𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐞 || 𝗷. 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

-19- 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫 -19-

Rain was starting to come down heavily as the three teens made it towards the construction site near the surf shop.

"Nice camera. Where'd you dig up that relic?" JJ asks towards Pope.

Pope was holding a film camera pointed straight at where Ward and Gavin were supposed to meet.

"Why don't you just use your phone?" JJ asks.

"Well, first of all, I like my antique electronics. Second of all, this is a telephoto. It allows me to get a close image from far away." Pope states.

"Lord of the dorks" Kiara adds flatly.

"For a definitive proof of witness payoff, we're gonna need quality glass" Pope replies.

JJ tried to keep his focus forward but would catch himself thinking about Atlas almost instantly.

He wondered what it would be like if she were actually here with the three of them.

How she would probably be bundled up in a coat because being out in the rain makes her catch colds.

How she would probably look amazing soaking wet.

He also thought about how much of a dumbass he was for thinking Atlas would ever speak to him again.

He didn't know why the thought of her was always occupying his mind.

He wasn't exactly 100% happy to see her again.

But something about her leaving and not seeing or speaking to her in the past two months had left him reeling.

He wanted her to come back.

He wanted her to come back to him.

"There he is" Pope says.

JJ was instantly snapped out from his thoughts and brought back to the task at hand.

His clothes were drenched in rain water and it was hard to see clearly what was going on due to how hard the rain was coming down.

"Yo, get down" the blond haired boy states.

The three teens hastily huddle down behind the wooden fence trying to avoid being seen by Ward Cameron.

Thunder could be heard crashing hard in the distance as they peer out on Gavin following Ward into the construction site.

The two men went inside obstructing themselves from view.

"No, no, no, no. I'm losing them" Pope says frantically.

"Yo! Hey. I found something. Come here" JJ says towards the two other Pogues.

The three of them climb up the ladder on the side of a building as they get up to get a better view of the exchange.

They could see everything from up here as Pope pulled out his camera and pointed it directly at the two men.

"You rolling, Pope?" JJ asks.

"—Are you getting it?" Kie adds.

"—Yeah. Yeah, I see them" Pope replies.

The rain kept pouring down heavily and thunder started to rumble in the sky as the trio sat and watched the two men.

"Ward just handed Gavin something. I think its a duffel bag" Pope states.

"Guys, I think this is a payoff" JJ adds.

He couldn't see very clearly from how hard the rain was coming down but by what Pope was saying this was definitely a payoff.