ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

Baracuda Mike

"Looking forward to sipping Pina Coladas on Poguelandia." 

"It was just the look in his face", John B defends himself in front of me quoting Topper, "No offense, bro." "Sure. No offence. It's a little complicated not taking offence", JJ mutters as he steps outside the house to the balcony where John B and I sit now. "The look in his eyes.. kook.. a kook at its best. You know?" 

"Don't let yourself be provoked, J", I sigh softly. "I mean.. you couldn't do it differently. You had no chance." "No chance. Exactly. Anyways, we need to get to South America somehow. As soon as possible. They've got my dad." "Do you still got something to eat?" "We need passports. We don't have any. We can't go there by plane. Any other ideas?" 

"What about the money from Portez?" "Gave it to my dad." "What about a boat? I mean.. we could.. the HMS. Well, the HMS.. you know what happened. Oh Limbrey. Limbrey's got a boat. How about taking that?" "Yeah, the offer's closed. The HMS won't bring us there. No boats." 

"Boys, buy some actual food for real. That's disgusting", I comment the scenery in front of me where JJ and John B first smell expired food and then eat it disgustedly, "I'll give you money." "Should have stayed with her, bro, she's your sugar mama", John B jokes around JJ and we grin at each other. At least he's feeling a little bit better. 

"So.. no boat. No money. You know what? I think I've got an idea-" "Oh, oh." "Don't just say oh-" "No, J, it's Shoupe", I say pushing him on the bottom with John B and I so Shoupe can't see us in here. "Okay, John B", we hear Shoupe calling, "Hello? Anyone's home?" Anxious of being caught, we crawl through the kitchen under a table. He shouldn't find us here. 

"John B? I know that you're here", Shoupe yells knocking the door. "If he sees you, we're dead", JJ whispers to John B. "We-" "John B, you better come out or it's getting worse", Shoupe shouts and when I finally got a plan how to get us out of here, his footsteps don't sound as clearly anymore. 

"It's alright. You know where to find me", Shoupe finally says sounding like he's about to leave. "Okay, we can move", JJ whispers raising his voice to a normal tone when we're sure that we're alone again, "So I've got a plan, alright? It'll work. You might not like it, but it could work." "No, no, no, wait. What kind of plan?", John B tries to assure himself but JJ wouldn't tell us right now. We've been through this before. 

"If I tell you now that it's not completely secure, you're going to be so negative-" "I'd be fine with a quarter of a complete plan." "Let's go, boys", I sigh, "It's not like we've got a better idea." "You got it, right, Iz", JJ grins, "Trust the master." "Yeah, sure", John B sighs frustrated making me chuckle. I'd rather go through hell with them than being full kook without the pogues.

"Where are we?", I wonder as JJ stops the engine in front of an old bar. "Rock fish. Great. Sounds like a place where people would smash beer bottles against others' head", John B comments the exterior. "There's a man who deals with hot stuff. He's always here. My dad used to work for him", JJ tells us and I already get a bad feeling. Luke working for someone.. This someone is not to be trusted. 

"Come on, guys." "No, wait. Don't tell me Baracuda Mike." "Okay, then I don't", JJ shrugs leaving the car. "Of course it has to be Baracuda Mike", I mumble exchanging a serious look with John B. Perfect. We're getting ourselves closer and closer to the jail. "Come on, Jay, there must be a better-" 

"Oh, maybe you're right. Maybe there's a better option", JJ replies as we follow him unwillingly, "We just don't have one. Understand? Hey, seriously, we don't have any time. Big John needs help now and this guy right there is our joker to get us to South America as fast as possible. Trust me. Let me talk. Yo, Mike. You remember me? Probably know my name, right?" 

"Luke's son", Mike states smashing his knife on the wood in front of him, "That's alright as well.. I'm also called JJ. These are my good friends John B and Izzy." JJ makes us turn around after we've been trying to ignore this conversation. Great. "Hey", we great him uncomfortably unisono. "Routledge and Scott." "Yeah, right, that's us." "I've heard a lot about you." "Oh, oh." "Yeah, just about him, he's a cop killer, alright-" "Just a joke", I mumble when a tall guy gets closer to us standing just a few centimeters away from me with his arms crossed. Great. 

"Mike, we want to be completely honest about us coming here", I give it a try speaking to him, "We have some issues and we're trying to get down to South America. JJ wanted to ask you-" What exactly is his question? If he'd buy us some first class tickets? Sure. "Help us get there", JJ finishes my question. 

"What a pity. I've just sold my travel agency", Mike replies uninterestedly. JJ chuckles trying to keep up with where this is heading. "You know, we don't want to get anything for free.. one hand washes the other. A symbiotic relationship.. that's what we're hoping for. That's what a conversation in private would be great for. That's my suggestion." Mike slowly nods kind of and JJ tells us to keep the flag flying. 

"Yeah, so.. what are you guys fishing here?", John B ask the tall guy weirdly making me slap my own head. They're too folish to be drug dealers. Didn't want that on my criminal record but here we go. "Mouse." "Pleasure meeting you", I say weirdly before being pushed back by JJ. 

"So, what are we going to do?" "Not a big deal." "Not a big deal? J, I know what Mike is known for." "Exactly", John B agrees with me, "Every time when you've said it's not a big deal, we've been in trouble." "Ri-" "Guys listen." "It's-" "It's the easiest job in the world. We just have to deliver something. They do the same work at the airport. Unload the luggages. It's just us doing it. Soon we're checking in, flying to South America and sipping Pina Coladas."