Chapter 2: The Lucky Compass
I woke up the next morning early, the sun still low in the sky. I felt shaken from the events of the day before as I made my way quietly out on the porch. I could make out John B's silhouette by one of the hammocks and could tell he was deep in thought.
JJ laid asleep on the couch by the door. I made my way back into the house. He looked peaceful and almost childlike as he slept, the usual hardness in his features softened. I stared for a moment longer before dropping myself to lay down next to him in a heap.
"Ugh" he complained "it is way too early for this".
"I'm worried about John B" I told him. He moved to a sitting position next to me. "Big John has been gone for 9 months now. He's not coming back."
"Isn't that a little harsh, Gracie?" JJ responded.
"If there was any possible way he could make his way back to us he would have by now. There is no way he would just abandon us." I explained. JJ knew how it was, both of us having experienced our mothers leaving when we were just little kids. I knew my dad would never do that to John B and I.
"He's dead. He's not coming back. John B is in denial and this wild goose chase isn't healthy. He needs to learn to cope with everything that has happened to us".
"Like you're coping so well" JJ says referencing what happened on the boat yesterday. "You're running around studying, working constantly with this chip on your shoulder."
"Ouch" I responded "way to wound a girl when she's down".
"I'm sorry, Kid. You're just always so worried about John B but I'm kinda worried about you. I hated seeing you like that yesterday. It was scary and it wasn't just some one time thing. I've seen you stressed. You're making yourself crazy." JJ continued. "I'll talk to John B, but maybe you should let him work through whatever he's doing. Let him get it out of his system". I nod. JJ continues "Let me worry about him. You try to relax a little".
JJ put his arm around my back and I laid my head down on his shoulder. I couldn't lie. It felt nice. I tried to push away thoughts of square groupers, guns and boat chases and let myself close my eyes, sleep taking over.
…
I must have fallen into a deep sleep because the next thing I knew, I was alone and light was peering through the window. I could hear distressed voices coming from the front porch.
"Quiet JJ, don't wake Gracie, I want to let her sleep" John B said hushing his friend.
"Yeah… sorry'" JJ replied, lowering his voice, but continuing with his story. "These guys that chased us in the marsh are after the compass. They tore up Ms Lana's house looking for it."
"Did you get a description? Something we can take to the police." Pope asked.
"Burley" JJ responds. I hear the aspirated annoyance from Pope and Kie.
"Burley?"
"That is not very helpful"
"They look like the type of guys at my dad's garage." I knew exactly what he meant by that. JJ's dad was a bad guy which meant we were in deep trouble.
"These guys are square groupers. I know just by the way Ms Lana was screaming that they are some serious hombres, man". JJ concluded.
"But why would they want the compass, it's a piece of shit?" Pope remarks "No offense, John B. I know it's like been in your family".
Realization washes over me. I walk out onto the porch making my presence known. "Dad's office" I say as four pairs of eyes shift towards me.
"He always kept it locked because he was worried about his competitors stealing his Royal Merchant research".
John B grabs my shoulders as he makes his way into the house "That's it Gracie."
We make our way to the back bedroom that holds our father's office. John B fiddles with his keychain until he finds the right key, placing it into the lock and turning the knob.
"I've slept over here like 600 times and I've never seen this door open" Pope remarks as we all follow John B into the room.
I watch as John B scans the room until his eyes eventually fall on a bullion board scattered with old pictures. John B describes each picture which holds the face of a man the compass was passed to and their ultimate demise. "Not a great track record" I thought, surprised at how much my father and John B kept from me. I knew next to nothing about these men or the history of this compass.
"It's a death compass man, we gotta get rid of it" JJ remarks watching John B fiddle with the cap.
"No, it's a family heirloom. It's the perfect place to leave a message. He had to know it would get back to me. Dad would tell me about this compartment. Soldiers used to hide secret notes". The cap spins off and we look at the word inscribed on the inside, "Redfield".
"That's dad's handwriting" I comment "the funny R's" pointing to the printing on the compass.
"What's Redfield" Kie asks. "Besides the most common name in the county".
"It could be a clue?"
"Or an anagram".
Pope hunts around looking for a clear piece of paper to try to start figuring out the puzzle. Everyone starts speaking at once. My pet rooster crows off in the backyard.
