A Foot In Both Worlds| JJ Maybank|Topper Thornton

Chapter 19: The Royal Merchant

"You really think it's out there? Like no bullshit?" Pope asked.

Evelyn laid in the hammock with her head on JJ's chest and her feet on Kiara's legs. It was so dark out she couldn't seen an inch in front of her.

"My father thought it was," John B said.

"But do you?" Pope asked.

"After hearing his voice on that tape..." John B said, "I think I do."

"Only one way to find out," Pope said.

"Look, we're gonna find it, you know," Kiara said.

"Even JJ believes," Evelyn said.

"Oh my god, JJ, do you really believe?" John B joked.

"Totally," JJ said, "Wait. Are we talking about four mil?"

"Four hundred mil," Kiara and Evelyn said at the same time.

"Jinx," Kiara said.

"I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks," JJ said pulling Evelyn closer and nuzzling his face into her neck, "Goodnight, Bird!"

"Goodnight, bird shit," John B replied.

JJ flipped John B off laughing, his breath ticking Evelyn's neck, making her giggle.

"You smell nice," JJ whispered so only the girl could hear.

"That's not creepy at all," Evelyn laughed.

"It's true," JJ said.

- -

Evelyn sat at the front of the boat looking out at the water. Today was the day they were looking for the Royal Merchant.

"All right, JJ, pin it here," John B said.

"Roger, that! X marks the spot!" JJ said.

"All right ladies and gentlemen," John B said grabbing the drone, "To going full Kook."

John B lowered it into the water and Kiara fed the lead. Evelyn walked over to Pope where he was controlling the drone.

"All right, JJ, we're right over it. Ten seconds northwest," JJ said.

"Got it. Ten seconds northwest!" JJ repeated.

"One hundred feet," Kiara yelled.

Pope gasped as a squid came across the screen.

"What, what, what?" John B asked.

"It's nothing," Evelyn said making John B groan.

"Sorry, I thought I saw something," Pope said.

"Don't do that to me man," JJ said, "Come on, bro!"

"My bad. I just thought I saw something," Pope said, "And to quote The Hobbit, down, down, to Goblin Town. Down, down, you go, my lad."

Evelyn set her eyes on the screen carefully watching for any signs of the wreck.

"Four hundred feet," Kiara said.

Thunder rumbled in the background making Evelyn look up into the sky.

"The tide is turning," Kiara said.

"Hey, JJ?" John B asked.

"Yup?" JJ said.

"Ten second easy," John B said, "South-Southeast."

"Copy that!" JJ said.

"JJ, 20 seconds mid-speed, all right?" John B yelled, "South."

"Copy that! Aye-Aye," JJ said, "Keep the tether out of the prop!"