"So ya'll are tellin' me this is the firearm Rafe Cameron killed Peterkin with?" Shoupe asks as JJ lays it out on the table. "That's exactly what we're tellin' you, Shoupe," JJ nods. "And the exact same firearm that Ward just used to kill Gavin," Pope says. "I-," He sighs. "And where's that corpse again?" He asks. "Didn't you look?" I ask. "I checked the hospital. I went by his house. He was out," Shoupe says. "He was out?" Kie practically screams.
"No shit! 'Cause he's dead!" JJ says. "Shoupe, just listen to yourself!" I yell. "It makes perfect sense!" Kie yells. "Just because he's not in his damn home does not mean he was a victim of a homicide," Shoupe bites. "What are you talking about?" I cry. "I told you this was gonna be- you gotta be kidding me," JJ mutters, taking his hat off and running his hands through his hair.
"Are you at least gonna send it in for ballistics and shit, or are you just gonna sit on your ass?" Kie cries. "He'll sit there and wax that damn mustache!" JJ shouts. "Is that even real, come on!" JJ shouts as Shoupe stands up. "I'll wax this-," Shoupe starts. "Hey! Shut up, JJ!" Pope hisses. "It's not fair!" I cry as Shoupe walks to the door. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt his feelings?" JJ asks Pope. "Shut up!" Pope yells again. "Get out. I got work to do," Shoupe snaps as he opens the door for us.
"Are you serious?" JJ mutters. "Ya'll are smellin' up my damn office," He sighs. "Shit," I mutter, shaking my head. "Did Ward bribe you?" Kie asks, tears in her eyes as she walks to the door. "This doesn't make any sense," I shake my head as I walk through the door after her. "You ain't gonna do shit," JJ hisses at him as he follow us. "Out!" He screams.
~~~~~~
"Oh, my God, that was disgusting," I sigh as I turn off the outside shower on the side of Pope's dad's shop. I reach my hand over the edge towards JJ as he passes me a towel. "Here," He nods. "Thanks," I mutter.
I join him on a table out on the pier, still drying my hair with a towel. "I feel like an actual human being again," I sigh. "Yeah, well, you actually smell like one, now," JJ grins, sliding an arm across my shoulders. "I'm sorry," He whispers as I lay my head on his shoulder. "For?" I ask. "Making you do that," He says, kissing my temple. "You almost drowned," He says. "And then it would've been my fault that I lost you," He says. "I forgive you," I whisper, taking his hand.
"Hey," He whispers. "We're gonna clear John B's name," He nods determinedly. "Okay," I whisper with a smile. "I love you," He whispers, closing his eyes. "I love you too," I smile, breathing in the scent of his shirt as I close my eyes too.
~~~~~~
JJ leans forward, his hands running through his hair. "Shit," He hisses to me under his breath, keeping his eyes on the test. I hold out two fingers to him so he knows the answer is B. He glances at me. "You sure?" He mouths. "No," I shake my head, giving him a look. Suddenly, the door opens and we all glance up.
"Mr. Sunn, can I borrow Pope for a minute?" The man asks in the doorway. "We're in the middle of a test, alright?" Mr. Sunn whispers. "I'm from the Vanderhorst Foundation," The man says. The four of us glance around at each other, wondering. "Mr. Heyward. It's for you," Mr. Sunn smiles. "Thank you," The man nods as Pope follows him into the hallway.
It takes a minute for Pope to return, but he enters the room with a letter in his hands. "Okay, what was that?" Kie whispers, leaning forward in her chair. JJ and I lean forward too, listening. Pope holds the letter up. The back is stamped with a golden seat, the wheat symbol embellished onto the wax. "Is that the wheat symbol?" I ask as JJ peers forward at it. "Yeah," Pope breathes.
"What the fff-," JJ starts to yell as Mr. Sunn turns to him. "Fu- fu- fuddgeee...," He trails off with a nod at Mr. Sunn.
~~~~~~
"Is this a game of tag?" JJ snorts as we chase Pope down the hallways as the bell rings, trying to get him to read us the letter. "I don't know," Kie hisses. "Am I gonna have to beat you with your protractor? What's going on?" JJ asks as Pope walks into the library, setting his stuff down on a chair. "Shhh," The librarian hisses at JJ. "Seriously, Pope, you are driving me insane," I say.
"Okay, so, that guy was from the scholarship committee," Pope whispers. "Take a look at this," He says once we get quiet, holding the letter out to JJ. "Read it," He points at JJ as he snatches it from Pope's hand and opens it quickly. "Out loud," I say after a second. He glances up at me, then back at the letter. "I can't read cursive," He whispers, looking back at me. I look at him for a second before taking the letter.
"Dear Mr. Heyward, I am reaching out because I have material evidence that can exonerate John B. Routledge," I stop reading as we all look up at Pope, who paces back and forth, reciting the words to himself from memory under his breath. "It is of vital importance that you come and meet with me in person at my offices at 27 King Street, Charleston at 8:00 p.m. sharp tonight," I read with a gasp. "Please come alone," I finish with a weird glance at Pope.
"Regards, C. Limbrey."
I shake my head. "What the-," I breathe. "Charleston?" JJ interrupts. "I know, it's like an eight-hour drive plus the ferry," Pope says. "How are we gonna get there tonight?" He asks. "Yeah, we'd have to leave like right now," JJ whispers. "I have a free period," Kie shakes her head. "Material Evidence? What does that even mean, material evidence?" JJ asks. "It means he can clear John B!" Kie hisses.
"Oh, shit, then we're goin' to Charleston," JJ says loudly. "Oh, God, I gotta tell my mom," Kie sighs as the librarian gives us a nasty look. "Look, if we get it this time, we are not giving it to Shoupe," Kie says. "Yeah. No duh," JJ agrees. Pope looks at the letter again as he types something into the computer. He sighs loudly.
"What?" I ask. "I'm not sure, but I think whoever this Limbrey person is, they might be related to the captain of the Royal Merchant," Pope breathes.
