𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 4: Straight Smugglin'

"Holy shit," Grace exhaled breathlessly. 

"JJ," John B called, eyes glued to the contents of the safe.

"Jay you're gonna want to see this," Grace spoke, still trying to get over her shock.

The safe had a couple stacks of cash, a manilla envelop and most shockingly, a pistol. 

JJ sped over and almost immediately picked up the gun.

"What the fuck. JJ's holding a gun. There was a gun in the safe. What the hell," Grace rambled to herself, "They weren't just playing Go Fish. Unless they were playing go fish with a gun...How would you play go fish with a gun? Like Russian roulette style?" she continued her panic oblivious to JJ waving the gun around excitedly. 

"Hey JB! Take a picture of me with the gun. This is sick!"

"What and make our own incriminating evidence? Yeah good idea JJ," John B ridiculed.

"JJ put the gun down!" Grace ordered, finally snapping out of her daze. He continued waving it around but her attention was suddenly drawn to a tapping on the window. 

Scurrying over and pulling the blinds, she saw Pope and Kie gesturing towards the motel door urgently and mouthing "cops." 

"Guys...Guys! The cops are here!" she whisper shouted.

Grace ran to the bathroom looking for a hiding spot as JJ unlatched the window. John B climbed out onto the roof and pressed himself against the wall as JJ ran back into the motel to get Grace.

A knocking at the door sounded, followed by a stern voice, "Kildare County Sheriffs Department!"

JJ glanced towards the door, grabbed Grace's hand and pulled her to the window. She climbed out, closely followed by JJ. 

Grace stood, face against JJ's chest, back against the wall, eyes closed and freaking out internally as JJ stood in front of her.

JJ and John B watched as the police officers discovered the open safe. They both glanced at each other as Shoupe handed a stack of cash over to the other officer. In his shock, JJ dropped the gun out of his pocket causing a loud clanging to sound out as it banged against the metal roof.

"JJ, you took the gun? Are you serious?" Grace whispered angrily. 

He didn't reply, only holding his finger to his lips and pressing the both of them further against the wall and each other. JJ glanced down at her with a teasing smirk to which she replied with an eye roll.

Shoupe pulled the blinds and looked around for the source of the commotion. After determining it was nothing, muffled by the glass, he spoke, "Well, we got what we needed let's head out."

The three teens let out a collective sigh of relief. They all hopped down from the roof, JJ helping Grace down, and made their way back to the boat.

___________

"Well that was fun," JJ said while leaning back on the bow next to Grace. "Could've warned us a little sooner."

"We would have except Pope was on the mathletes." Kie replied.

JJ perked up at this, prepared to make fun of him. "Jay, before you say anything I was on the math team with him," Grace interrupted, trying to save Pope from the teasing.

Her attempt to save Pope fell short as JJ took to opportunity to tease them both instead, "No way! I'm surrounded by nerds!" He laughed. Grace rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him, opening her mouth to fire back.