"How can you concentrate on anything with that crowing?" Pope complains.
John B answers, "JJ loves the Rooster."
"I love the rooster." I say, it was my rooster after all.
Pope returns to his paper and the rest of us try to help, suggesting different variations of words until we hear a car door slam. John B rushes to the window "Guys, guys! Someone's here"
"Is that the guys you were talking about earlier?" I asked nervously.
John B grabs JJ, shushes him and whispers "Where's the gun?"
"Gun? I, uh, I can't-"
"Now you don't have the gun, the one time we need the gun?" Kie whispers frantically, throwing her hands in the air.
I can feel my breathing pick up rapidly as anxiety fills my chest. I try to calm myself. This is not the time to freak out.
JJ starts to think out loud "It was in my backpack. And then I… on the porch!"
JJ is gone in a flash and then returns even quicker sans gun. I can hear the men barreling through the house, obviously searching for something. We all head over to the window and the boys try to push it open with no luck.
"It's painted shut, ok"
I run over to the old desk, frantically searching through the drawers until I find it, an old letter opener. I can hear the men getting closer as I pry the window as fast as I can. Suddenly, the knob starts to wiggle and with a loud bang a foot kicks into the door frame in an attempt to knock it down. I freeze, as another loud bang radiates through the house. A gunshot. Unbeknownst to me, JJ had grabbed the letter opener from my hand and jimmied the window open. He grabs me and forces me up and through the window with the others. We make a beeline for the only hiding place available… the old chicken coop.
My chest tightens as I sit in between JJ and Kie as we watch the men leave the house. The old rooster continues to crow, calling attention to our hiding place.
"Do somethin, Pope. Shut him up!" JJ demands in a harsh whisper.
"What do you want me to do?" Pope responds. Kiara begs him "Pet it, talk to it, I don't know" tears rolling down her face.
John B doesn't move, watching as the men pack up their findings, all of our dad's research.
One of the men peered towards the chicken coop. I place a hand over my mouth, silently crying.
I look over at JJ, desperation in his eyes. He drops my other hand, and leans over me to grab the rooster, squeezing it by its neck. I slam my eyes shut as I hear the quiet crack of his neck snapping. I hug myself and keep my eyes closed tight.
We wait as the men get into their truck and drive off. I let out a shaken deep breath.
We finally exit the chicken coop. I can still feel the tears wet on my cheeks. I stand there and let them fall. I really did love that rooster. JJ unexpectedly wraps his arms around me, holding me as I cry.
"I am so sorry" he whispers over and over until the tears stop.
…
A few hours later we are all a little calmer and able to think. John B decides that the secret message must correlate to the Redfield Lighthouse, one of the old lighthouses of the outer banks. He wants to head up there right away.
"You don't have to come" he tells me sympathetically and I decide to forgo this particular adventure. I have a waitressing shift anyway, so I shower and tie my = hair into two long braids, getting ready for work as JJ, Kie, Pope and John B speed off in the Twinkie.
…
I start my short walk along the small road leading to The Wreck. It was only about 15 minutes away and I enjoyed the light breeze breaking up the summer heat, when a motorcycle passed me, slowed down, reversed and abruptly pulled over next to me.
Rafe Cameron hops off the bike, catching my attention, "What are you doing out here, all alone? You know it could get pretty dangerous out here all by yourself".
I shiver "I'm good. Thanks for the worry" and move to keep walking on.
Rafe grabs my arm. Hard. "Where do you think you're going?" He says with a grin. "Let's talk".
Rafe pulls me through the line of trees lining the road and towards a secluded area of the beach on the other side.
"Calm down, what do you think I'm going to do to you?" He laughs again once we stop, watching the panic rise in my eyes. "I just want to talk," he says.
I have a hard time believing that, just based on the way he is looking at me, which felt especially wrong considering the four year age difference.
Rafe had released the grip on my arm, but still stood over me menacingly. I took a few steps back and he followed getting closer and closer.
"You know you don't have to slum around with those boys. They are so beneath you. You could do better. You deserve more."
Rafe continued closer until he was pressing himself against me, my back hitting hard against a large piece of driftwood.
"You could use someone like me. I can do a lot for you. You know that. Right?"
I could feel the hot breath of his whisper in my ear and felt my own breath tighten in my throat, my pulse quickening. I was frozen. Rafe started to rub my shoulders and his hands quickly making their way to my lower back. Something in me snapped suddenly and pushed him back and away.
