"We're the Pogues and our mission this summer is to have a good time all the time."
Our family motto…family and friends, I guess. We fell together pretty much instantly as little kids, me tagging along with my older brother, John B Routeledge, living in "Paradise on Earth", the Outer Banks. A place where you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island; us belonging on the Cut or the south side of the island. Home of the working class, ignored and neglected. Especially true for us since our dad disappeared at sea 9 months ago.
How does that even happen?
I think he's gone, like really gone, but John B believes he's still out there somewhere trying to get home. He's older by all of eleven months, making him in charge of signing the death certificate. He refused. Uncle T is our legal guardian now. Haven't seen him in months. Just don't tell DCS that.
Then we have the rest of the Pogues.
JJ, John B's best friend since 3rd grade. OBX native, salt lifer, kleptomaniac and future tax cheat. He'll out-surf anyone you know and has the most beautiful blue eyes…I may have a minor crush but we all know about that no pogue on pogue macking rule.
Kie is the humanitarian of the group. Always talking about recycling, Bob Marley and baby sea turtles. She's technically a kook but has been slumming it with us for almost as long as I can remember. We lost her for a year to Kook Academy but she made her way back. She's like the sister I've never had.
Pope is definitely the brains of the operation. A little awkward but as hardworking and kind as they come. He's a little bit of a weirdo, but we all got his back.
As for me, Grace Olivia Routledge or Gracie. I'm along for the ride. Sometimes it feels like I don't quite belong but who doesn't enjoy surfing, suntanning and fishing all day (that is when I'm not working at The Wreck to pay our bills). My one goal this summer was to relax and move on from my hardships and grief. That is exactly how I ended up here…
Cruising down the street on Figure 8 with the wind in my long brown hair and sun beating down on my freckled shoulders as an overweight security guard chased after us as we flee from a newly constructed vacation home.
Life couldn't feel any sweeter.
…
How quickly the tables turn. The next thing I know, John B and I are sitting in the sheriff's office with a social worker named Cheryl staring us down… waiting for us to crack.
"John, Grace, it's come to our attention that you are both unemancipated minors living on your own" she finally speaks.
I looked over at my brother, he'd know how to handle this.
"No" he shook his head, unconvincingly "no…no". I try not to roll my eyes. Really, that is the best he can do?
"I need you both to be honest, so that I can help you" she replied, obviously not buying it either.
"We are being honest, Girl Scout's honor" I tell her holding up three fingers, hoping she'd buy it. I'd never been a Girl Scout in my life.
"Okay, then when was the last time you spoke to your uncle?"
"34 minutes ago" I spoke up, trying to sound as confident as possible.
Cheryl stared at you suspiciously. "Ok, when's the last time you saw him?"
"Um…two hours and 43 minutes ago?" John B replied with a questioning inflection in his voice.
Her eyes passed between John B and I. "Alright, we're gonna come out to your home tomorrow to talk to your uncle. If he's not there, we're going to move forward with foster care. I want to assure you, we're going to find you a safe and loving home."
Give me a break.
…
Maybe luck was on our side for once, because that night Kildare got hit by a historic hurricane wiping out most of the island.
"Yo Gracie, you been outside?" I hear John B outside my room as I blink the sleep from my eyes the next morning. I throw on some shorts and an oversized hand-me-down t-shirt of John B's and step outside my room bypassing a sleeping form on the fold out couch.
"You coming, bro?" John B questioned.
"I got Polio, man. I can't walk," JJ replied. John B shrugs and leaves the house to survey the damage done.
"Mornin' Kid" JJ lifts his head as I walk by, just enough to flash me a wink before rolling back over on his side. I'm thankful that he can't see the maroon blush rushing across my face. Of course, JJ flirts with me. He would flirt with anything with a pulse.
I make my way out into the yard and look around. "Agatha did some work, huh? This is going to take all summer to clean up".
