"Awe, shit! The tide!" John B exclaimed as he once again slowed the van as he sat looking at the water covering the roadway.
"How deep is that?"
"I dunno. The road is gone," John B answered.
"So, the tide rose a bit faster than I thought it would," JJ remarked, "Uh, John B, how high are the spark plugs?"
"They're good. We're fine."
"How high are they?" both Pope and JJ asked at the same time.
"Uh, just above the tail light."
"Okay, so that's what, three feet?" Pope surmised.
"Yeah, like three feet," JJ agreed.
"That water can't be three feet," Coral said, looking over JJ's shoulder out the front window.
"Then there should be no problem," John B declared.
"Oh, yeah, no problem. She'll make it. We're fine," JJ said, nodding.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen fasten your seatbelts," John B told them as he backed up, "And hold onto something. We're going into hyperdrive," he said before punching the gas.
"I'm gonna say a quick prayer," JJ announced as he crossed himself.
"We're okay. We're okay. We're gonna make it," Coral repeated to herself as the others shouted encouragement to John B.
"Oh my God!" Sarah screamed as the Twinkie slid and veered off the road sputtering to a stop as it was submerged into the water on the side of the road.
"I think we miscalculated."
"You think?" Coral responded, rolling her eyes at Pope.
"I knew I should've driven," JJ remarked, opening his door and jumping out into the knee deep water.
Following him out John B told Coral to get into the driver's seat as he, JJ, and Pope went to the front to try and push the van out of the water and back onto the dry part of the road.
"It's not budging," Kie stated from where she stood in the water.
"Okay, maybe we can walk from here," Pope suggested.
"And leave the Twinkie? The tides coming in," John B pointed out.
"So, what are we supposed to do?"
"Not stay here," JJ declared.
"I can take my dad's truck," Kie volunteered.
"Kie, are you sure?"
"How much worse can it get, you know?" she responded with a shrug.
"We need something to pull her out," JJ said.
"There's a winch at the Chateau," Coral reminded him, "It's only like two miles. Kie and I can go."
"I'll go with you," JJ decided, taking her hand.
"Great, now I get to third wheel," Kie muttered.
"Go and get back. Don't be screwing around," John B told them.
"Literally."
"Pope!" Coral exclaimed kicking water at the boy, "The Twinkie's about to be a submarine and we're gonna be with Kie; I think we can control ourselves," she said indignantly as both Pope and John B snorted.
"Alright, let's go," Kie said as she moved through the water leading the way back to the road and towards her house to get her dad's truck.
Creeping up to Kie's house Coral stayed by the truck while JJ and Kie headed for the gate. Opening the gate JJ motioned Kie through staying crouched down by the gate while Kie snuck up the steps to the house.
A few minutes later she was coming back down the steps tossing the keys to JJ who jumped in the driver's seat while Coral opened the passenger side and climbed inside. Sliding across the bench seat she squished in next to JJ as Kie got in beside her. Starting the truck JJ put it in gear and tore off down the road.
"Just because we stole it doesn't mean you need to drive it like you stole it," Coral commented as he drove them towards the Chateau.
"Living out my grand theft auto dreams," he replied.
Before long they were pulling up at the Chateau, "It's out in the work shed," Coral told JJ as he put the truck in park.
"Alright, I'll be back in a sec," he told the girls before jumping out of the truck and running off towards the shed.
After a few minutes Coral leaned over and hit the horn, "JJ!" she yelled out hsi open window.
"What is he doing?" Kie questioned.
"I don't know," Coral replied, sliding over and out of the driver's side to go see what was taking so long.
Stopping short as JJ emerged from the work shed with Luke she glanced back at Kie who had slid over to the driver's seat, "What the fuck?"
"No! Immediately no!" Coral declared blocking their way to the truck, "What the fuck is this shit?"
"Just get in the truck," JJ answered as he moved around Coral to put the winch into the back of the truck while Luke climbed into the back seat.
