"Why would he steal my money clip?"
Wincing Coral glanced at Kie sitting on the couch next to her before focusing on Kie's very upset parents.
"Okay, but we're not gonna press charges on him, right?" Anna questioned, from where she sat at the kitchen table.
"Dad, please."
Pressing his lips together, Mike stopped pacing and turned his furious gaze on Kie. Glancing at Coral, he sighed, "Okay. No charges, but I'm not," he began before a knock at the door interrupted him.
"Sarah?"
"That's probably for us," Kie said innocently before grabbing Coral's hand and dragging her to the door.
Swinging the door open, the girls greeted Sarah, "Hi!"
Blinking, Sarah cleared her throat, "Hey, uh, I don't mean to bother if this is a bad time," she said, fidgeting with the strap of her duffel bag.
"No, you're good," Kie responded, shaking her head, "What's going on?"
"Why do you have your bag?" Coral questioned.
"Oh, uh, well, John B and I kind of got into, like, a little fight."
Humming, Coral nodded, "I take it he lied to you too."
"Yeah, and basically I don't have anywhere to stay, and Rafe's at Tannyhill, and I was just wondering, like, maybe I could stay here with you?" she asked, looking at Kie hopefully.
"Yeah, of course."
"Hey, hey, no!" Mike exclaimed walking up behind Coral and Kie with Anna trailing behind him, "We're already dealing with one delinquent issue. We're not adding another one."
"Dad."
"No, Kie. Your dad's right. We need to finish this business with Coral. I'm sorry Sarah." Anna apologized.
"No, of course. I'll, uh, just talk to you guys later," Sarah responded.
"Sarah, just go back to the house. You have a place to stay there," Coral told her. Nodding, Sarah turned and hurried across the porch and down the steps.
"That was so rude," Kie said as she closed the door and turned to glare at her parents.
"You really want to argue rudeness right now?" Mike questioned, "Especially when we're not done talking about how one of your delinquent friends stole from me. Now, back on the couch," he demanded, pointing.
Opening her mouth to argue, Kie huffed out a breath as Coral pushed her back towards the couch, "Yes Sir, Mr. Carrera." Sitting down they waited as Anna returned to the table and Mike began to pace.
"Now, as I was saying. Kie I think it's time you drop some of these friends. They're nothing but trouble."
"JJ's not trouble," Kie defended.
"Need I remind you of the stolen money clip, Kie?"
"Mr. Carrera, I'm very sorry about the money clip," Coral spoke up.
"It's not your fault Coral," Anna assured her.
"Not her fault?" Mike questioned, "Our daughter went missing for a month because of her father's obsession with some non existent gold. Not to mention that little gangster,JJ, is her boyfriend."
"Dad! Mike!"
Taking a deep breath, Coral let it out slowly, "Look, I know you're angry, Mr. Carrera. What JJ did was wrong, and he knows that. Despite what people think on this island he's not his father. I'm not my father. I owe you and Mrs. Carrera a great deal. You gave me a job when I needed it most and quite honestly you're probably responsible for keeping not only me, but my brother, and JJ alive this last year when my dad was missing. We never meant to cause anyone harm or for you to worry about Kie as I'm sure you have. I only wish that I could make it up to you both."
Tapping his fingers against the counter, Mike glanced at Anna who narrowed her eyes at him. Sighing, he shook his head, "Fine. You wanna make it up to us then I suggest you get to work. They need help down at The Wreck setting up for the anniversary party tomorrow."
Eyes wide, Coral looked at Kie before focusing back on her parents, "Really? You're gonna give me my job back?" she asked incredulously.
"On a conditional basis. No more running off to chase imaginary treasure."
"It's not imaginary. I told you yesterday," Kie began to argue before Coral elbowed her.
"I understand Mr. Carrera," she said, narrowing her eyes at Kie. Crossing her arms, Kie rolled her eyes, but stayed silent as Coral thanked her parents for another chance.
