The Least Favorite Cameron

Chapter 28

 I told Shoupe everything. From the day we found the Grady White in the marsh to yesterday morning when I saw my dad back at home. I didn't want to leave anything out. The only thing I didn't mention was our new search for the cross, which John B. and JJ were working on a plan for today when Limbrey comes for the key. It takes me about two hours to tell Shoupe everything because of his interruptions with questions but when I'm done I feel like I ran a marathon. Having to tell the entire story that completely changed my life made me exhausted but also sent a wave of adrenaline through me as I told the story.

"Look Shoupe, is there any way you can revoke my dad's bail or something? I don't trust him and I'm scared he'll try to run," I say as Shoupe continues scratching notes into his notepad.

"He has a tracking device on his ankle kid, he's not going anywhere. You know he has the resources to fight us if we tried to keep him here without bail. It's gonna take time to build a case against him for Big John's death, without a body or a murder weapon, it'll be hard," His voice drops as he talks about John B's dad.

"What about Gavin? You have evidence for that!" The anger bubbles up in me at the thought of John B. having to wait any longer for justice for his dad.

"Everything takes time, Gracie. We'll get him, you and your friends don't have to worry about that," Shoupe says and with that he ushers me to stand and we say our goodbyes as Sarah goes in after me.

"Hey good luck. Just breathe. It'll all be okay, I love you!" I say to her as she gives me a quick hug.

"Yeah, I'll be okay. Let me know how things go with Limbrey, okay? And be safe!" Sarah says and gives me a narrow glare to show that she's not kidding about the safe part.

"I'm always careful Sarah!" I yell to her as I exit the station and waiting for me is the Pogues in the Twinkie. I hop in the back as John B. and JJ are still plotting up front. I give them the rundown of everything that happened in the station but I wait to talk about John B's dad till later. As we get to Heyward's, everyone is on edge and anxious as we wait for Limbrey and Renfield.

"Are you doing okay? Shoupe didn't give you a hard time did he?" John B. says as he gives me a quick hug and kisses my forehead as we share a bench on the back deck.

"No, it was fine. Thanks for asking," A smile creeps onto my face as I answer but quickly goes away as we hear a car approaching.

She would be pretty if I didn't already absolutely hate her guts for what she's done to Pope and his dad. She's dressed like she's going to some fancy brunch but her stature is weak as she leans against her crutches. Pope is fuming as she approaches and the man she's with, who I assume is Limbrey, pushes Pope against a beam.

"Hey get the hell off of him!" I shout at him but Kie grabs my hand to stop me from going further.

"You must be the Cameron girl, one of Ward's twins," Limbrey says as she looks me over with a strange smile on her face.

"And you must be the woman whose been fucking with my friend. I don't like you very much," I snarl at her and Renfield turns to face me but Limbrey just holds up her hand and he stops. He does whatever he's told like a dog.

"Now there's no need for that kind of talk. I told Pope this would all stop if he just gave me what I wanted. I even offered him something in return," Limbrey says as she turns her attention to Pope. Her voice is quiet and calm but I could hear the crazy behind her words.

"You want this key? This one?" John B. interrupts holding the key up in the air. He talks to Limbrey in a mocking manner, even threatening to throw the key into the channel if Renfield didn't back off. I turned to Pope to see if he was just as confused as I was that John B. had the key when moments before Limbrey got here, Pope had it. Kie also looks confused but JJ did not. This had to be their plan, a fake key. Genius. When John B. was finally done messing with Limbrey, Pope offered them the key in exchange for the tape with the evidence. Once the handoff was finished Limbrey left as quickly as she could with her whipping boy following.

"So can someone explain what just happened?" I ask looking from John B. to JJ.

"How long do you think we have before she notices that is not a magic key?" JJ says to John B.

"Probably like 10 minutes," He responds.

"Whose idea was that?" Kie asks with an impressed look on her face. John B. then turns to JJ and wraps an arm around his shoulder.

"This guys," He says proudly and JJ looks very pleased with himself as Pope hugs him.

Once we're done celebrating JJ at Heyward's, we drop off the tape to Shoupe so that he can continue building a case against Ward. We haven't all felt this happy in such a long time. We finally got a win. Granted, it was only a matter of time before Renfield came back demanding the real key but for now we were oozing with happiness.

"Okay we have to celebrate this!" I say as we pull up to the Chateau.

"Surf day?" Kie says with a smile on her face. We all look at each other and nod as we rush out of the van and into the house to change. It was slightly colder than an optimal surf day but the waves looked good and none of us would have even cared if the water was totally flat. The guys all try to outdo each other with their surf tricks but Kie and I hang back a little outside the lineup so that we can talk. We're both just laying on our boards, goosebumps all over us but we didn't care.

"How have things been with your parents? Have you talked to them since you know they kicked you out?" I ask her.

"Sorta. When I'm at work we talk a little. I'm just so tired of it. They want me to be someone I'm not," Kie says and I completely relate to her. Three months ago my life was just like that, now I don't think anyone cared if I was a Pogue.

"Everything has just gotten so messed up," I say almost in disbelief at how crazy our lives had become.

"Hey it could be worse, we could be a bunch of Kooks whose biggest problem was making our tee time," Kie says with a laugh.

"Yeah thank god for Pogue life," I reply. Both of us are laughing now and it feels so good to have this moment of peace.

"P4L" Kie says.