"Well, what I'm thinking is that the storm surge pushed all the crabs out to the marsh. All the drum are gonna chase the crab." John B responds "think about it, it's God telling us to fish."
We quickly prepare the HMS Pogue, my brother's beat down old boat and make our way through the canal, first to pick up Pope and then Kie who blessed us with some refreshments from her parent's restaurant.
I take a deep breath as we cruise down the channel. The sun was bright and the salt in the air smelled like home. I felt content for the moment as I took a sip of my beer, trying to push the idea of foster care out of my mind.
"Hey, Pope. Can you go a little faster?" JJ asked moving to the front of the boat.
"Uh, not again" complained John B. "It's not going to work" I agreed.
JJ tipped his beer back letting the liquid flow into his mouth using the strength of the breeze and the motion of the boat.
The boat suddenly lurched forward. I felt a hard thump as I flew from my seat hitting the front of the boat. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as JJ flew from his stance, flipping through the air and finally landing in the water with a crash.
"Jesus, Pope" Kie said.
"JJ you okay?" I hear John B call out.
"Ugh, I think my heels touched the back of my head." JJ groans.
"Pope, what did you do?" I ask. "Sandbar, The channel changed."
"No shit," JJ coughs, sputtering water from his lungs. I lean over the boat, extending a hand to help JJ up.
"Nice view" he laughs and I catch his eyes cast upwards to my bikini top as I leaned out over the edge of the boat towards the water.
"Perv" I hear behind me as John B comes up beside me and pushes JJ back into the water.
"Guys, I think there's a boat down there," Pope suddenly interrupts.
"Shut up, no way" I say, trying to glimpse through the murky surface.
"No guys, I'm serious there's a boat down there for real," He points down into the water.
"Holy shit, he's right" Kie exclaims and one by one we each jump into the water diving down as low as our legs can take us. It's true, a white boat becomes clear into my line of vision. I make my way back up to the surface.
"You guys saw that right?" Kie asks climbing back into the boat.
"A Grady-White, a new one of those is like 500 G's easy," JJ agrees.
"Yeah. That's the boat I saw when I surfed the surge." John B.
"You surfed the surge? Can you like not get yourself killed too?" I respond sarcastically. Like how thoughtless could he possibly be.
John B sends a glare my way. "Do we know who's boat that is?"
"No, but we're about to find out." John B makes his way to the hatch in the back of the boat, pulling out the anchor.
"I'm not resuscitating you, I'm just making that clear up front" I tell him.
"John B, just be careful" Kie tells him with concern in his voice. JJ's eyes melt towards Kiara.
"Diver down fool," Pope salutes John B as he jumps into the water.
Pope, Kie, JJ and I lean trying to make out whatever we can through the water and wait.
John B finally emerges after what seems like forever.
"Any dead bodies?" Pope asks followed by JJ "Looting potential?"
"Nope, but I found this" John B responds as he holds up what looks like a motel key.
…
I stood with Pope and Kie watching the crowded coast guard office. The hurricane had torn through the island and it seemed like everyone from both sides had come here with one problem or another. We decided the best thing to do was to try to report the wreck…maybe cash in on a finders fee. It turns out no one was interested in what we had to say.
"So, what's the plan?" I asked, leaving the station.
"We're gonna find the guy who owns that boat," John B replied, tossing the key to JJ.
"We don't know whose room that is, it could be anyone." Pope mentioned, always the voice of reason.
"I'm in!" I proclaimed .
"You'll be lookout" John B advised. I frowned a little disappointed at being left out from the adventure. I quickly recovered as I felt JJ's arm around my shoulder. "It'll be fun!" He said to me.
…
I scanned the destroyed motel as we sailed into the small dock.
"I thought the Chateau looked bad" JJ noted.
"Motel or meth lab?" Kie said. "You be the judge." Pope responds.
"Doesn't look like a place somebody with a Grady White stays " John B remarked.
"It looks like a place someone with a Grady White would get killed" I countered. Broken down debris and old moldy mattresses littered the surroundings, evidence of what Agatha did to this side of the island.