"You're really okay with this?" Kie hissed as she and Coral left the house, "Your dad and John B are like literally on another treasure hunt, despite what he told us."
"You knew he was lying too?"
Scoffing, Kie rolled her eyes, "Of course I did. The boy can't lie to save his life," she retorted as they descended the steps to the driveway where Coral's bike sat, "Which means we're gonna probably disappear again. You just promised my parents you wouldn't."
"Look, I don't know what my brother or father are doing, and that's the God's honest truth. What I do know is that right now I need a job, and if your parents are willing to give me another chance then I'm taking it, and I'll try my very best not to break my promise to them."
Sighing, Kie nodded, "I get it. I don't want to disappoint them either."
"I'm sorry about JJ."
Tapping her finger against the fence, Kie looked out over the backyard before looking at Coral, "I know who JJ pretends to be, and who he really is," she replied, simply, "Besides I'll deal with him on my own time."
"I'm sure you will," Coral smiled before hugging her friend, "I'll be at The Wreck if you need me," she said, climbing on her bike.
"Yeah, I gotta do the parental thing," Kie said, glancing back at the house before waving as Coral rode away.
Coral was busy behind the bar washing wine glasses when she heard him.
"Hey Coralina."
Stiffening she turned slowly to find Rafe Cameron leaning casually on the bar in front of her, "Rafe," she greeted, eyeing him warily.
"Thanks for bringing my boat back in one piece."
"Thanks for letting me borrow it," she sniped back, "What are you doing here Rafe? I distinctly remember you telling me you were done, you know, when you were floating in the Caribbean."
Humming, he shook his head smiling, "I never realized the claws you had, Coralina, but I'm not mad at you. You had to help your friends, I get that."
"You're not mad at me?" she questioned, doubtfully, "I literally threw you off your own boat and left you in Barbados," she reminded him.
"Just shows the spirit you have, Coralina. I should've known better," he said, "You're not the type to leave your friends when they need help."
"No, I'm not," she agreed, "I'm glad you understand that."
"Of course I understand it because I understand you," he replied simply.
Blinking, Coral studied the serene expression on his face, "What's going on Rafe? You seem to calm."
Smiling, he shrugged, "I'm just enjoying life, Coralina. I promised myself if I made it out of Singh's I would stop waiting around for a handout from my father. I've got things happening for me. Good things that I'm doing on my own. Gonna make a name for myself outside of my father," he told her.
Nodding, she stepped closer to the bar, "I'm glad you're realizing you don't need your father to be successful, Rafe. I wish you would've realized that sooner. Maybe some of the shit that's happened wouldn't have."
"There's a lot of things I regret, Coralina. I just want you to be happy, and I hope we can be friends."
Biting her lip, Coral decided not to push his good mood, "Sure Rafe," she responded, "I, uh, have to get back to work though, so I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, of course. Listen, let Pope know no hard feelings. I just got there first," he said, winking before turning and striding out of the restaurant.
Narrowing her eyes, Coral had a bad feeling about what his words meant. Pulling her phone out of her back pocket she texted Pope.
Pope 📚: Rafe's up to something. You okay?
For the next hour she finished up her shift while checking her phone for a return text from Pope. Clocking out, she decided to go by Haywards. Riding her bike down towards the marina she rode past the store and saw it was closed. Pedaling around the building to where Pope's room was above the store she left her bike leaning against the wall before climbing up the steps.
"Pope! Cleo!" she called banging on the door, "Fuck!" she exclaimed, not getting an answer. Stomping back down the steps she climbed on her bike and headed towards home.
Pulling up to a dark house she furrowed her brow, "Where the hell is everyone," she muttered, pulling out her phone again.
Sarah : I'm at the house. Where are you?
Letting herself into the house she flipped on the living room light. Sighing, she dropped her book bag on the couch before walking into the kitchen. Glancing at the dishes on the table and in the sink she shook her head, "Why do I even bother?"
