Staring at John B it took a few seconds for what he said to penetrate their minds, "What?" Kie questioned. Hearing sirens they ducked behind the junk in the shed as two police cars went speeding by. "What happened?" Pope asked. Shaking John B looked up at them, "Peterkin was arresting Ward when Rafe shot her," he told them unsteadily, "I…..I tried to call for help but Ward took the radio. She told me to run," he continued shaking. "Oh my god," Dakota whispered, gripping JJ's hand while Kie hugged a shaking John B. "What do we do?" JJ asked. "We'll go to my house," Kie decided, "We need a car and my parents are at the Wreck. We'll figure out what to do once we get John B cleaned up," she said helping him stand.
"John B you need to eat something," Dakota told him, sliding a grilled cheese sandwich on a plate and setting it in front of him. They had made it back to Kie's house and were currently sitting around her kitchen table as Dakota was making sandwiches for everyone. Flipping another sandwich onto a plate she handed it to Pope who was sitting next to John B. "I think I need to go to the police," John B said, staring at his sandwich. "John B, I don't know about that," JJ spoke up as he tapped his fingers on the table clearly agitated, "I mean you might end up in the lion's den but you don't go there on purpose. It's like my old man has always told me, you should never ever trust cops, no matter what the circumstance is." Pulling out the chair next to JJ, Dakota grabbed his tapping fingers as she sat down, "I don't know if your dad is the best person to listen to right now," she told him squeezing his hand.
"I agree with JJ," Pope spoke up, "When have the police ever done anything for us?" he questioned looking around the table. "Peterkin looked out for me," John B reminded them, "At least she tried to. They need to know what happened to her," he told them. "So what do you want to do? Go to the police station or I can call Shoupe, he's friends with my dad, he might listen to us," Dakota asked, looking at John B. "No, I want to go to the station. And then after that I want to go to Tannyhill and find Sarah," he told them. "So, she didn't betray us, right?" JJ asked. Shaking his head John B answered, "No she was trying to get away from Ward."
Pulling up to the Kildaire police station, Kie put the car in park, "Do you want us to come in with you?" she asked John B looking back at him. "No, I'll be fine," he told them before opening the door. Watching John B enter the police station Dakota sighed, "He's going to be okay, right?" "You know where I stand with trusting the police," JJ replied, "Hey easy there chief," he laughed poking his head between the seats looking at Pope in the passenger seat coughing as he took a hit from JJ's juul. "Pope, maybe you should calm down with that," Kie suggested, "It can be pretty potent for someone who doesn't smoke," she reminded him. "Stop pretending you care, Kie," Pope moaned.
"What the fuck does that," Kie started to say before being interrupted by John B yelling, "Kie! Kie, start the car!", as he came running out of the police station. "What?" Kie questioned, looking out her window bewildered. "Dakota, move," JJ yelled, pulling her closer as John B scrambled into the car, "Go, Kie, go. I told you guys," JJ yelled. Holding the door shut to prevent a deputy from opening it John B was yelling for Kie to drive. Putting the car in drive Kie sped off with a female officer trying to open the door. "Faster Kie," Dakota cried. "Open the door. Shake her off," Pope yelled. Forcing the door open John B hit the officer causing her to fall but letting them get away.
"Oh god, what the fuck happened?" Dakota cried looking at John B. "They think I did it. They think I killed Peterkin," he told them. "How the hell does that happen?" Pope questioned. "I don't fucking know," John B yelled. "Ward. Ward must've said it was you and not Rafe," Dakota reasoned, "There's no way he's going to implicate his own son." "But Sarah was there," Kie reminded them, "She knows what happened." "You think she's going to go against her father? What fucking planet do you live on?" JJ asked snidely. "JJ, unnecessary," Dakota reprimanded. "It's fucking true," he mumbled.
"Well what are we going to do now?" Pope asked. "We can't go back to my house. My parents will be coming back from The Wreck," Kie told them. "What about my house?" Dakota suggested. "Yeah, like Topper wouldn't hesitate to turn John B in," JJ answered sarcastically, "There's an old carport set back from the road out by my house. We lay low there till the morning and then we get to the ferry and get John B off island," JJ suggested.
