P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

John B

The next morning, Cory was released from the hospital, much to her surprise.

They said it was getting better, and as long as she didn't put any pressure on the foot, it would stay getting better.

Cory had immediately called JJ, who brought both Kie and Pope along to pick her up.

Then, they had taken her back to the Chateau, where they were setting up the winch for the gold.

When they arrived, Cory looked around, immediately understanding what had happened with all of the stolen money. In the backyard was a hot tub, and everything was covered in colorful strings of lights.

JJ had carried her over to a chair, placing her down on it so she could watch as her friends prepared the winch.

"How's it feeling?" Pope asked Kiara, who was currently lifted in the air by their contraption.

"Feels good," Kie said.

"Alright, I'm taking you down," Pope warned.

"Okay," Kie said as he began to lower the rope, setting Kie down on the ground.

"John B pullin' a Houdini," JJ mumbled.

"Yeah, where is he?" Cory asked.

"I got my scholarship interview in the morning," Pope commented. "We gotta get this done!"

"Speak of the devil!" JJ announced.

Cory's head snapped up, watching as John B stepped into the yard, stomping his way towards the house.

"Hey!" JJ greeted. "Dude, I set up the entire winch to pull up the gold and everything."

"No he did not!" Pope corrected. "I did that."

"John B," Kie called after their friend, who hadn't paid a single moments attention to any of them.

He stomped onto the porch, pulling open the front door.

"John B?" Cory asked.

"Uh... what's that all about?" Pope asked as they all scurried into the same spot to watch John B.

"I was gonna ask you the same question," JJ said.

"You guys don't know what's wrong?" Cory asked.

"Nope," Pope said. "Haven't seen him since he went fishing with Ward this morning."

Cory watched as the others followed John B into the house, leaving her to infer what was happening just from the rummaging and yells of her friends.

"What are you looking for?" Kie asked at one point.

"Bro what's going on, man?" JJ asked. Then they were silent. "John B, what do you need the gun for? Talk to us!"

Someone was pushed down.

"John B, chill!" Kie scolded.

"What are you, JJ, now?" Pope asked. Then, another clatter as Pope hit the table.

"Guys?" Cory called out. "What's going on?"

"John B, what the hell are you doing?" Kie yelled.

Cory heard the group run out the front door. She heard her friends yelling after him, and she heard JJ's bike rev.

"Ward knows about the gold!" John B finally spoke. "He killed my dad."

Then, the bike shot off. Cory heard him pulling far, far away from them.