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The four of them later decided to swing by Ward's place to check if John B had done something reckless.
"What now? Do we just stroll up to the front door and ask, 'Hey, have you seen John B?'" JJ said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Look, he lives at Tanny Hill now. It's plausible. We can just play dumb," Kie suggested, glancing at belle, who stayed quiet, not wanting to get pulled into the conversation.
"Play dumb?" JJ replied incredulously. "That's your brilliant plan?"
"Guys, it's pretty late," Pope interjected, glancing at the darkening sky as belle nodded in agreement.
"Honestly, I've never seen John B like that. We should be going to the cops," Kie said, crossing her arms tightly across her chest.
"Go to the cops? And say what, Kie? 'We're worried about our friend because he's on a rampage because Ward Cameron killed Big John'?" JJ snapped back, his frustration boiling over. Belle placed a calming hand on his shoulder, trying to ease the tension.
"Hey, guys, I see Ward," Pope said, suddenly alert.
"Let me see!" Kie exclaimed, snatching the binoculars from Pope's hands.
"Well, he doesn't look dead to me. Let's go," Pope said, but as they turned to leave, Kie and Pope began arguing about what to do next. Eventually, JJ decided to take Pope home, dropping Kie off afterward, both of them still grumbling about the situation.
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Earlier that day, as JJ and belle entered her house, JJ casually brought up, "So, you said you'd tell me where you went this morning."
Belle, walking into the kitchen, noticed a note from her parents on the counter.
**Date Night Lauria left dinner in the fridge. Love, Mom and Dad.**
"Hungry?" Belle, asked, glancing over at JJ.
He looked at her in disbelief as she began taking plates out of the fridge and putting them in the microwave. "Are you serious?" he asked, a smile creeping onto his face despite himself.
"Okay, I'll tell you, but please don't be mad," belle said, her tone shifting as she focused on the microwave.
JJ raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."
"I might've threatened to sue your dad or whatever you call him..." she admitted, avoiding his gaze.
