into a hole, the missing board laying across her knees.
"He took it. I can't believe he took it."
Before Pacey could ask her what she was talking about, Bessie approached from behind.
"What's that? she asked.
"The money I was saving for college. It's gone, all of it, "Joey explained holding up an empty shoe box.
Bessie hung her head and stumbled down the hall into her bedroom closing the door behind her muffling her sobs. Joey sat silently in the floor staring at the empty box in her hands. Pacey took the box from her and set in on the dresser.
"C'mon Jo, why don't you go get cleaned up? You'll feel better." he told her taking her hands and pulling her to a standing position.
She nodded. She blindly reached into the top drawer of the dresser and grabbed some clean clothes. Pacey watched as she walked into the bathroom and waited to hear the shower turn on before walking outside to talk to his brother. He found his brother leaning against his squad car with a faraway look on his face.
"Hey Dougie, I'm going to stay here tonight. Keep Joey company. I don't want to leave her alone with everything that's happened tonight."
"Okay, but you need to be careful. Mr. Potter could come back."
"You really think he would come back here after everything. The fire was bad enough, but to steal from his own daughters?"
"We've alerted the state police. They're searching for him now. I don't know how far he could really get, even if he didn't suffer any burns from the fire, I'm sure he inhaled a lot of smoke which is going to my make moving quickly difficult at best. You just need to be careful. I told Bodie, but I'm going to tell you too, make sure all the doors and windows are locked tonight. We don't know what his state of mind is. He stole from his own daughters and grandchild."
Pacey looked shocked, "what do you mean?"
"Bodie informed me that there was a small ceramic bank in the baby's room, he said it didn't have a huge amount of money in it but at lease a couple hundred dollars. Well it was smashed and all the money missing."
Pacey shook his head, not believing what he was hearing.
"Just be careful, okay?" Doug begged.
"I will. See you in the morning?"
"See you then."
Pacey stood on the porch and watched as the squad cars pulled away.
"Pacey," he heard Bodie say, " come on inside. I've got some clothes you can borrow. Get cleaned up."
"Thanks, Bodie."
"No problem. The clothes are in the bathroom. I'm going to put Alex to bed and check on Bessie. The doors and windows are locked. Good night."
Feeling much better after a hot shower Pacey joined Joey on the couch. She was staring off into space.
"Earth to Potter," Pacey said plopping down onto the couch beside her. She jumped and looked at him.
"Sorry Pace. I was just thinking."
"About?"
"My dad," she struggled, "I just don't understand how a father can steal from his own children. Why would he do this to us? The only things we had left of mom's were her ring and locket, besides this house, and he took them both. He even stole from Alex. He stole from a baby."
"How did you know about that?"
"I saw Bodie carrying out the broken remains of Alex's piggy bank."
"I'm sorry, Jo. I don't know what to say. Dawson would have some eloquent speech that would make you feel better, but I'm just not that guy."
"It's okay, Pace. You being here is enough."
He put his arm around her and she leaned into his chest wrapping one arm around his neck. He could fill the warm tears bleeding through the t-shirt he was wearing as she sobbed quietly. He grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and threw it across them. He shifted on the wide couch to lay down. Joey remained attached to him. He wrapped his other arm around her as sleep claimed them both.
