I'm here // JJ Maybank

4

We all went back to the docks and sat around looking at multiple cop cars and ambulances. I saw Miss Lana run over to the scene and watched confused.
"Who's that?" John B asked the girl who we were sitting with.
"It's Scooter Grubs. He was out during the storm. Check out this pic I got. Dead body" she said way too casual. She showed us the picture on her phone of scooters body, all blue and puffed from the water. I immediately turned my head away once I saw the photo and had the urge to throw up. JJ leaned over me to get a look at the picture and then looked at me, placing a hand on my arm. I looked at him and then John B to see what they were thinking.
"What kind of boat did he have?" JJ asked the girl
"Somehow that dirtbag copped a brand new Grady white." Once she said this my head snapped in her direction. John B looked at me with wide eyes and I the same. Everything that we have found so far has been scooters?
"Everyone's out looking for it." She added. I looked at the ground trying to not make her think that we know anything. I started fidgeting with my bracelets as my anxiety levels rise.
-
Back at the chateau,
We all sat around trying to process all this information. Me and kie were on the couch, my head in her lap as she played with my hair. Pope came barging in in a complete panic.
"Okay. So, um we didn't see anything. We don't know anything. We need to have total and complete amnesia." He said moving my legs over so he could join us on the couch. I sat up and sighed.
"Actually popes right for once" JJ chimed in.
"See I agree with you sometimes. JJ stood up from his seat and walked over to us.
"Deny deny deny" I said quietly. At this point it's the best thing we could do.
"Guys we can't keep that money." Kie said making me roll my eyes.
"Ok. Not all of us can afford unlimited data plans kiara." JJ said annoyed.
"We have to pass that off to Lana Grubbs. Otherwise that's bad karma." She defended. The thought of having a little extra cash this summer sounded too good though. Would be nice to do a full grocery shop.
"Bad karma to be implicated in a felony, too" pope added.
"Or we could just keep it and ask for forgiveness later. That has seemed to work for me."' I said taping popes hat so it covered his face a little.
"We gotta go dark" pope said fixing his hat and sending a glare my way.
"I'm with Mel" JJ started.
"Of course you are." Kie mumbled. JJ and I ignored her jab.
"If that means we get to keep the money, then i agree" JJ stood staring outside and I nodded.
"We already have it and no one knows that we have it. Minimal risk." I said also standing up and joined John B who was being a little too quite.
"I don't agree" John B said making me furrow my eyebrows.
"What? Why?" JJ said.
"Just think about it. This is scooter grubs we are talking about. Same dude that's buying individual cigarettes at the porthole. Shit one time I saw this dude begging for change in the save a lot parking lot because he needed gas. We're talking about a dirt bag marina rat who's never had more than $40 in his pocket and all the sudden he's got a Grady white? Just saying." I leaned my head back into the beams and took a deep breath frustrated that John B wasn't with me and JJ.
—
We all moved out onto the dock to fish. I as per usual was not fishing. Instead I was standing next to JJ and watching him try to catch something. Tuning out my three other friends who were still debating.
"All right so think about it pope. How does a marina rat get a Grady white?" John B asks
Pope inhales sharply and says "prostitution" making me laugh.
"Square groopers bro. Okay, flying under the radar, no aerial surveillance. They don't do that stuff during a hurricane. What does that mean? JJ? Mel's?" John be turns to where me and JJ are standing.
"They were straight smuggling" me and JJ say at the same time.
"Jinx. You owe me a Coke" I say bumping him with my shoulder. He smiles and just bumps my shoulder back.
"Smuggling." John B confirms to pope "and I guarantee there's a serious amount of contraband in that wreck." He says to kie.
"Hell yeah." JJ says. Something tugs on JJs line and he starts pulling it in. I move to the side not wanting to get smacked in the face.
"Fish on!"
—
After JJ caught his fish we moved inside and gathered in John Bs room. I laid on the bed and started doodling on one of John Bs notepads.
"For the record, if that is a smuggling ship with illegal contraband on the inside of it, it probably belongs to somebody else." Pope says
"Minor details." Kie said. I point at her with my pencil agreeing.
"They could come looking for it." Pope adds "taking it would be catastrophically stupid"
"Catastrophically stupid" I mock.
"Right well stupid things have good outcomes all the time." JJ says taking the money out of popes hands.
"That they do" I finish my random doodle and rip the page out handing it to pope.
"Here, a present." I say smiling at him. He looked at it and laughs. I'm not the best artist.
"Thanks Mel" he says putting it to the side.
"All we need to do right now is figure out a way to get into that cargo hold of that wreck. Until then we just lay low. Just act normal." JJ says. I nod liking the sound of not having to do anything.
"Right and how exactly do we do that?" Pope asks
"Kegger?" Kie suggests.
"Yes! Kie your such a smart lady!" I say jumping of the bed and giving her a big kiss on the head.
One thing that I'm good at... is partying.
I run home to get changed while the others go pick up stuff for the party.
I change into white crop top, black jean shorts, and my converse. I grab my bag and head back to the chateau.
"You ready to to m'lady?" JJ asks opening the door to the Twinkie. I smiled and give a little twirl. I pull out the flask I just filled with vodka and wiggle it.
"A girl after my own heart." He says grabbing it and taking a few sips.
"Anything for you sir. Now let's go, gotta have a few beers in me before anyone starts to show."
We all get into the Twinkie and head to the boneyard.