"This is your captain speaking, HMS Pogue comin' in for landing." JJ announces as he hops out of the boat tying it to the available post. John B jumps off beside him.
"Don't let him do anything stupid" I say pointing to JJ.
"Oh, we will," JJ responds with a grin. I can not stop the blushing and I am glad the heat in the air can mask it…maybe?
"I'm not making any promises," John B shakes his head at me.
"Seriously, be careful" Kie says looking into JB's eyes and hands him the key.
…
The three lookouts settle into the boat to wait. I squeeze in right besides Kiara letting our tan legs stretch out side by side.
"Be SO careful" I mock Kie, gently bumping into her arm.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she responds.
"You are like all over my brother since word got out that we might be shipped off to the mainland".
"I have not" she retorts "besides you're the one blushing every time JJ looks at you".
Ugh, guess that I haven't been hiding my feelings after all.
Pope confirms this "It's not like it's obvious or anything. You two are always going back and forth".
"He does that with every girl, including you Kie. I'm nothing special." I responded. It was true. JJ would wink, make comments, hug, make lude remarks at times but he also couldn't keep his eyes off Kiara and hooked up with just about every touron who looked his way. He has made his feelings clear.
"Besides, the no Pogue on Pogue macking rule" you comment.
"That's bullshit. We all know that John B instigated that rule just because he doesn't want anyone macking on his little sister" Kiara explains.
"I can verify that" Pope interjects.
Suddenly a SUV pulled into the empty parking lot of the motel.
"Guys! Cops!" you warn the others "Quick call them".
"We can't. The Towers are down" Kie responds. I can hear Pope lamenting about his future "If I lose my merit scholarship, I'm gonna kill someone."
I watch as two cops emerge from the vehicle and make their way up the stairs towards the motel room John B and JJ just entered. "We need to do something!"
We hurry towards the back window of the room and I watch as Pope grabs a handful of pebbles and starts to throw each one towards the window. Each pebble falls to the pavement not even close to the window.
"Didn't you ever play baseball" Kiara cries.
"No, I was on the math team".
All three of us start hurtling pebbles up towards the 2nd floor of the motel, luckily landing a few creating a subtle tap, tap, tap. I hope that is enough to get their attention. Soon enough, JJ peeks hid head out from behind the curtain.
"COPS!" Kie mouths at him, pointing towards the staircase.
…
Soon enough, we were back in the Pogue making our getaway.
"You could've warned us sooner." JJ points at me. The boys had narrowly escaped the two officers by hiding on the roof behind the old window shutters.
"We would have, except Pope was on the math team."
"Did you guys find anything?"
"Did we find anything?" JJ happily holds up a wad of cash and gun. "Oh, yeah, we did."
"What the hell? Why would you take that from a crime scene?" Pope asked JJ frantically.
"Dude, chill. Come on, better than the cops having it!"
"I'm gonna lose my merit scholarship," Pope says hopelessly as we swerve through the fallen debris and back to the small marina on The Cut. I noticed some police cars and an ambulance along the pier as we got closer.
We make our way over to investigate and join the crowd that starts to form. I see a local girl from my grade, Peeler, and sit down next to her, John B, Kie and Pope not far behind. JJ joins her on the other side "sup" he says giving her that smirk of a grin he has. She smiles back.
Suddenly the police are moving a form from the water and onto a stretcher. My stomach lurches as I realize it is a dead body.
"It's Scooter Grubbs" she explains, pulling out her phone. "Look at this pic I got. Dead body" she shows off to JJ, who is starting to turn a lovely shade of white, realization spanning across his features. "What kind of boat did he have?"
"Somehow that dirtbag had a brand new Grady White. Everyone's looking for it" she informed us.
I looked around at John B, Kie, JJ and Pope. It was time to get out of there.
…
We rushed back to The Chateau. I collapse in a nearby wicker chair, the others joining on the old beat up furniture around the front screened in porch.
