𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 // 𝑱𝑱 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒌 \\

Chapter Twenty Seven

Sheriff Peterkin was dead. Sheriff Peterkin was dead and Rafe Cameron had shot her. The pogues were in Anna and Mike's car, Kiara's parents. John B gave Kiara, who was driving, directions. "John B, what are we doing at the police station?" JJ asked him. "Somebody's gotta tell them what happened." John B was still very tense at what he had experienced. Kiara was alone in the front seat. John B and Pope sat in the back while Valerie and JJ squeezed into the trunk. Pope started to violently cough. He still had the blunt in his hand. "Easy there, chief. Damn." JJ looked at Pope from the back. JJ leaned forward to talk to John B. "Alright, I'm just gonna be real with you right now. You might end up in the lion's den, but you don't go there on purpose. It's fundamental. Just like my old man always told me, you should never ever trust the cops, no matter what the circumstance is."

"Your old man's an abusive liar." Kiara turned around in her seat. "I agree with JJ. Fuck the police." Pope stated. "What are you- going to the dark side now?" Valerie looked at Pope. Kiara nodded, pointing at her. "When's the last time the police ever helped us?" Pope looked at Valerie. "Peterkin looked out for me, alright? Tried to atleast. They need to know." John B said. The care silenced. Kiara nodded at the boy. John B got out of the car and walked inside. "Well, that was great." JJ whispered. Kiara turned around in her seat, glaring at JJ. "You wouldn't know what to do if you had just seen a kook murder someone." Kiara said. JJ looked away from the girl in the front. "I have to say this isn't the best idea. I mean, the twinkie is still there, is it not? Ward can easily frame John B." Valerie explained. "Maybe John B can explain before Ward has said anything." JJ shrugged.

"Kie, start the car!" The pogues heard a few minutes later. "What? John B!" Kiara turned around in her seat. "What did you do?" Kiara shouted. John B got into the backseat, slamming the door behind him. Valerie turned her head and saw two officers, Plumb, and Thomas, run out of the police station. "Shit, go!" Valerie shouted at the girl. Plumb ran to John B's side of the car. "Sorry!" Kiara shouted. "Swerve! Swerve!" JJ shouted once Kiara started moving. Thomas banged on the back of the car, scaring Valerie. JJ comfortingly held her hand. "Stop, right now!" Plumb shouted from outside, trying to open the door as it moved. "Open it." Pope suggested. "What did you do?" Kiara screamed. John B opened the door which ended in Plumb tumbling to the ground. John B closed the door again. Everyone stayed silent for a few seconds.

"What the fuck happened?" Kiara whispered, though everyone could hear. "Ward framed me." John B replied quietly. Kiara continued driving until she found an old run down shed. "We can, uh, spend the night here, I guess." Kiara stopped the car. "Great. Sleeping in a car." Valerie whispered as she moved around in the back. John B moved his seat down giving JJ and Valerie less room in the back. "Pope, don't you dare try to put that seat down." JJ told the boy. Pope retracted his hand. Valerie understood the John B doing it was a chance he'd be less seen. JJ layed down in the back. "Well, night guys." Kiara whispered softly. The other pogues all responded in different variations. Valerie layed next to JJ, half her body being on his because of John's B chair. In the morning, the pogues continued to try and lay low. Pope had moved to the front while JJ and Valerie moved their spots next to John B. They also put their seat down. JJ's hat covered his eyes while Valerie layed on top of him.

"Good news to the residents of Outer Banks. Dominion Power says their underwater transmission line, which will restore 90% of the area, should be functional within 24 hours." The pogues listened to the radio. Sirens blared around the car. JJ looked up, but didn't see any cop cars around, so he layed back down. "And still, no arrest in the shooting death of Sheriff Susan Peterkin. The state police have issued a statement regarding a local person on interest, a juvenile from-" Kiara quickly shut off the radio. "Let's game this out. Maybe you guys can help being the smart ones and all, but..." JJ sighed before continuing, "...who are the cops going to believe? Ward Cameron or us? So, the accuser is a bigshot developer, kind of lord of this island, got the governor on speed dial kind of person, and the accused... is John B, who is pretty much a homeless 16-year-old boy at the moment."