Backing into the car port Kie shut off the engine, "Okay, so we'll try and sleep and go to the ferry in the morning," she declared. Opening his door JJ jumped out, "Come on I'm not sleeping sitting up," he said pulling Dakota out, "Open the back hatch," he told her as he hit the lever to put the back seat down as John B did the same on his side. Climbing through the back hatch Dakota wedged herself between the boys exhausted.
Hearing sirens Dakota jerked awake accidentally elbowing JJ in his sore ribs, "Holy fuck, Princess," JJ moaned. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to," she told him, shifting back only to elbow John B. "Oww," he moaned. "Shit, sorry," she apologized to him. "Okay, elbows down," JJ laughed pulling her close and tucking his arm around her. "Kie, you awake?" John B asked looking over his shoulder towards the front seat. "Yeah, you three aren't exactly quiet," she grumbled. "Put the radio on, I want to see what they're saying," he requested. Turning the key back Kie tuned the radio to a local station. "Good news for residents of the Outerbanks. Dominion Power says their underwater transmission line, which will restore power to 90% of the area should be functional within 24 hours. And still no arrest in the shooting death of Sheriff Susan Peterkin. The state police have issued a statement regarding a local person of interest, a juvenile from Kildaire, John B Rout," "that's enough," Kie stated, turning the radio off. "I think that's our cue to get to the ferry," Pope declared.
"Why's no one moving?" Dakota asked sliding forward to poke her head through the front seats. "I don't know," Kie answered, tapping her fingers on the wheel. "I'll check it out," Pope said, opening his door and heading into the crowd around the ferry dock. "So when we get off island I have my credit card. I can get you a ticket anywhere," Dakota told John B who was still laying across the back with his seat down. "How you gonna explain a plane ticket to your parents?" John B asked. Scoffing Dakota rolled her eyes, "They don't look at the statement. They just pay it. I could get all five of us tickets and no one would bat an eye." "Well shit if that's true why haven't we been vacationing in Hawaii?" JJ joked.
"Guys we have an issue," Pope stated, "Well a few to be exact. First the ferry is closed and well there's this," he said passing a flyer through the window to Kie. "Oh dear lord," she muttered wide eyed. "What? What is it?" Dakota asked as Kie passed the flyer back to her. "Shit," JJ said reading the flyer over her shoulder. "What is it?" John B asked from where he was lying. "Well I think this will look nice framed, don't you think?" JJ asked, plucking the flyer out of Dakota's hands and showing John B the wanted poster of himself.
"Okay so the whole island is looking for John B right now," Pope said, climbing back into the passenger seat. "With a 25,000 reward I'd say the whole island's looking. Congrats dude you're famous," JJ said. "Okay so we need to get to the HMS Pogue. It's small, no running lights, it could get John B out of here," Dakota suggested. "It's at the Chateau, Dakota," John B reminded her. "And I wonder if the cops have the entire place staked out. Let me think, oh yeah they definitely have that place locked down," JJ said sarcastically. "Careful with that sarcastic mouth if you ever want to use it for something else," Dakota warned. "Mmmm, sorry," JJ murmured against her lips.
"Okay, enough of that," Pope said, disgusted, "JJ, does your dad still have that boat? The cigarette boat, The Phantom, the one he used to race?" Pope asked. "Maybe," JJ answered. "You could get right up the coast, no problem," Pope told them. "Pope I don't know where the keys are," JJ told him. "Well find them," Pope replied before reaching over and honking the horn, "Why aren't we moving?" he yelled out the window. "Pope, shut up," Kie yelled pushing his hand off the horn. "We need to go and these people are in the way," he argued. As the two argued Dakota glared at JJ, "How much weed did you give him?" she hissed. "Guys, the car is on here, shut up," John B told them holding up the flyer.
