Bad Karma

thirty-three

Leilani Elrod

Episode 8. The Runaway

The next morning John B was in a rush to get to the Crain house. I think that both of us knew what lied ahead, but weren't ready to face it, but the second we got there, we were met with a "For Sale" sign on the fence.

We shared the same look and he helped me over the wall, then climbing over himself. We went through the yard as fast as my knee would allow us, coming up on a barrel with a logo reading "CAMERON DEVELOPMENT". Our worst fears were being played out right in front of us.

We made our way into the cellar, doing our best to ignore the equipment around us. He leaned over the well, grabbing the rope that was here from whoever was here before us.

"Wait." I stopped him, "Are you sure you're ready for whatever's down there?" Or not there, I wanted to add, but didn't.

"No." And then he climbed down. I wasn't ready either, but neither of us really had a choice.

The wait was excruciating and though it was only probably a few minutes, it felt like hours.

"No!" I heard him shout.

"John B, what is it?" I called down.

"It's gone!" He continued screaming while I just leaned my head down. It was all over. All of it. And for nothing. Absolutely nothing. Big John believed in us and counted on us to find it and we had failed him.

--

"You sure he got everything?" Kie asked again.

"Every bar." John B sighed. He was absolutely heartbroken, more than we were, which was really saying something. My heart hurt for us all. JJ had his arm around my waist, his hand in mine, rubbing the back of it gently. "The whole enchilada."

I want an enchilada right now. It wouldn't make me feel better, but it would definitely be a start.

John B pulled his cast off and threw it, "It's not like I expected a happy ending or some shit."

"John B-"

"What, Kie? It's a hairline fracture. Who cares?"

"You should care. Your arms gonna be messed up for life."

"It's fine." He wiggled his fingers, "See?"

"What do you think kids do on the mainland?" I asked suddenly, turning my head to look out at the water. I was going to miss this, surprisingly.

"Don't say that." JJ groaned, pulling out a joint. I think he expected me to take it from him when he didn't light it, but I didn't. I was actually hoping he would light it so I could also use it.

I shrugged, turning back to them, "We have to start facing the reality. John and I can't run forever."

"Unless we die, that's where were going." John B agreed.

"Guys!" Pope, bless his soul, came running as fast as I've ever seen him run towards us, still in his business attire from the interview. Unless he was about to tell us that he knew where the gold was, he did very well on his interview based on the tone of his voice. Well, at least one good thing happened.

"Oh! Oh, god! I ran all the way here." He heaved, bending over to catch his breath.

"You all right?"

"I take it that interview went well?" I asked him, sounding hopeful. He deserved to have a good life and I hoped that he got it so that he could go to autopsy school. That stuff is totally freaky, though.