Pope came rushing in last. "We need to have total and complete amnesia."
"Pope's right. For once…deny, deny, deny." JJ agreed.
"We can not keep that money guys. We have to pass it on to Lana Grubbs. Otherwise, it's bad karma" Kie says.
"Oh boy" groans JJ next to me. I too was annoyed by Kiara's constant need for holistic truth.
"Come on Kie, not everybody can afford unlimited data plans" I shoot her way.
"It's pretty bad karma to be implicated in a felony too" Pope agreed.
JJ stood up "If that means we get to keep the money, then ok".
John B solemnly stood against the beat up banister "I don't agree" he said quietly.
I watched my brother wring his hands together before speaking, "Scooter Grubbs bought individual cigarettes at the Porthole. I once saw him begging for change in the SAVE-A-LOT parking lot. He was a dirtbag marina rat who never had more than 40 bucks to his name and suddenly he has a brand new Grady White? There is only one answer…" he looks around like we should know what he is about to say?
"Square grouper bro. Radar and aerial surveillance aren't conducted during storms. Everyone knows that. It's a free pass." John B continued.
JJ nods his head beside me "He was straight up smuggling".
"I'm thinking there is some serious contraband in that wreck. It's our ticket" he looks at me and Kie.
"We could use whatever is in there to get a lawyer or fly Uncle T back for the DCS meeting…" I respond.
"We could pass some along to Lana Grubbs too" Kie added, warming up to the idea.
We all looked up to Pope, "For the record, if that boat is filled with illegal contraband that belongs to someone else. Taking it would be catastrophically stupid."
JJ smiles "Stupid things have good outcomes all the time. Right now we just have to find a way to get into it and until then, be cool and act normal".
"Yeah, just lay low… act normal" I agreed leaning back in my chair.
"How do we do that" Pope asked anxiously.
"Kegger?" Kie responds.
…
We all help to convince JJ's cousin to buy us a keg of Coor's Light and head down to the Boneyard. As JJ and John B set up the Keg and start pumping beer into red cups, I look around. John B was protective for sure and the previous summer forbid me from attending anything at the Boneyard, a secluded section at the point located on the north side of the Cut.
JJ arrives at my side with two red cups full of foamy beer. "Don't let John B know I gave you this" he says with a wink. John B had agreed to finally let me tag along but warned me about getting drunk.
I take a sip and continue to watch as several groups start to form.
I notice some kids from school, some from my class, some a little older…other Pogues from the Cut.
"Kooks' JJ spits with disgust following my eyes over to the far end of the beach where several groups of preppy second homers gathered. I had enough experience to know Kooks and JJ did not mix.
"I don't know why they don't just stay on their side of the island… they are always coming down here to mooch off us" he continues. He smells like sunscreen, salt water and weed. A weird mixture but definitely works for him. I smile…laying low could be fun. I watch as his blue eyes wander again, this time on a group of obvious tourist kids. Tourons… totally clueless. Here for a week on vacation with their parents.
"Chum for the sharks" I hear JJ say as he slams down the rest of his beer, tips his head to me and makes his way towards one particularly attractive girl with long sunburned legs and blonde highlighted hair.
I sigh and finish my own beer.
…
A few hours later and the sun has set. The boneyard lit by only the moon and a small bonfire. I realize I may have indulged in a few more beers that I had originally planned when the beach starts spinning the littlest bit. I take a seat a little farther down the beach away from the noise and stare out to the horizon of the ocean. The beer numbed down the noise in my head and I sat alone in the sand enjoying the peace.
Suddenly, I feel the warmth of another body sitting close to mine. I look up, unexpectedly and see none other than, Rafe Cameron aka John B and JJ's mortal enemy. My father had worked on his father's boat before he disappeared. We saw each other in passing but he embraced his arch nemesis status and never stopped messing with my brother, even though he is 19 years old and you'd think have moved on from this immature Kook vs. Pogue stuff.
