The Least Favorite Cameron

Chapter 26

I head out the door half tempted to take Rafe's car keys and use his car but opt for my bike instead. A mix of emotions flow through me as I pedal over to Heyward's. I'm scared that Heyward is hurt but selfishly also worry about how things will be with John B. and I. I'm not so much worried about the others but the way things were between us the day of the explosion, left me anxious. I see the Twinkie parked outside the shop and drop my bike as I hustle around to the back entrance. I nearly run into John B. as he and the others are all standing around Heyward who is holding a rag up to his forehead that has blood on it.

"OMG what happened?" I ask.

"Limbrey's goon, Renfield came here to try and get answers and find the key," Pope says in a distressed tone. Kiara heads inside to get some ice and a bandage while Pope fills in his dad on what his grandma told him and about what Limbrey has been doing. I can't believe that once again there's another person after us and chasing after the same thing as us. It feels like we're trapped in a cycle. I notice John B. occasionally staring at me as Pope talks to his dad.

"He said he'd be back tomorrow for the key," Heyward finishes.

"What the hell are we supposed to do?" Kiara says as she looks defeated and sits on the wooden bench next to me.

"Well there's no way you're giving up that key," John B. says to Pope.

"If Limbrey gives us that tape, then that'll not only prove that Rafe killed Peterkin, but that Ward was blackmailing Gavin to cover it up and killed him. Then they could work on filing charges against him for my dad," John B. continued to say. The mention of Rafe's name makes my heart sink. He already killed himself because of what he did, he admitted to it, I wanted my dad to pay. I just wish Rafe could be left alone now.

"So how do we keep the key AND get the tape?" Pope asks John B. and we all sit in silence and stare as we wonder what to do next. We just couldn't win.

"We'll figure it out," Kiara says with a hopeful but forced smile as she places her hand comfortingly on Pope's arm but as she does he moves away from her. Pope and his dad then go inside and get to work.

"So are we brainstorming our plan or what?" JJ says as he looks at me, Kiara, and John B.

"I've gotta go, I'm supposed to be at work. Not like there's any rush though they already kicked me out,"Kie says as she heads over to her car and drives off.

"I should get back home, I-uh have to work on my statement for Shoupe tomorrow morning," I say as the tension builds between the boys and I.

"Your statement? Like about everything that's happened?" JJ asks in a surprised tone.

"Yep, so that'll be fun. Probably will take me a while to tell it all, but don't worry I'll be here before Limbrey comes. I wanna see what this crazy bitch looks like," I say and force a smile. I don't know the last time I felt a real genuine smile.

"Do you want me to go with you to the station?" John B. asks and I soften at the kind gesture but then doubt floods over me and I wonder if he's only offering so he could try and see my dad in a cell. I love him and I know he loves me but it all just felt so complicated suddenly. I mean not suddenly, it was always complicated but now it felt different.

"That's okay, I can go myself," I say quietly.

JJ mumbles something about going to ask Pope a question, probably he was just uncomfortable out here, I was.

"Are you okay? How have things been at home?" John B. asks, stepping closer to me slightly and we both lean over the dock looking out at the marsh.

"Terrible, Rose is like Satan in a cocktail dress, walking around like nothing happened and doing everything she can to get Ward out of jail," I say to him and he turns to me as I say my dad's name.