Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

49

From what I've seen from the glimpses of TV's when I've been in town everyone is pretty shocked that we made it back to Kildare. We're on nearly every news channel. Everyone wants us to settle back into our lives. But how can I settle back into a life that doesn't exist anymore?

JJ, Kie, Sarah, Pope, and I are at the Chateau.

"When I went back to Tannyhill, Rafe was on the phone with Ward, and he just kept saying, 'My thing, this is my thing.'" Sarah tells us. "He had to be talking about the cross."

"Absolutely," Pope agrees.

"And he's coming into Wilmington tonight at eight o'clock," Sarah tells us. "It's being shipped by train to Raleigh from there, but this is our chance to get it back."

"You get any other information?" Pope asks.

Kie picks up a piece of paper. "Uh, Sarah got the cargo number."

"Okay, well, that's a start," Pope says.

"Yeah," Kie says.

"They're definitely fencing that shit off as we speak," JJ reasons. "So we should probably get a move on."

"Sarah, have you heard from John B?" I ask.

Sarah shakes her head. "No, I mean, he's probably off somewhere with his dad. But the problem is they have the Twinkie."

"Our transportation," Pope says.

"I'd let you use my car but there is no way the cross is fitting in it," I reason.

"I could ask Heyward for the truck," Pope offers.

"Uh, what? Yeah, that's gonna go well," JJ remarks.

"I know, but we have no other options," Pope states.

After Kie and Pope figure stuff out at home we regroup to figure this thing out. Especially since Pope couldn't get the truck from his dad.

"Honestly, the hardest part is gonna be security, all right?" JJ says. "So most of the guys are gonna be at the rail yard."

"We'll need to find some place and guard it, maybe a little further down the line, like a whistle-stop," Pope offers.

Kie nods. "Yeah."

"You guys are getting ahead of yourselves per usual," Cleo tells us. "We don't have a way to transport the cross. What you think? On JJ's motorcycle?"

"That's not my fault," JJ insists. "Oh, everyone. All right, all me."

"Okay, other options," Pope says.

Sarah suddenly sits up straight. "Oh my God."

"Oh my God, what?" Cleo asks.

We all look in the direction Sarah was.

"Is that Topper?" Pope asks.

"Why... is he everywhere?" Kie remarks.

"Like a cockroach you can't get rid of him," I state.

"Perfect," Pope says. "Hey, Jayj. What? I bet you Topper has a way to transport the cross."

"Actually, Pope's right. He does have a rig," JJ agrees.

"No," Sarah says.

"Yes," JJ argues.

"No. Absolutely not," Sarah insists.

"Yes, come on. Sarah, you already got him whipped anyway, all right? So why don't you just take one for the team?" JJ reasons.

"What would John B say?" Sarah asks.