Revelations
The pogues sat on the porch of the chateau, suspense in the air as they all contemplated what the most recent news means.
Pope starts, "okay um.. so.. We didn't see anything. We don't know anything. We need to have total and complete amnesia."
JJ agrees with him for once. "Actually, Pope's right for once." Pope gives her a surprised look. They butt heads the most out of the four. "See I agree with you sometimes."
She winked at him and stood up pacing. "deny deny deny" she repeated, while flicking the lid of her lighter open and closed.
"Guys we can't keep that money," Kie said predictably. JJ sighed.
"Okay not all of us can afford unlimited data plans, Kiara," JJ said frustrated. That money could feed her and John B for months.
"We have to pass that off to Lana Grubbs," Kie insisted. "Otherwise it's bad karma."
"Bad karma to be implicated in a felony, too." Pope answers smartly. "We gotta go dark."
"If that means we get to keep the money, then I agree," JJ nods her agreement and moves to stand by John B.
It seems they're not on the same page because John B touches her shoulder and looks her in the eye when he says, "I don't agree."
JJ frowns as he turns away from her. Did he not understand what this money meant for them? "What? Why?"
"Just think about it," He explains, and she can tell he's about to tell them something important. "This is Scooter Grubbs we're talking about. Same dude that's buying individual cigarettes at the Porthole. Shit, one time I saw this dude begging for change in the Save-A-Lot parking lot because he needed gas."
JJ's mind churns as she listens. On the verge of a revelation.
"We're talking about a dirtbag marina rat," John B continues passionately. "Who's never had more than 40 bucks in his pocket and all of a sudden he's got a Grady White? Just sayin." He holds his palm up like he didn't just give the most mind- blowing revelation of the day.
They all contemplate on what John B just said. Pope stands up and grabs a fishing pole. Sometimes it helps him think. They all follow him to the small dock outside the chateau. He's the brains of the group so they're just waiting on his take, though John B looks like he already has a theory and is just dragging it out.
"All right so think about it Pope, how does a marina rat get a Grady White?" John B asks, hoping to speed up Pope's thought process.
"Prostitution," is Pope's response. What a let down, JJ thinks.
"Square groupers, bro" John B throws back, "Okay flying under the radar, no aerial surveillance. They don't do that stuff during a hurricane." When Pope has nothing, John B turns to JJ who is more knowledgeable in illegal things. She comes from a family of criminals after all. "What does that mean? JJ?"
"They were straight smuggling," she says. It makes sense, she thinks.
"Smuggling," John B agrees, "and I guarantee there's a serious amount of contraband in that wreck."
JJ could kiss him. "Hell yeah!"
At that moment, The fishing pole tugs and Pope starts reeling her in.
"Fish on!" JJ cheers.
After Pope reeled in the fish, John B cleaned it along with enough fish from the fridge for them each to have one.
They cooked them over a fire John B built in the yard and after eating, they gathered around the dining room table to continue their conversation.
"For the record, if that is a smuggling ship, with illegal contraband on it.. it probably belongs to someone else," Pope said.
"Minor details," Kie chirps.
"They could come looking for it," Pope says seriously. "Taking it would be catastrophically stupid."
"Right. Well stupid things have good outcomes all the time." JJ tell him. It's basically her trademark statement so Pope surely expected it. She holds ups the money in front of her like a fan. "All we need to do is figure out a way to get into the cargo hold of that wreck. Until then we just lay low. Act normal."
Pope sighs. "Right and how exactly do we do that?"
"Kegger?" Kie suggests. And that's that. Everybody agrees.
JJ calls up her cousin to make the arrangements to pick up a few kegs the next morning and they all start putting the word out. Kie and Pope said their goodbyes and headed home.
John B and JJ decided to call it a night and headed off to bed.
JJ fell asleep quickly, head and hair sprawled on John B's chest with her arm around his midsection and her leg tangled with his. Sleep evaded John B though, lost in though while playing with a strand of JJ's hair.
He knew he wouldn't be able to evade DCS much longer and a reoccurring thought kept entering his brain. He hadn't approached JJ about it yet, but he couldn't stomach the thought of being taken away and her losing her safe haven. The bruises around JJ's neck was a constant reminder that Luke's abuse was getting worse even if JJ wouldn't admit it. She hid her neck well with one of John B's bandana's, but John B would never forget. He unconsciously held JJ a little tighter as if his arms could protect her from more harm.
He decided the moment DCS came knocking again, he was going to convince JJ to run away with him. For now, he put the thoughts away for another time and allowed himself to drift off to sleep, dreaming of sunny beaches and surfing.