everything about you •• jj maybank

thirty eight

"He killed my father!"

After John B sped off on JJ's bike, the next few minutes felt like a movie scene; the world spinning around me, and everything moving around in slow motion. I grasped my chest as it ached, my heart thumping hard and my lungs burning with every breath.

Ward was responsible for Big John's death? Ward Cameron?

My best friend's father, the man who used to always take me and Sarah out for icecream every Sunday. The man who took John B in, offering him a place to live and a roof over his head. He was one of the most respected men in our community - in all of Kildare County.

This was the man that was responsible for the disappearance, and murder, of John Routledge?

The information was too much for me to bear, and I began to pace around the yard with my hands on my head.

A year ago, I would have laughed in John B's face at the statement, truthfully. I would have never for a second believed something like that. Not about Ward.

But with everything that had happened in the last few months, it was starting to make sense. The pieces were all fitting together like a puzzle in my mind.

But for what reason? Why would he do something like that?

"Josie."

I turned to the voice, seeing Pope walking towards me, his eyes widened in utter shock, just like mine.

"Josie, you okay?"

I took three deep breaths, in through my nose and out through my mouth, before putting my hands down and shaking them at my sides. I nodded once at him.

"Mhm," I hummed, blinking rapidly, "I'm good. Are you guys good?"

They all mumbled confirmations for me, though I wasn't sure I believed them. This was a big shock to me, I couldn't imagine how they were feeling. After all, I never knew Big John other than in passing. This was deeper for them than it was for me.

"I just- Ward killed his dad. That's fucking- That's crazy," I stammered. We all shared a terrified look, not knowing what to do next. John B was off doing God knows what, and we were dumbstruck in his front yard.

I walked closer to them, my fingers digging into my palms, remembering what Ward had told me just a few minutes beforehand.

"I- I just talked to Ward on the way over here."

The three of their heads snapped up to meet mine, and I nodded.

"He was at the police station." We all huddled in the driveway, our bodies shaking with adrenaline and fear. "Was John B with him today?"

JJ nodded from beside me, "Yeah, they went on this fishing trip. That's why we couldn't go get the gold today."

The hair rose on my body at the memory of the wound is Ward's arm. A hole a few centimeters deep in his forearm, the dried blood sticking to his hair and skin.

"When I saw him, he had been stabbed."

I watched their faces drop, the color draining from their skin completely.

"He told me John B was responsible for the wound but... I don't know. He said that John B was dangerous, and not acting like himself. Something about being concerned for his and Sarah's safety. But- but he didn't say why. He wouldn't tell me what happened."