𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 // 𝑱𝑱 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒌 \\

Chapter Eight

"He always kept the office locked because he was worried about his competitors stealing his Royal Merchant research." John B said from inside the Château. Kiara and Pope stood up quickly following him. JJ groaned. "What?" Valerie asked looking down at him. "I don't wanna get up." JJ rolled his eyes and stared up and the ceiling. "Well, John B seemed to be onto something. Come on." Valerie tapped his head as he looked at her for a quick second. He kissed her hand that was resting on his shoulder as he stood up and turned around to grab her hand. The two stood up and followed after the others. Valerie looked at the ground as she felt her cheeks heat up. "We used to laugh at him all the time like he was actually gonna find it, but now that he's gone, I've just kinda... I just left it as he kept it." John B stopped in front of the office door. Kiara and Pope stood on either side of him while Valerie and JJ stood behind John B still holding hands.

"Yeah, for when he gets back." Kiara said as she looked at the other pogues behind John B with a stern look. "Yeah." John B chuckled. John B unlocked the door and let everyone walk inside. "I've slept over here like 600 times and I've never seen this door open." Pope said as everyone walked into the room. John B grabbed a poster board and layed it down on a table. The rest of the pogues gathered around him. "Here, look. This is the original owner, right here." John B pointed to the top of the board. "Okay. Robert Q. Routledge. 1880 to 1920." Valerie spoke as she looked over his shoulder. "There's the lucky compass, right there." Kiara pointed at the picture next to the name. "Actually, um... he was shot after he bought it." John B said as the smile that was once on Kiara's face faded away. Their quick moment of silence was filled with the rooster crowing. "Then the compass was shipped back to Henry. Henry was killed in a crop-dusting accident when he had the compass."John B pointed to another picture. Pope and JJ shared a look.

"After he died, the compass was given to Stephen. Stephen had the compass with him when he died in Vietnam." John B pointed to another man on the board. "Let me guess, he died in action, right?" JJ asked. "Sort of." John said. "Sort of?" Valerie whispered to herself as she shook her head in confusion. "Uh, a-actually, he was killed by a banana truck. In-- in country. Anyways, after that, Stephen passed the compass down to him, my dad." John B nodded and smiled as he pointed to a picture of his dad. "Hm. Sounds like there's a reoccurring theme here." JJ hummed as he looked at Valerie and Kiara who stood on his left. "Yeah, you have a death compass." Pope agreed.

"No, I do not have a death compass."

"You have a death compass." Pope repeated. "Get rid of it. It's cursed and it's made it's way back to you." JJ continued as the rooster kept crowing. John B groaned as he stepped away from the board. "Look, my dad used to talk about this compartment in here. Soldiers used to hide secret notes." John B sat down in the office chair as he screwed off the back of the compass. John B shook the compass before Kiara pointed to something. "What's that?"

"That wasn't there before."John B whispered. He smiled and looked up at the other pogues. "This is my dad's hand writing."

"How can you know that?" Pope asked clearly skeptic. "Because he does these weird R's with the- See it?"John B showed Pope the compass since he didn't know how to explain it. "Can I see it?" JJ asked from behind John B. John B turned to him and swiftly moved the compass in front of him. "Red-- Rout-- No, I think it's an A." JJ leaned down. Valerie leaned down beside him and looked at it for a second. "It says Redfield."

"Right." JJ stood up not making eye contact with Valerie. "Okay, well, what's Redfield?" Kiara asked. "Besides the most common name in the county." Pope added. "Alright, maybe it's a clue. Maybe it's a clue to where he's hiding." John B explained, leaning back in the chair. "Okay..." JJ nodded. "A clue? Come on, that's--" Pope crossed his arms as Kiara looked at him with a hand on her hip. She cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows at him. The rooster kept crowing from outside. "But if it is a clue, maybe it's an anagram?" Pope spoke fast. John B turned to him with a smile and finger gunned him. "Yes. Perfect. Anagram. You need paper." John B stood up fast to give the paper to Pope. "Okay. Here you go." John B slammed it in front of him. "How can you concentrate with that thing crowing at you?" Pope asked, annoyed.