Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

84

"I know I should have said somethin' sooner, but Scooter said Ward would kill me. I know it was wrong not to say anything." Lana has bubbles in her throat as she discreetly asked for forgiveness.

"You did the right thing in the end. That's all that matters." Peterkin assured as I leaned back in the pew. Waiting to take more notes.

"How much did you know?" My gaze shifted to the Sheriff as she leaned forward onto her knees.

"Ward tipped his hand using me to get that compass. I figured out the who and the why. Now I know the how."

Who: BIG JOHN

Why: Fight. Merchant split.

How: Boat, head injury and tossed out to sea. Dead AFTER landing on shore.

I doodled next to the words as Lana gave a warning.

"You should be careful how you handle this. And you too, just knowing this could get you hurt. Ward's got a lot of friends." Lana and I made eye contact before she turned back to Peterkin.

Peterkin paused. Her eyes quickly shot away from Lana to look at something past me. It was fast. Anyone would have missed it. Considered it a blink. But I was honed in. Working my brain to catch everything. I followed her gaze to see Shoupe outside of the window. My eyes widening as I realized what Peterkin just implied.

"Yeah, I know."

Caution? De.SHO

I didn't leave his full name or anyway to identify just in case someone got their hands on my notebook. I wrote it small in the middle of a line, the best place for people to skip over words.

Peterkin had once again let me in on something. Whether she meant to or not. She's intelligent. She knows the risks going into this. One slip up and Ward could be tipped off.

"So. Anything new?" She whispered as we walked down the aisle.

"Just finer details John B didn't give. And the fact you aren't too keen on sharing with Shoupe." I caught the evidence of a smirk on her lips.

"I told you, you're a quick one. I'll brief Shoupe. If you got a page of doodles you can show him those if he asks." She pushed open the door before continuing a conversation. "You ever thought about being a detective?"

"When I was ten. I had a phase. Wanted to be a veterinarian. Then a writer. A YouTuber. A sound engineer. A detective. Until I ended up taking a kickboxing class when I was thirteen, Ma wanted me to learn some self defense. And kickboxing turned into just boxing which became a full time gig. Played some sports but eventually boxing and school became my life." Peterkin hummed thoughtfully.

"Nearly five full years. Is that what you want to do for the rest of your life?" We both had a hand on the cruiser doors ready to open them and get in. But for some reason when she asked me that, I froze.

"I- I don't know. It's something I've been passionate about for so long. It keeps me sane so, maybe?" She gave me a long, hard look. One that felt like she was piercing a hole into my mind for her to examine for herself.

"Well, is there something you've dreamed about doing? Not relating to boxing?" I thought about it. My mental bucket list coming to mind as I tried to recall a few things.

"I'd love to travel. Go overseas, see the world. And then maybe sit down at a desk and write something worth reading." My eyes were spacey as I spoke. Envisioning my treehouse in the woods. Cozy, warm, safe.

"That sounds like a pretty damn good dream to me."

"You two alright?" Shoupe asked as he came around from the trunk. I jumped as Peterkin schooled her face to an empty look.

"Yeah. We were talking about the future. You ready to get back?" Peterkin jerked her head to the cruiser for Shoupe to get the hint.

The three of us buckling in as Peterkin pulled away and started driving.

"Well. How'd it go?" Shoupe asked, glancing between Peterkin and I.

"She wanted to report suspicious activity by the docks. Same thing Sandy Wallace called in yesterday."

"Hmm. You tell her that the fishermen were internationals."

"Yup." Thankfully, I was all caught up on the suspicious dock activity information. We apparently had international travelers at our docks for two days and well, I guess that was suspicious enough for the people of Outer Banks.

________•*•*•*•_______

Scooby + the Gang

Xena. Get your ass to the Château.
Babe

Ward has the gold. He's taking off tonight.
Pope-ronni

Xena.
B

Xena!!
Hubby

This is big. Xena.
B

Look. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing- we're going to the private airstrip. In thirty minutes.
B

Guns a blazing.
Hubby

Meet us there. Please.
B

_______•*•*•*•_______

"Excuse me, sorry!" I shouted racing back into the station. Eyes on me as I dodged officers, limiting my arm and turning to make sure my backpack and helmet didn't hit them.

"Hey."

"Watch it."

I pushed her office door open, scaring her as she turned from her computer.

"Xena, why are you ba-"

"Sheriff Peterkin, if you trust me half as much as I think you do, then we need to go. Right now." I stepped into the office fully shutting the door. "Ward's about to fly out of here and I don't think he's coming back."

"Then let's go."

She was up, keys in hand. Shutting her computer down completely as she moved around her desk. Her face a mask as we walked out of the office.

"Hey, what's going on? You tore through the station like a bat outta hell."

"Sorry, Deputy Shoupe. I had something I meant to ask earlier but just remembered it now. I'll see you tomorrow?" I kept walking, turning to see him as Peterkin split off from me and went to the back exit as I moved to the front.

The two of us splitting up to make it not seem like it was anything crazy.

"Yeah, okay. Stay out of trouble."

"I'll do my best." I grinned outwardly but internally I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.