"JJ!" she exclaimed wide eyed as Kie sat silent not sure what to say, "The Twinkie's drowning right now! We don't have time for his bullshit!"
"I know!" he exclaimed, "Just listen to me. I need to get into the marina at the Island Club," he said, looking at Kie who shook her head, "There's a boat there he can take."
"I'm not helping that jackass," Kie declared.
"You have the sticker on your truck," JJ pointed out, "Twenty minutes, that's all I need," he told the girls.
"The Twinkie is going to be a submarine in twenty minutes!"
"I know, Coralina!"
"So leave him! What the fuck has he ever done for you?"
"The cops are after him!" JJ cried, slapping the hood of the truck, "If I do this now, maybe I will never have to do it again. Now get in the truck."
Glancing at Kie in the driver's seat who just shrugged Coral sighed before going around and climbing into the passenger side. Sliding across the seat to make room for JJ she glared back at Luke who was smiling at her from the backseat, "Don't even look at me," she hissed.
Driving down towards the Island Club Luke spoke up from the backseat, 'Hey, pull up to Home Food here. I'm gonna need provisions."
"I'm sorry, do you hear something, Kie?"
"Nope," Kie replied.
"Just stop at the store," JJ told Kie, rolling his eyes.
Pulling into the store, JJ jumped out of the truck, "I'll be back."
"Crackers and baked beans and tuna, all right? And some salt and pepper," Luke called from the backseat.
"Be glad for whatever he gets you," Coral stated as she watched JJ hurry into the store.
"You got quite a mouth on you, girl," Luke commented as he drummed on the back of the seat, "I bet my son likes that about you."
"You're disgusting," Kie said, wrinkling her nose, "And you're a terrible father. You don't have any right to call him your son."
"Oh, I see what's happening here. The three of you are, like, fucking each other, right? Damn, I didn't think he had it in him," Luke laughed.
"Don't be vulgar," Coral warned him, "Because the only reason you're sitting back there is because of JJ. I'd sooner let you rot in hell then help you."
"Amen to that," Kie chimed in, "JJ's special and he doesn't deserve the shit you pile on him."
"He's a thief is what he is."
"And what are you?" Kie questioned.
"A wasted local salt that never did shit but get messed up and hustle people," Coral answered.
"You know, you may think he's not, but JJ is just like me and you sound just like his mama. Thinking she can change who I am. You can't change him. He's gonna be exactly like me. You two think you're so in love now. Just you wait till you get knocked up and pop out a kid. Let the real world into your fantasy."
"That's where you're wrong. JJ is nothing like you and never will be," Coral responded, turning to look at Luke, "For starters he'd never use me or any child we may have as a punching bag."
She wasn't sure how Kie moved so fast, but one second Luke was moving to come over the seat at her and the next Kie's elbow came up elbowing him in the face. Groaning, Luke fell back against the back seat as he clutched his nose.
"I suggest you sit back and behave," she told the man, glaring at him over her shoulder as JJ came walking up to the truck handing a case of beer to Luke before putting a bag of groceries into the back of the truck.
Opening the door he climbed back inside as Coral twisted back around to face the front, "Let's get this done," JJ said as Kie nodded and started the truck up.
Using the members sticker on the truck they gained entry to the island yacht club. Parking the truck JJ jumped out and went to the bed of the truck to get the bag of groceries as Luke leaned forward, "Hey, remember me when he slaps you for the first time."
"Shut up," JJ told him through the open window, "Don't fucking talk to her," he said opening the back door so Luke could get out. Sliding out of the truck he followed after JJ with a smirk on his face.
"Hey Luke," Coral called. Waiting till he and JJ turned around she smiled as she flipped him off.
"Go. Go," JJ told him as he pushed him away when Luke started back towards the truck.
"He's such a waste of space," Kie said as they watched the two walk down towards the marina together.
"I'm almost glad he's leaving. He doesn't do a single thing for JJ but bring him down."
