MERCEDES, jj maybank

10.

FULL KOOK

They were back at The Chateau, unfortunately with no gold but instead an envelope from Olivia Redfield's grave. John B said it's from his Father addressed to him which explains why 'Bird' was written in big letters.

John B and Trinity were sat at the table, JJ in the kitchen making a sandwich and Kiara and Pope were just joining them now.

"That bread had mold on it three days ago," Pope tells JJ.

"Yeah, I'll just pull off the bad parts - plus, mold is good for you. It's a natural organism."

Kiara grew annoyed at him, "JJ."

"Yep, yep, yep, yep." He hurried over to the table. "Hot damn! Let's do it!"

Trinity watched JJ take a bite of his sandwich and immediately regret it. JJ gags and spits the bread back into his hand.

Then she turns her gaze to John B, who unfolds what appeared to be a map. He laid it flat and glances at it.

"Holy shit," He goes back to the envelope.

Pope points to a cross on the map, "X marks the spot."

John B reaches into the envelope and pulls out a tape recorder.

"What's that?" JJ asks.

"Tape recorder. Dumbass." Kie looks at him.

"Press play," Trinity says.

"Dear Bird,"

"Who's Bird?"

"That's what my Dad called me,"

"I hate to say 'I told you so', but I told you so. And you doubted your old man. I suspect that at this moment you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet, kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either. You were probably right to call me out, wasn't exactly Father of the Decade. What can I say, kid? I could smell the barn...and hopefully, we're listening to this in our brand new sugar-shack down in Costa Rica living off passive investments and pulling on permits. If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, well, that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If something happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold, kid. I love you, Bird even if I didn't always act like it. I'll see you on the other side."

The room fell noiseless and everyone turned to John B. Trinity's heart ached for him, she was a very sympathetic person which sometimes wasn't the best thing for her.

However, Trinity got up from the chair and hugged John B's chest.

"Shit he did it...Big John - he found the Merchant—"

Kie quickly stops JJ from talking, "Can you...can you please."

"Sorry."

Kie goes over to comfort John B too as he began to sob. John B hugged the two girls tightly. With each passing moment, the Pogues sensed how Trinity may be one of them deep down.

"Everybody come with me," Kie grins, slipping away from John B and heading outside after grabbing something.

John B quickly wiped his face and smiled down at Trinity, "Come on," He says softly before heading out too.

Trinity looks at both Pope and JJ who look eager to head out too.

Outside Kie was sat with John B playing her ukulele. The other three sat down and made it into a circle with cold but comforting air flying past them.

"How much was it again?" JJ asks.

"Four hundred mil." Pope answers.

JJ adjusts how he's seated. "Alright, let's talk the split - before you say 'evenly' may I remind you I am the only one that can properly defend us from those groupers who were after us." He holds up his gun carelessly, "Protection? Not cheap, okay?"

"You haven't even trained," Pope shuts him down, "You've done zero training."

"Youtube, bro! It's at least a five percent bump right there."

"You haven't—"

"Any objections? Didn't think so." JJ talks over Pope who raises his hand.

"I do,"

"Not hearing any,"

Kie quickly flips the subject, "What are you gonna do with your eighty mil, Pope?"

He quickly pauses and thinks, "Pay for college in advance," Pope nods, "And also textbooks. Those or expensive."

"What about you Kie?" JJ asks.

"Yeah, what does a socialist do when she's rich?" Pope adds.

Kie chuckles at the statement. "Just wanna make a double album. About OBX, the Pogues. You know, the way Catch a Fire is about Kingston. I'll record at Marley Studio, Peter Tosh producing."

"Peter Tosh is—"

"Peter Tosh is dead. Yes, I know. Spirit or Peter Tosh will never die." She holds up her beer can.

"Actually I know what I'm gonna do." JJ grins, "I'm gonna get a big ass house on Figure Eight and go full Kook,"

"You're gonna go full Kook?" Pope questions.

"Yep, gonna get a marble statue of myself and then I'm gonna get a koi pond. Put a bunch of those fishes in—"

"I'm never visiting." Kie laughs.

JJ spins around to Trinity, "I feel like you would have a koi pond at your mansion,"

She nods, "My Mum put one in like two months ago actually,"

"Can I come see?" JJ gasps.

Trinity laughs, "Sure, round trip to my house at Figure Eight."

JJ cheers, "Whoo!"

Pope laughs and turns to John B, "What are you gonna do JB?"

There's a moment of silence as he thinks for a reply, "To going full Kook."

At once they all stand up and clink their cans together, "To going full Kook!"