"Get off of me" I yelled.
"Hmm" Rafe laughed, looking at me "playing hard to get. I like that game. See you around." He left through the line of trees laughing and looking back at me.
I waited until I could hear his motorcycle start up and the engine fade as he drove farther away towards Figure 8.
I ran as hard as I could up the beach and back towards the road. I ran all the way to The Wreck, terrified of Rafe coming back. I burst through the doors out of breath.
"Whoa, girl. What's the rush?" Mr Carrera asked as I made my way through the kitchen to the front of house.
"Just late" I lied. I did not want to admit the confrontation between Rafe and I, pretending it never happened. That would be easier.
It was later in my shift when I overheard Mr Carrera on the phone with Kie. Sounds like things went south at the lighthouse and she and John B needed to be picked up from the police station. My stomach dropped.
"You might as well tag along. I'll drop you both off at home" he tells me. The ride is silent and I can tell Mr Carrera is fuming. I try to apologize, thank him for paying John B's bail but he waves me off.
"Don't you worry about it, Gracie".
He is angry when we eventually arrive at the station and are walking out with Kiara and John B in tow.
"If you skip out on your bail and I lose my money"… his voice cuts off, too mad to finish his sentence. We hop into his truck and drive towards The Cut.
I see Kie slip John B the compass as we get out of Mr Carrera's truck. They drive off leaving my brother and I.
"What the fuck, John B?" I say as we head up the path to our front yard.
"It's nothing, just forget about it" he responds with a glare.
"Forget about it? Forget about it! You need to keep your ass out of trouble. We are already in hot water with DCS. The last thing we need is for you to get arrested. Do you really not care about anything?"
"Shut up" he fights back. "I care. I care about Dad and what happened to him. You just want me to give that up? Forget about him?"
I stare back at him, shocked.
"Whatever, Gracie. I'm gonna go shower down at the marina. I'll be back soon".
I head inside, and start to clean up the mess those men made trashing our home.
…
A few hours later, I had picked up what I could and waited for John B to come home. I had time to myself to calm down a bit and was feeling more reasonable. I stare at an old picture frame that holds a photograph of John B when he was little and Dad. The relationship they shared was different from the one I had with my Dad. I had this feeling they shared much more with each other. Dad left him with a lot of responsibility and they got at each other's throats, a lot. He had to be feeling an insane amount of guilt over that, having had a huge blow out the day before Dad vanished.
Just then, John B burst through the door, looking rough, red faced and sweaty.
"What happened?" I asked.
He replied "I got fired…and electrocuted".
"Um…what" I respond in disbelief as I follow John B through the house. He is on a mission as he grabs dad's bulletin board and throws it out on an old burn pile. I stand by as he lights a match and tosses it on top.
"John B, what is going on?" I plead. He stares at the flames starting to form. Just before the fire really starts going, he pulls the board out, killing the flames with a few stomps.
"Grace Olivia Routledge" he says my name. "Olivia. Remind me where that came from?"
Realization scans across my face as I confirm what he is thinking "Olivia Redfield, our great-great grandma".
…
We made our way to the Twinkie, stopping first to pick up JJ and Pop and then head back to The Wreck. Pope ran into the restaurant to get Kiara.
"She says she's not coming." He says returning to the car.
"What did you do to her, John B" I accuse looking at my brother. I had a feeling something had happened during their lighthouse adventure, but couldn't put my finger on it.
"Shit" John B all but confirmed my suspicion.
"I'll deal with this" I told the boys and headed into The Wreck. I found Kie up in the corner of the dining area, spackling the wall.
"What did he do, Kie?" I ask her point blank.
"Nothing" she responds, turning to me. "Well, maybe not nothing".
"Spit it out!"
"Ok, after the lighthouse but before the cops found us, we were standing on the beach. He was totally spiraling and… he kissed me. Like really kissed me" she admitted.
"And you were not into it?" I questioned.
"Don't get me wrong, your brother is fun to flirt with and fun to look at." I grimaced. "But he's just one of our boys, you know. We're pogues. It was too much".
"He's an idiot, Kie, but he'll be fine. We all know the rule. We'll stick to the rule, right?"