Tapping her fingers on the steering wheel Kie glanced at Coral, "But, I mean, it is his dad, so," she trailed off.
"Yeah, I'm on it," Coral said, climbing from the truck and walking in the direction that JJ and Luke had gone.
Walking down the dock she could see son and father embracing on the deck of the boat Luke was using for his escape. Letting go of one another JJ moved to untie the mooring lines while Luke went up to the boat wheel.
Stopping at the end of the dock Coral waited for JJ to throw the mooring lines into the boat as Luke sped off before saying anything, "Baby?"
Turning he looked up at her with ears rolling on his cheeks. Sniffling he took two bottles of medication from this coat pocket tossing them into the water before making his way up to where she stood.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Ain't like he was father of the year or anything," he replied, shrugging.
"JJ."
"We don't have time. The Twinkie's drowning," he reminded her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they headed back down the dock together.
"John B's gonna kill us," Coral muttered as Kie and JJ switched seats so that JJ was now driving.
"It'll be fine," he replied, turning onto the dirt road that led back to Goat Island.
Turning the truck around JJ backed down the road till they came upon where the Twinkie was sitting, "And that's why I let him drive. There's no way I would've been able to back down the road that far," Kie admitted as Coral laughed.
Climbing from the truck they were met with the others yelling at them, "Where the hell were you guys?" Pope questioned.
"Paternal complications," Kie responded, glancing at JJ.
"Luke was at the Chateau."
"Oh great! While you were having family time with your pops, John B got bit by a gator!" Pope told them angrily.
"What!?" Coral exclaimed.
"Are you serious?"
"Does it look like we're joking?" Sarah replied, gesturing towards John B who was clearly in pain with blood all over one leg.
"What the hell happened?"
"He got bit by a gator!" Pope yelled at the same time as John B yelled, "I got bit by a gator!"
"I dunno why I'm being yelled at!" Kie cried, "I put my ass on the line!"
"You're being yelled at because it was supposed to be twenty minutes!"
"Well, we got here as fast as we could!"
"It took you forever! That was not fast!"
"Hey! Shut up!" JJ yelled causing everyone to go silent, "Seriously guys, I can't take it anymore, alright? Everyone just cut it out for a second," he said, sighing, "Look, I just helped my dad leave this island for good. Like, he's not ever coming back," he told them, "He's straight up like the Spanish. Just bon voyage"
"That's French," Pope muttered.
"That's not the right language," Sarah whispered as Kie and Coral glanced at one another confused.
"All we got….And I know for a fact all I got is you guys, okay? You're it," JJ continued, "And I've come too close to losing you, all of you. I mean, shit, like I thought Coral was dead for days. Kie you almost drowned. Pope, you were kidnaped. Sarah, you've been shot,and John B you were almost dinner for a freaking gator, bro. So, this blaming each other is some Kook ass bullshit, alright? We don't do that. We're Pogues," he reminded them, "Sorry, that was a lot right now," he apologized as they all stared at him.
Laughing as John B, Sarah, and Pope began to clap, Coral wrapped her arms around JJ's neck and kissed him, "You're it for me too," she whispered as the others clapped around them.
"I have to admit that was the best freaking speech you've ever given," John B laughed, "Also you should think about, maybe, a Rosetta stone because your Spanish and French are a little mixed up," he said as JJ flipped him off.
"We should bon voyage out of here," Sarah declared.
"Yes, let's get this damn Twinkie out of here!"
Once they pulled the Twinkie out of the water they continued down the road to Freedman's Church. Approaching the church Coral looked around at the rotten structure. Pulling the door of the church open they made their way inside, "Okay, you're telling me that Denmark Tanny decided to hide his cross here?" JJ questioned, looking around.
"It didn't look like this back then," Coral commented as Kie told everyone to spread out.
"Okay, if I was a cross and wanted to be hidden in an old church, where would I hide?" John B said as he hobbled around.