Hearing a commotion from the crowd Dakota looked out to see people pointing at the SUV, "JJ," she pointed his attention to the crowd. "Guys, quit fucking arguing," he yelled at Kie and Pope, "We've got a snitch. Get us out of here, Kie." "Shit," Kie swore as she sent the car careening forward hitting the car in front of her, "Fuck my parents are going to kill me," she muttered throwing it in reverse to get them out of their spot in line. Putting it back in drive she tore off in the opposite direction. "We have to ditch the car. That deputy chick I think saw the license plate," Dakota told them looking out the back window. "Go back to the car port. Once they trace the car they'll have cops at your house and at The Wreck," JJ told Kie.
"Now what?" Kie questioned once they were parked back under the abandoned car port. "Can I suggest my house again?" Dakota asked, raising her hand. "What about Topper?" Pope reminded her. "JJ has literally been sneaking into my house for months. He can get John B in without anyone seeing him," she responded looking at JJ for confirmation. Sighing JJ nodded, "Probably but we'd have to be careful getting there too. There's cops everywhere and with 25,000 on the line eyes will be looking out of every house." "What about Sarah?" John B asked. "What about Sarah?" Pope questioned, "She's a kook; she'll be fine. We don't owe her anything." "That's not fair, Pope," Dakota spoke up, "She was fighting with Ward, John B doesn't think she betrayed us, maybe we should check on her." "Of course you want to save the Kook," Pope muttered. "Hey man!" JJ cut in before Dakota could reply, "Don't take your shit out on her," he told his friend stepping in front of Dakota.
"Guys, let's not fight with each other," Kie pleaded. "Kie's right we need to keep our shit together and Sarah may not be a Pogue," John B said looking at Pope, "But she's someone important to me," he stated. "Okay, so let's do this. Let's get to my house. JJ, you and John B take the backroad in, through the woods, Kie and Pope give me a twenty minute head start and then follow me over. Going separate will hopefully keep the attention down. Once we get there the Cameron's are just down the road. Kie and I can go down once it's dark and check on Sarah," Dakota proposed. Nodding the others agreed. "Be careful," Dakota told JJ, kissing him quickly, "Stick to the woods," she reminded him. "I could get there in my sleep. We'll be fine," he assured her.
Sighing with relief once all five of them were safely inside her bedroom Dakota looked around, "Anyone run into trouble?" she asked. Shaking his head John B told her they hadn't passed anyone coming in from the woods. "Good, Kie anyone stop you?" she asked looking at Kie. After glancing at Pope, who seemed to be ignoring everyone, she shook her head too, "No, we didn't have any problems," she answered, "There's a lot of cops out though." "Yeah, I noticed they're more on the Cut though. It seemed like the closer I got here the less they were on Figure 8," Dakota agreed. "They probably figure he'd stick to where he's from," JJ remarked. "JJ, do you think you could get the keys for that boat your dad had?" Kie asked. Looking at Dakota JJ nodded, "I think I know where the key is," he answered. "I have a jeep with a hitch. We can use that to go get it together in the morning," Dakota told him, "And then John B you get down the coast and lay low," she said looking at him. Nodding John B tried to smile, "Thanks you guys. I don't know what I'd do without you all." "And you'll never find out," Kie told him as she hugged him.
"You want to tell me what the hell's up with you and Pope?" Dakota asked Kie as the two snuck their way down to the Cameron's. "Good god, Dakota," Kie moaned, "He told me he loves me." "Is that a bad thing?" Dakota asked, "I thought you liked him." Sighing Kie made an annoyed sound, "I do. But he's got a bug up his ass about something. He's high as a freaking kite, and now he's spouting off that he loves me. Why not say it when he's not high?" Kie replied. Stopping at the wall that surrounded the Cameron property Dakota looked at Kie, "Maybe he needed the help to tell you how he feels," she suggested, "What did you say to him?" Dakota asked as they climbed over the wall. "I told him he was wasted and now isn't the time to be talking about something like that. Our focus needs to be John B," Kie whispered as they crept through the yard towards the house. Climbing the trellis to Sarah's balcony Dakota laughed quietly, "Well that's probably what the bug up his ass is. Remember on the boat the other night he was pissed about it being about John B. I think he thinks you have the hots for John B," Dakota reasoned out. "He's supposed to be the smart one," Kie muttered as she tapped on Sarah's window.