"Grace Routledge" he whistled, putting his arm around my shoulder.
I felt uncomfortable and tried to look around the party for JJ, my brother, anyone really but we were far enough away from the crowd I couldn't make anyone out.
"I didn't know the baby Pogue was allowed to be out this late." Rafe continued.
"What's up Rafe?" I replied nervously, leaning away from his touch.
"Awe… don't be like that Grace" he said, noticing me scooting away from him. "I'm just here enjoying the party like everyone else. I haven't seen you in awhile and just wanted to say hi… you've certainly grown up since I last saw you".
Rafe's drunk eyes started to peer down towards my chest. It's true, puberty hit this past year since I turned 15 and I suddenly felt more exposed in the tight fitting yellow tank top and denim shorts that Kie had lent me.
Suddenly, there is a loud commotion and even down the beach I can make out a crowd forming.
I jump up while Rafe is distracted and quickly make my way down the beach through the circle of kids gathering.
John B and Topper, another kook boy who has a vendetta towards all pogues in general, are going at it in a fight, scrambling around in the sand.
"We're supposed to be laying low" Pope panics, starting to pace back and forth.
Kie is watching with fear in her eyes as she tries to hold back an irate JJ.
"Don't make me drown you like your old man" Topper shouts as he and John B take their fight closer to the water's edge. I watch as Topper grabs my brother by the hair and starts to hold him under the shallow water.
"Topper, stop" I hear Sarah Cameron, Topper's girlfriend at the moment, shout.
"He's drowning him" JJ yells at Kie who is starting to lose the battle against him.
I am terrified and can not let this go on. Without thinking I run towards the fight and into the water, launching myself onto Topper's back. Not my best idea given the size difference. I fall backwards as Topper's elbow connects with my eye and cheek bone.
"Gracie" JJ yells finally freeing himself from Kie's grasp. I am blinking back stars that are starting to form in my vision when I hear the click of a safety mechanism and JJ's voice "Your move, broski".
Topper finally releases my brother who starts to gasp for air and puts his hands in the air, backing away from JJ who I now see has the gun pointed at the kook.
Kids start to scatter everywhere, leaving the beach and the party.
"Put the gun down, JJ" I hear Kie say soft but firm.
"Can you please check your psycho friend?" Sarah shouts in her direction, leading Topper away from the beach following their group of friends. Kie shoots the bird in her direction. If Kie had an arch nemesis it would be Sarah Cameron.
After a moment, JJ points the gun towards the sky "get the fuck off our side of the island". He fires, the gun letting off a loud bang and I jump. Our eyes connect and the fire behind his blue ones soften. I can see the look of regret on his face until Kie shoves him "You are a fucking idiot" she yells, Mama Kie is pissed.
"He full on sucker punched Gracie… and was about to drown John B right in front of us" he responds defensively.
I realize I am still sitting in the shallow tide pool when I start to shiver. John B makes his way over to me and helps me up and out of the water. "Don't ever do that again" he tells me, surveying the damage.
I feel tears in my eyes and try desperately to blink them away as I touch under my eye where Topper connected. It was already swelling.
…
I wake up the next morning with a pounding headache and instant pit in my stomach as I recall the events from the previous night. I pull myself out of bed and try to make myself look somewhat presentable as I dab some old crusty concealer over the bruise blooming over my eye and cheekbone. I brush through my hair and put on jean shorts and my The Wreck work t-shirt. I had a waitressing shift this morning.
I tiptoed out into the living room, heading towards the door, when I heard a soft voice call out "Hey Kid, wait a second".
JJ had crashed in his usual spot on the pull out sofa. I sat down on the bed next to him as he rubbed sleep from his eyes and looked at me. He tenderly touched the purple spot on my face. "Are you ok? Does it hurt?" he asked.
"Only when I think about how I got it" I replied with a laugh. He wasn't laughing.
"I'm really sorry. I should have gotten to Topper first. You never should have had to jump in like that".