Turning she was scooping up her bag, kicking the door open, and striding across the yard and into the woods before she realized where she was going. Using her phone flashlight she walked the familiar path. Coming out on the other side she stood staring at the dark house before continuing across the yard.
Climbing the porch steps she pulled the broken screen door open smiling at the boy sprawled out on the couch sleeping. Dropping her bag again she cleared her throat, "JJ."
When he didn't move she rolled her eyes, "JJ," she tried again shoving his shoulder.
"Wha," he slurred, jolting awake. Blinking, he sat up quickly, "What's the matter?"
Fidgeting, she shrugged, "You weren't at home."
Sighing, he ran his hand through his hair, "I thought you were mad at me."
"I am mad at you, but that doesn't mean you don't come home."
"I'm sorry."
"You need to apologize to Kie and her dad."
"I don't know if that's gonna happen."
"And why not?"
"I don't know if I'm sorry about that," he responded simply, "They think we're basically gutter trash, Coral."
"Kie doesn't and despite all that he gave me my job back."
"That was decent of them," he conceded, "I've been basically black listed down at the marina. Billy said Guffy put the nix on any job down there for me," he told her, "But, oh shit, I gotta tell you what I overheard while I was down there," he said, making room for her on the couch.
Settling down next to him she tucked her legs under her as she got comfortable, "What did you overhear?"
Throwing his arm around her shoulders he pulled her into his side before throwing his blanket over them, "So, I'm down at the marina and who do I see living like he ain't a murderer, Rafe," he answered himself, "And Barry. Something tells me I need to hear what these two assholes are doing so I got close enough and to what do my wondering ears hear," he paused dramatically, "This fucking Kook melted Pope's cross," he finished.
"What?" she breathed out.
"Yep," he responded, nodding, "Pope went crazy and ran off with Hayward's gun."
"Wait. What?" she exclaimed wide eyed, "Did you find him!"
"Yeah, Cleo texted me. She found him and talked him off the ledge. Side note I think she's got the hots for him," he told her laughing.
"Well, duh," she responded scoffing, "Wait a minute. I saw Rafe tonight. He came into The Wreck and told me to tell Pope no hard feelings that he just got there first. I didn't know what he was talking about, but if he had the cross that means he stole it from the train before we got there."
"God, I hate that guy."
It was early the next morning when JJ shook her awake, "Your brother's here."
Sitting up she saw John B getting out of the Twinkie that he'd driven into JJ's backyard. Getting up from the couch they'd slept on, she followed JJ down the porch steps into the yard, "Well, look who it is," JJ greeted, "Nice of you to show up. You gonna spill the beans?" he asked.
"Yeah, no one believes your bullshit, Booker, so time to tell the truth about what's going on," Coral added.
"Look, I know I've been a little shady. And, uh, stretched the truth a little bit," John B began before JJ interrupted him.
"Yeah, that's called lying."
"Booker what is going on?"
"Dad killed two guys," he blurted out, "He was trying to protect me."
"No, no, no. Hold on, okay? You're serious?" JJ questioned, taking Coral's hand.
"What are you talking about?" she whispered in disbelief.
"It was the guys from the Coastal Venture," John B told them, "They came here looking for Denmark's diary."
"Your dad capped them for that?"
"Yes," he answered JJ, "And then Singh showed up. They took dad and then they tried to kill me. They took him to South America."
"Singh! Singh is here? John B, he killed a man basically in front of Rafe and I. He's dangerous. What if he kills, Daddy?"
"I don't know. I don't know what they're planning. I don't know if he's alive," John B began to pace as he continued to mutter to himself.
"Okay, hold on. John B just breathe for a second," JJ instructed, interrupting John B's muttering, "Let me think," he said, pulling Coral over to sit on the porch steps with him.
"I don't know what to do, JJ," John B admitted as he sat down on the steps next to Coral, "How the hell do we get to South America?
"No clue. But we're gonna figure it out," JJ assured him, "We're Pogues, man. We always do."