Looking up at the tapping Sarah came running to the window, "Kie, Dakota," Sarah smiled at them as she tried lifting the window. When the window didn't move Kie attempted to help her, "It's not opening," Kie whispered. Unfolding John B's wanted poster Dakota held it up to the window for Sarah to see, "Are you in on it?" she asked watching Sarah's devastated face. "Did you think I was?" Sarah asked, looking between the two girls. Shaking their heads they both answered at the same time, "No." Wiping her eyes Sarah asked if John B was okay. "He's at my house," Dakota told her, "We're going to get him on a boat and get him down the coast tomorrow," she told her. "What about you? You witnessed everything," Kie said, "You can clear him." Shrugging her shoulders Sarah leaned her head against the glass, "My father locked me in. He won't let me out," she told them. Gasping Sarah looked at them wide eyed when they could hear Ward yelling Sarah's name, "Go, go, tell John B I love him," she told the girls before running back to her bed as Kie and Dakota hurried out of sight.
Pacing John B listened as Kie and Dakota told him what happened at Sarah's, "He's got her locked in," Kie told him. "Fuck," John B muttered running his hand through his hair. Chewing on her lip Dakota looked around at her friends, "Guys, maybe I should call my father. He's a lawyer. If we told him what happened he could help you," she told John B. Hearing JJ sigh from where he laid on the bed Dakota looked at him, "What?" she asked. "Well, Princess, at the risk of my sarcastic mouth. Let's reason this out. Who are people going to believe, Ward Cameron who's like king of the island, got the governor on speed-dial and shit or John B, who's pretty much a homeless 16 year old boy, at the moment?" JJ replied. "Thanks, dude," John B said. Rubbing her forehead Dakota sighed, "Look I totally get what you're saying, JJ, but my father hates Ward Cameron. I mean like hates! He'll believe us and even if he doesn't if there's a chance to put Cameron behind bars, he'll go for it," Dakota told them all. "Let's get John B out of town first and then call," Kie suggested.
Hearing a noise Dakota's eyes popped open. Letting her eyes adjust to the darkness around her she slowly lifted her head. Kie and JJ were laying on either side of her on the bed sleeping. Looking over JJ she saw only one boy laying on the bedroom floor instead of two. Noticing her balcony door open Dakota carefully climbed over JJ hoping not to wake him and quietly walked out to the balcony where she found John B swinging his leg over the side, "Where the fuck are you going?" Dakota hissed causing John B to jump. "Christ, Dakota, can you maybe not sneak up on me when I'm two stories up," he whispered. "It looks like you're going somewhere. What are you doing?" she asked again. Sighing, John B told her he'd left a note, "I need to help Sarah and once I do I'll meet you guys at the boat ramp tomorrow at 3p.m." he told her. "John B there are literally police all over the island. You can't help her if you're in jail," she told him, grabbing his hand, "I don't think you should go."
Squeezing her hand John B smiled, "You know when Kie first started bringing you around I admit I was kind of against it. I mean I thought you were going to be like all the rest of the kooks," he admitted, "But you're not. You have become one of my best friends and I love you. I love your kindness and your loyalty and I love that you've made JJ a better person. You may be from this side of the island, but you're a pogue at heart," he told her, "What JJ means to you is what Sarah means to me so I need to go help her. Please Dakota," he begged. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand Dakota shook her head, "Well when you say shit like that how am I supposed to say no to you?" Kissing her cheek John B swung his other leg over the banister, "Tomorrow at 3p.m.," he told her again. "I swear if you get caught I'm not bailing you out," she hissed over the railing as he climbed down the support beam. "Shit," she muttered before sneaking back to bed.