"It's fine, JJ. He's my brother. I had to do something" I replied.
"No you didn't. I should have stepped up quicker. I can't stand seeing you hurt. I can't let anything happen to you" he said. Our eyes met, his hand was on my knee at this point. His eyes glanced down to my lips. I realized how close we were at that moment. "What is happening?" I thought. We stayed deadly still for just a second longer when John B suddenly burst out of his room and with a grunt of acknowledgement made his way into the bathroom. It was enough to pull JJ and I apart.
"Uh…so… you on your way to work" he said, running his hand through his hair.
"Yep, someone's gotta put food on the table" I tell him.
"Well" he looks at me again with those big blue eyes "just be careful, ok?"
"Don't worry" I respond "I'll be SO careful".
…
I loved working at the Wreck, Kie's family's restaurant. It was this great local place, where Outer Banks natives from both sides of the island and tourists alike came to eat, drink and hang out. Mr and Mrs Carrera were not shy about their disdain for the low-life boys their daughter chose to spend all of her time with but they did have a soft spot for me. They would pass down Kiara's hand-me-down clothes once she outgrew them, let me sleep over on the weekends and sometimes even school nights when the testosterone of the boys was too much to bear and the moment I turned 14 they started paying me under the table as a hostess at The Wreck. I worked my way up to waitressing this summer and enjoyed my shifts spent waiting on my friends, fooling around with Kie and sweet talking the tourists into leaving only the most generous tips. I quickly found that deepening my usually mild southern twang usually did the trick.
Today, time seemed to drag on forever. I had so many thoughts running through my head… the motel key, the sunken ship, DCS, and whatever was going on with JJ. My world was spinning.
"Grace, you have a new table" Mrs Carrera called from the hostess stand.
I turned to greet them and my face fell. It was Topper, Sarah and a few other kook kids I recognized from the bonfire last night.
"Can I get some drinks started for you" I said calmly. I could be professional if I needed to be.
"Ouch, that looks like it's gotta hurt" one of the girls said laughing.
"Yeah, too bad you had to take one for your own brother" the boy next to her agreed.
I could feel the shakiness in my voice "Maybe, I'll just give you a few minutes" I replied, starting to leave the table.
"Wait, I think Topper wants to say something" I heard Sarah interrupt. "Topper" she looked over at him with a glare. He looked around, anywhere but at me but quietly said "I'm sorry. That wasn't cool. It got out of hand. Won't happen again."
I couldn't help myself, but I gawked in his direction. A kook was apologizing?
"Thanks…?" I replied.
"Great, now I think we'd all like some Cokes please".
I left the table and couldn't help but think that Sarah Cameron might not be so bad after all. I'd had limited exposure to her. She was always off with her friends shopping, on the water somewhere. I'd seen her around but her reputation came entirely from Kie. They were best friends during her Kook year. Something happened though, I never got the details but Kie and Sarah were enemies, and I had Kie's back. Pogues for Life.
…
A few hours later, I left the Wreck with the smell of fried food in my hair and a take-out bag full of leftovers for the others. As I enter the Chateau, I am shocked. It looks like someone other than me cleaned up for once, the empty beer cans and dirty laundry that had littered the floor that morning were gone.
"Look I'm callin' it off alright?" John B says to the others gathered around, "Peterkin said, if I stay out of the marsh, she'll help Gracie and me out with DCS."
"The sheriff was here" I ask. Not a good sign.
"There she is!" JJ says as I make my way to the old table that sits in our kitchen. I'm not sure if he is referring to me or the food, as he grabs the bag from me and starts to pick through the packages.
"She showed up after you and JJ left for work. I don't know how she found out about the Grady White or the motel key but she was really against us going out their anymore… like really against it" John B filled me in.
"She really said she would have our back?" I replied hopeful.
"Yeah, she did"
"And you believe her?" JJ cracks, now ignoring the food and standing abruptly. "An actual cop, John B. You believed an actual cop."
