One Stupid Thing

3:8:96

Her name is Margaret Finch. And if it hadn't been for my tendency to jump to conclusions, that wouldn't be the sole piece of information Ryan would know about her. Screw me and my big mouth.

Ryan stands across from me on the other side of the kitchen island. I bounce my leg anxiously on the stool I am sitting on and rest my head in my hands as I try to even begin to process this.

"I-I know that this was a lot to spring on you, so I completely understand if you don't want to talk to me right now, but is there anything I can do? Is there anything you need from me?" Ryan asks me carefully.

I rake my fingers through my hair and take a deep breath. "Yeah, actually. There is one thing." Ryan looks at me expectantly. "You can keep this a secret just like you have been. I don't want anyone knowing about... her. And Ward can't know that I know, okay?"

"Okay—"

"No, Ryan. You have to promise me that you will keep working with my father. Act like nothing changed. Nothing at all."

"I promise," he replies genuinely.

Suddenly, a knock on the front door captures our attentions. Ryan saunters over and open it. Sarah stands on the other side. "Hey," she greets him politely before stepping through the threshold and walking over to me. I step off of the stool and meet her halfway.

"What's the plan?" I ask her, burying my troubles in the back of my mind. Honestly, I am looking forward to this new mission. Even though it's probably not very healthy, I am going to savor every second I can to avoid my issues.

"Um, I think I know a way to get us down to South America," Sarah tells me, but she doesn't seem as thrilled as she should be, considering the happy news.

"And that's a good thing, right?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Okay... then, what's the problem?" I ask her.

"I don't think you're going to like it."

—

Sarah was surprised when I agreed to her plan, but rightfully so because it happens to involve our dad. However, if Ryan is going to learn more about Margaret, then he needs to "uphold his end of the deal" so to speak. As in, if I see my dad, he will give Ryan more information in return.

So, Ryan gave up the location of the miniature fishing shack that Ward is hiding out in and Kie picked us two girls up with her family's boat. They don't use it much and I don't know how she managed to get her hands on it, all things considered, but she pulled it off somehow.

Kie was hesitant about Sarah's plan, but she figures that if his daughters of all people can trust him, that she has no reason not to. Sarah directed her around the island and in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere stood a small wooden shack with a red roof and an expansive outdoor deck. Situated on top of posts sticking up from the surface of the water, it is apparent that weather has taken it's toll on the structure, staining the white exterior walls and rusting the metal.

"Wait, your dad's staying here?" Kie asks, shocked that the Ward Cameron would choose to stay in such a run down place on the Cut.

"It's where I'd stay if I were him," Sarah comments, helping us tie the boat to the dock.

"Are you sure you two want to do this?"

"I don't know, but I gotta help John B and his dad." My sister steps up onto the deck and takes a deep breath, pausing to brush the hair that had blown in front of her face by the afternoon breeze.

"I guess this is a sacrifice we are willing to make," I add, following Sarah as she begins to walk up to the shack confidently.

"Yeah, well, if I hear bloodcurdling screams, I'll make sure to go in and document the crime scene," Kie assures us lightheartedly.

"You're the best," Sarah replied.

"Good luck."

We approach the latched door and Sarah reaches up to unlock it, but stops herself, closes her eyes and lowers her chin doubtfully. I reach over and take her hand in mine.

"Hey," I say softly. "We've got this. It's two against one, remember?"

Sarah looks over at me and shoots me a weak smile. "Right. Two against one. Here goes nothing." She lifts the latch and when we step through the door, Ward is already staring back at us. His eyes light up with surprise and he takes his glasses off just to make sure he's not seeing things.

"H-hey, girls," he utters. The two of us make our way into the shack cautiously. I notice that he is making fishing lures which is something I never thought I'd see him be interested in, but I guess when you are held up in a place like this you must get desperate to keep busy. "I prayed you'd come around," he adds.

Side by side, Sarah and I turn to face him from across the table. My sister prepares herself briefly before speaking. "Do you remember you told us you would do anything to repair our relationships?"

Our father nods eagerly, eyes darting from Sarah to me and back to Sarah again. "Of course. I meant it."

"There's something you can do."

"Anything."

Sarah and I exchange a victorious glance. We have him right where we want him.

—

The next step of the plan was to even make sure that John B could get to South America in the first place and to do that Sarah needed to do this next part on her own.

So here I am back at the Caldwell Estate. Ryan and I are awaiting a phone call from a particular person, sitting across from each other on the patio as the sun begins to set over the marsh. When his phone rings it breaks the eerie silence and startles me a little. Ryan answers the call and puts it on speaker. I focus on slowing my beating heart and breathing softly as if even a single inhale could arise suspicion.

"Mr. Cameron," Ryan answers, his voice deepening with authority, a side of him that I rarely have seen. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, I have to admit, I doubted your abilities, Ryan, but you have impressed me. I thought for sure after our last conversation that you were no longer going to go through with our arrangement, but," my father pauses and I hear him let out a joyful laugh, "not just one, but both of my daughters came to see me today."

"Well, I had some time to reflect on why I agreed to this in the first place, sir, and I am happy to hear that my efforts did not go to waste."

"Indeed they did not."

"So, I suppose you have called me to repay me?"

"Yes, yes, I was getting there. What would you like to know?"

Ryan looks up at me expectantly. I wrack my brain for any ideas, but there is only one question that has been plaguing me since I found out she was alive.

Ryan reads my lips and raises the phone up towards his face. "Where is she?"

"Last I heard she lives overseas in Portugal, Lisbon I think, but that was a few years ago."

"Thank you, sir."

"Pleasure doing business with you."

And the phone call ends there.

——
Hey guys! Just wanted to update you on what's happening as of the story's progress right now. We currently do not have a release date for season 4 of OBX and we are not far from finishing season 3. So, to avoid going super long without any updates from my story until the new season comes out, I have been slightly lengthening how long I wait before publishing. So, please, until season 4 comes out and I get the chance to start writing it, understand that I don't have a lot of material to work with and I am doing my best. Thank you all for your support :)