"Oh really" she raises her eyebrows towards me. "You're good with that rule… for real Gracie?"
"I don't know what you are talking about" I try to tell her.
"Oh sure" she laughs.
Who am I kidding, this is Kiara Carrera I'm talking to. She tends to know me more than I even know myself.
"Was it really too weird… kissing one of the boys?" I question.
"For me…yes. For you on the other hand… might want to try it sometime" she tells me laughing again.
"You really think John B is over it?" Kie asks me, serious again.
"Yes" I reply "and there's been a development and we need you".
"Ok, yeah, I get it" Kie responds, thinking for a moment before removing her work apron and grabbing my hand. We head out of the building and both slide into the back of the Twinkie.
…
It is almost dark as we cruise down the long stretch of road towards the old cemetery where our great-great grandmother is buried.
"Mind if I just relax on this one, it's been a long day and a lot of weird stuff's gone down," JJ mutters sheepishly "I'm just gonna lay low".
I watch as he lights up a joint. "Oh did you want a hit of this" he offers towards Pope.
Pope refused "I keep the signal clear".
"Give it to me, I'd like to cloud my signals, thank you very much" I say, reaching out my hand.
"Don't give her that, JJ." John B warns.
"Don't listen to him, Jage. You're not afraid of him." I laugh, still holding out my hand.
JJ contemplates this for a moment before handing me the joint "might do you some good" he remarks.
I hold the lit joint between my finger and thumb and bring it to my mouth, taking in a long drag. I attempt to exhale but instead a rough cough escapes. JJ pats my back, laughing. "Atta, girl" and takes the joint back from me.
I lean back into my seat, letting the warm cloud surround my brain. JJ slides in right next to me, holding the joint to my lips, allowing me to take another drag. I could feel myself relax and let my hand graze the top of JJ's thigh, and towards his own open hand. I slowly inch my fingers closer until suddenly he grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers. We don't say a word and no one else can see as the sun continues to set.
…
"Hey, come on" JB prompts rushing through the deserted cemetery. It's dark, like really really dark.
"I'm coming. This place is scary" I say as I clumsily trip over a fallen branch.
"Fill me in, what are we even doing here?" Kie asks as we continue on.
"You know how you're trying to remember a song and you can't remember who sings it?" John B starts "Redfield. This whole time, I thought it was a place right, but it's not a place, it's a person."
"Voi-effing-la," JJ said as the old crypt came into view with the words "Redfield" in big block letters on the top.
"Olivia Redfield, our great-great grandmother" I tell them "I was named after her".
"Oh yeah, Grace Olivia" JJ remarks.
"Help me with the door" John B says the boys, gesturing towards the huge stone crypt door. I look at them incredulously, that thing was not going to move easy.
Pope grunts "This door is like 700 pounds man, it's not gonna budge".
All of a sudden I hear the sound of a long hiss and a snake slithers out of an old crack in the stone right towards me. I jump backwards.
"I don't like snakes".
"That's a moccasin, ye old dr. cottonmouth, death in the tall grass." JJ remarks before he begins barking in the direction the snake slithered off to. "They're afraid of dogs" he explains.
I start to giggle but stop once he continues "if there's one, there's probably dozens". I start to peer through the darkness, trying to make out any other slithering forms surrounding us.
"Shut up, JJ" John B tells him. "Yeah, you're scaring Gracie" Kie continues.
"Look guys, the door is not budging. It's not gonna open. We should just go home." Pope concedes.
We all look up and through the light of the flashlight, I see it. A small opening in the stone leading inside the crypt.
"I can get through" I say.
"What? No, no, no, no." John B demanded" You think you're gonna fit through the hole?"
"I'm small" I conclude "I can make it. You keep telling me I don't care. This is me caring, John B. We're not leaving until we figure out what this all means." I finish with confidence.
"Just help me with these vines" I say. The boys help to clear some of the dead vines hanging off the crypt.
"Give her a boost" Kie tells them.
With JJ's help I pull myself up the cold stone and into complete darkness.
"Light?" I call shakily.
I grab for the lantern that John B holds up for me and lift the light
"Gracie, you alive? You got like, a heartbeat and everything?" John B asks nervously.
"So far" You reply.
I take a few steps forward, holding the light ahead of me.
"Did you find something, gold maybe?" someone calls.
"Oh my god."