"All I have to do is stay away from the marsh for a few days. I don't really have a choice but to listen to her. It doesn't help that your ass was the one shooting a gun last night."
"Yeah, yeah, I should have just let Topper drown your ass." JJ snarked back.
"Like Topper was really gonna drown me?"
"Sure looked like it, dude. Have you even looked at your sister today. You just cool with Gracie having a shiner?" John B looks over at me and I can see the guilt in his eyes.
"Stop fighting guys, let's just talk" I try to reason.
JJ sighs "Look, if they don't want us down there it means there has to be something good in that wreck. I understand why you don't want to go out there, you're the golden boy. If I were you I wouldn't risk it either. And why would you bother, you're stupid rich already" he said gesturing to Pope and Kie.
He looks over to John B and I "I'm sorry but we have nothing to lose. It didn't used to be that way for you guys but if you think Sheriff Peterkin or anyone else is going to help you… you are tripping."
JJ turns to John B "You have the keys to Ward Cameron's big boat. They have scuba gear. We could borrow it and get into that wreck and find out what is down there. They don't send rich kids to foster care."
"I think he has a point" I say to John B.
John B looks from me to JJ "You're right. Fuck it".
…
John B secured the scuba gear and we all loaded into the HMS Pogue and headed towards the marsh. It seemed like we were the only boat out today and I remembered they had closed the waters to the public in order to search for the sunken boat. We needed to get in and out quick.
"Empty…empty" Kie is testing each oxygen tank "you stole empty tanks" she says.
I take a look at the final tank and watch as the gauge bounces "this one is a quarter full" I say. "That's enough for maybe one of us" she replies.
"I love it when a plan comes together" Pope scoffs.
Kie looks around "does anyone know how to dive?" she asks.
We all look around, no one stepping up. "Kind of a Kook sport" JJ shrugs.
"I read about it once" Pope admits. "Great, Pope read about it" Kie responds.
"How hard could it be?" I say.
"Yeah" JJ agrees "You just stick the thing in your mouth and breathe".
Pope explains "If you come up too fast nitrogen gets in your blood and you get the bends".
JJ is quick to make a "bend over" joke but stops when Pope continues "The bends will kill you".
"I'll do it" John B declares.
I did not like the sound of this. "Maybe this isn't a great idea after all. We can just call this whole thing off". I started feeling a little shaky. This started happening after my dad disappeared. The fear of losing anyone else, especially John B shook me to the core. We are all each other has left.
John B, defiant as always "No, we need to get this done. I'll dive. It will be fine".
Pope starts calculations on a scrap piece of paper. "That boat is like thirty feet down. It'll take you at most twenty five minutes at that depth. You'll need to do a safety stop at ten feet."
All of sudden Kie yanks off her t-shirt, revealing a yellow bikini and jumps off the side of the boat and into the water. The boys stop and stare. Popes mouth hangs wide open, jaw dropped. "What was that?"
"I don't know, but I liked it" JJ responds but I see his eyes meet mine once again as I look away.
Kiara pops her head above the surface of the water. "I tied my shirt to the anchor chain about 10 feet down. That's where you make your safety stop".
John B starts to dress in the scuba gear nervously. "You need to save enough air for your safety stop. Breathe as little as possible." Pope warns him.
We watch as John B adjusts the tank and goggles, steps up to the edge of the boat. "Diver Down" he says as he jumps and hits the water with a splash.
I watch as his form disappears into the water, trying to slow my own breathing which has become more rapid. Red and blue lights flash across the surface of the water and I look up to see a deputy boat making its way towards us.
"Shit" I mutter.
JJ, Pope, Kie and I draped ourselves across the seats trying to act innocent as the boat with the same two officers from the motel pulled up next to us.
"Hey there, officer" Pope offers.
They tell us the marsh is closed and I try to act surprised.
"Closed? Really…why?"
"Boat went down during the storm. We're out looking for it. Have you seen anything?"