"It's gotta be here somewhere," Pope responded.
"What if we have to push a secret button or, like, play, like, a certain chord, and then all of a sudden, the ground beneath us reveals the catacombs or something on which we stand?" JJ questioned as he looked over a very old organ sitting against the wall.
"It's not The Goonies," Coral replied.
"It's here we just have to find it," Pope declared as they continued to search.
Several minutes later Coral looked around the room and sighed, "I don't see where they'd hide a giant cross in here."
"No, no he wouldn't send us on a wild goose chase," Pope replied, "All the clues led us here. It's here in this church," he repeated stubbornly as he flopped down onto one of the pews.
"Pope, it'll be alright," John B reassured him, "We've had setbacks in the past and we've figured it out. We're gonna find it."
"Look, we just have to think about this logically. Where else would you hide a seven foot tall cross made of gold?" Kie questioned as Pope held the spyglass up to his eye and looked through it.
"Holy shit," Pope breathed out, lowering the spyglass as he gazed up at the rafters of the church.
"What?"
Standing, Pope pointed up.
"Oh my God. Look at that," Coral whispered as they all looked up to see two identical rafters in the shape of a cross, "You don't think," she began trailing off as Pope rushed to the wall and began to climb.
"Yo, dude that doesn't seem safe."
"I guess he's just climbing the wall like spider freaking man."
"Dude, you're not the most coordinated person on planet Earth," JJ called from the ground as Pope pulled himself up to stand on the rafters above.
Ignoring his friends Pope smacked the first cross like rafter, "It's solid," he muttered before moving across to the other one on the other side, "I'm gonna try the other beam," he called down.
"Pope, that's rotten as shit right there," JJ stated.
"It has to be here," Pope replied, moving across the beams.
"Hey, just watch out for that giant wasp nest above your head," Coral called pointing above where Pope now stood by the other cross.
"Just move slow," John B suggested, "You don't bother them, they won't bother you."
Kicking the bottom of the rafter a piece of wood fell off falling to the ground, "Look, it's hollow," Pope told them, "Go get me that crowbar."
"I'll be back," Sarah responded, running out of the church back to the Twinkie.
"Pope, you need to be careful."
"Yeah, I don't want this entire church collapsing on top of our heads."
Rushing back inside holding the crowbar Sarah held it up, "I got it."
"Here throw it up."
"Oh, for real?"
"Everyone watch your heads," John B warned as Sarah heaved the crowbar up to Pope.
"Bet you couldn't do that twice," Coral remarked when Pope caught it on the first try.
Using the crowbar Pope began to tear the wood away letting it fall into a pile below. Watching him Coral caught sight of something inside, "What is that? Do you guys see that?"
"Holy shit," Kie gasped as the wood fell away to reveal the Cross of Santo Domingo.
"It's really here," Sarah whispered, staring up above in awe.
Laughing, Coral hugged both Kie and Sarah as John B and JJ embraced, "You did it, man!" JJ yelled up to Pope.
"Awe! Yes!" Pope yelled, holding his arms up in triumph, "Oh shit!" he exclaimed, dropping his arms and the crowbar as he started slapping at his face and neck, "They're stinging now!"
"You bothered them so they're bothering you! Get down!" Kie yelled as the bees attacked Pope.
Slipping, Pope began falling from the rafter. Grabbing the beam before he fell completely he dangled above them.
"Shit!"
"Get the cushions! Move the pews!" John B yelled, grabbing the cushions off the pews to make a pile on the ground below Pope.
"I can't hold on!" Pope yelled as his one hand slipped and he dangled only by his right hand now.
"Hurry!"
Gathering all the cushions they had them in a pile as Pope's hand slipped the rest of the way off and he fell into the cushions below.
"Holy shit. Are you okay?" Kie questioned as they all dropped down beside Pope.
"Is anything broken?"
"Can you move?"
Gasping, Pope stared wide eyed up at the rafter above them, "Shit," he breathed out.