MERCEDES, jj maybank

46.

THE PHANTOM

The Phantom was in the water ready, JJ was just packing last-minute shit for John B and Sarah and Trinity was down making sure all the mechanical shit was working.

"Is it okay?" JJ asks her.

"I can't really tell because the boats not like, sailing, you know?" Trinity says, coming up and standing by the railing.

Kiara was stressing out since it was a little bit past three already, "Dude, where is he?!" She paced around on the dock.

"Give him a second, he'll be here," Pope tells her.

"I'm sure he's fine," Trinity adds. Propping her elbows up on the railing and holding her head up with her hands. "Oh shit!" She stands up straight seeing the cop car come down to them with the sirens on.

"JJ!" Kie shouts, not knowing what to do.

"Hey, yeah. Get back on the boat! Untie it!" He shouts to Pope. The lot of them were all frantically moving to get away but John B stepped out of the police car. "Wait, no way,"

"No way!" Trinity gasped.

"No f'ing way," Pope laughs.

"Shoupe let me take it for a spin!" John B strides over, proud.

"Okay," Kiara laughs, "That's believable, I'll buy that for now," She says wrapping him in a hug.

JJ skipped over and leant on the railing beside Trinity, "It wasn't easy bro, but I got the Phantom for you! Trinity has been on mechanics so hopefully, she runs like she was made yesterday," He dangles the keys in front of his face.

Trin shrugs, "Hopefully. I haven't been able to test it properly,"

"If anything you can just come with me and Sarah," John B suggests like the idea wasn't absolutely crazy,

JJ shakes his head, "She can't go to Mexico!"

"Okay, and me and Sarah can't break down in the middle of the ocean," John B retorts.

Pope raises his hand, "What about Trin goes with them until the next few docks,"

"Yeah! Trinity go with him until the docks, make sure everything is running with the engine and then just get dropped off," Kie says, handing her the duffle bag of tools.

"Yeah! Yeah! That's a good idea!" John B agrees.

"We'll meet you around there Trin,"

The five of them nod, it seemed reasonable.

"If there are cops on the docks then you probably shouldn't, I know we don't want Trinity getting arrested," Kie points out and the boys nod.

"Guys," Trinity pipes us, "John B stole a cop car...that means the cops will be able to track exactly where he went so I don't think we should be standing around,"

"Yeah!"

"Good point!"

"You ready to go?" JJ asks.

"Where's Sarah?" John B asks the crew,

"She wasn't with you?" Asks Trinity.

John B shakes his head and looks around, "No, no, we got separated in the swamp. She said she'd meet me here."

Pope frowns, "No, we haven't seen her, man,"

"Okay well, I'm not leaving without her!" John B tells them firmly.

"You don't really have a choice," Kiara says carefully. She knew how much John B loved her and didn't want to make him angry.

"John B," JJ steps in front of his best friend, "Look at me, I know you feel bad for leaving but there's no time, man. You got plenty of gas, plenty of food, Tee on mechanics. After you drop her off at a dock you will get around that point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swap, okay? Once you get there, lay low, alright? Hang out for a couple of weeks and then go overland, cross the border at Brownsville, you got that? Brownsville!"

Trinity could see in John B's face he wasn't really listening and was just begging for Sarah to turn up at any second, but she didn't. JJ also clocked it and cupped his face, "Hey! You got that?!"

"Yeah, yeah, Brownsville,"

JJ nods and gets back onto the boat and helps John B quickly get situated, "Alright, saddle her up saltwater cowboy. Let's do this,"

After John B and Trinity were ready, JJ got out and positioned himself with Pope to give the boat a push into the water. "Hey!" John B stops them

"I'm sorry for basically throwing us off a cliff with the whole treasure hunt thing." John B apologised as his voice cracked with tears filling his eyes.

"Hey, John B, we were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?" JJ says, making everyone gently laugh, "At least we did it all together, though," He adds wrapping his arms around both Kie and Pope.

John B nods, and puts an arm around Trinity, "Pogue style,"

Kiara couldn't deal with this anymore and knew she would cry if he stayed any longer, "Get out of here, please!" She jokes with a wide smile.

"We'll see you in two months, down in Mexico!"

"Love you!" JJ shouts after Pope speaks,

John B was walking off around to the throttle, "Tell Sarah I said goodbye, alright?"

The three nodded.

JJ steps forward, "Don't forget. Cross the border at Brownsville, okay?" JJ kept on glancing at Trinity and as the three Pogues left placed their hands on the side of the boat Trinity stepped over to the railing in front of JJ and kissed him.

"See you soon," She says, pulling away.

JJ takes his hands off the boat and cups her face, "Yeah, and just in case there are cops and you can't get dropped or something happens..." JJ doesn't finish his sentence and just kisses Trinity one last time.

Trinity nods and quickly takes off the necklace that read her name and placed it into his hand, after JJ said that in case something happened she felt a pit in her stomach.

Trinity stood up straight and waved as the Phantom started floating away from them.