"No sir" Kie tells him.
The Deputy, Shoupe I think, does some safety checks, makes sure we have life vests and what not. I think he is about to leave when he leans over taking a closer look at the edge of the water. We are screwed, I think as my chest starts to feel tight. I think I've stopped breathing all together at this point.
I look over the edge myself and see a glare left by the sun starting to set above us. Thank god… the boat is barely visible at this point.
"Let us know if you see anything on your way out" he says quickly as he jumps back on his own boat and starts to leave.
"Will do officer" JJ responds with a wave.
As the boat heads out of the marsh and out of view I rush over scanning the water's surface. John B pops up gasping for air.
"I ran out of air!"
"You scared the shit out of me" I snapped as he pulled himself into the boat.
"Did you find anything?" JJ asked.
John B lifts a wet canvas bag into the air. "Hell, yeah".
"Guys, it's been fun and everything, lying to law enforcement, but let's get out of here." Pope says.
I agreed, having too much excitement for one day.
JJ made his way to the end of the boat and starts pulling the anchor up. John B goes to take off the scuba vest and Pope heads to the wheel and starts the engine. I settled down and let out a breath of relief, when I notice Kiara scanning the horizon. I turn my head to see another boat coming up from the end of the channel.
"Bogey, two o' clock" she warns.
Panic rises in my throat and we all start to move quicker. Whoever they are, they do not look friendly. JJ is frantically pulling up the anchor as fast as he can "don't wait for me" he yells.
"JJ, hurry" Kie cries as the boat speeds closer to us. John B took the wheel and sped off down towards the marsh.
"They're following us" John B remarks.
"I don't like this" I panic.
"Gun it" JJ yells and the boat takes off faster than I could have ever imagined. Suddenly, a loud bang rings through my ears.
"Holy Shit" Kie shouts.
I feel JJ push my body down so I am almost lying down on the floor of the boat. "Gracie, get down" he tells me and I realize that loud bang was a gun. They have a gun and they are coming after us! I can feel the twist and turn as John B maneuvers through the changing channels.
I hear Pope yell "Get down, Kie" and just as fast as it started, the roar of the loud engine behind us starts to fade. A few more bangs ring out but they sound farther away.
"Good going Kiara" I hear John B remark with a high five. JJ lets out a whoop of joy but I am frozen in place as an overwhelming surge of anxiety fills my chest. I can feel my heart race uncontrollably, pounding but I can't seem to take a breath.
"You good kid?" I hear JJ say to me and then all of a sudden he is right in front of my face. "Gracie…Grace! Breath!".
I can feel myself in a cold sweat despite the summer heat. "What's happening?" John B demands.
"I don't know…I don't know" JJ responds in his own panicked voice.
I've felt anxiety and nerves before but never like this. The world around me blurs but then those blue eyes appear before me.
"Talk to her, JJ. Calm her down. It looks like a panic attack" Pope coaches.
"Hey! Hey! It's over, Kid. Kie threw out the old fishing net and skunked their boat. Everything is ok. We are ok." JJ repeats and I take a shaky breath and then another until I feel the warmth return to my body.
Tears roll down my face and I wipe them away with the back of my hand as I gain my bearings. John B guides Pope to take the wheel and he is at my side enveloping me in a tight hug.
We made it.
…
I still feel shaken as we make our way back to the Chateau and anchor off. We exit the boat and JJ reaches out for me and helps me onto the dock. To my surprise he keeps me close and hangs onto my hand as we huddle around the small back bag.
"What do you think it is?" Kie questions.
"It's gotta be money, right?" John B replies.
Pope snaps "Just open it!".
John uncoils the top of the bag and pulls out a long airtight container, almost like a thermos. He unscrews the lid and we all look down in anticipation. The others look up in disappointment, not realizing what we had just found. John B pulls out a worn out old compass. I make eye contact with my brother.
JJ looks between us "Dude, what? it's not worth anything."
"This was our father's."