CASTAWAY ⚓ R.C, J.M

EIGHT

"Be quiet."

"Mmm."

Bedsheets rustled.

"JJ."

"Babe."

Stiffled giggles filled the warm air.

"Stop."

"Mhmm."

A stream of light peeked through the curtains and bathed a small strip of the room in gold.

"Jayyy."

"Harleyyy" JJ mocked through laughter.

Harley smacked JJ's shoulder once he stopped tickling at her sides. She had a chance to catch her breath before leaning over him and grabbing her phone.

"You shouldn't even be in here, Maybank."

"I know. But I'd break the rules for you anytime." He kissed her arm.

"Who is it?"

Harley frowned at the caller ID and answered right away. "Hey, Pope. Everything okay?"

"Yes. No. I don't know. Where are you?"

"I'm at my... family's... house."

"Is JJ with you?"

Pope's behaviour seemed rather erratic which meant something was definitely troubling him. Harley also noticed Kiara off to the side of Pope in the facetime video.

"Uh, yeah." She tilted her phone to show JJ laying down. "He's here."

"Good."

"What's up, dude? I take no responsibility for whatever it is I'm being accused of, I hope you know that."

"No. No you haven't done anything. It's..." the screen shook a bit before the camera focused on an envelope. "I got this from a guy from the scholarship committee. Read it."

JJ's eyes squinted at the screen. Seconds ticked by of him not saying a word which made Harley look at him expectantly.

"I can't read cursive."

Kiara spoke, "What? This is why you should be in school."

Harley took her phone back and read over the words.

"Dear Mr Heyward, I am reaching out because I have material evidence that can exonerate John B Routledge. It is of vital importance that you come and meet me in person at my offices at 27 King Street Charleston..." Harley trailed off. That address was all too familiar.

"Is that it?" JJ asked.

"... um no. It says to meet at 8:00pm sharp tonight. Please come alone. Regards C. Limbrey."

"It's an eight-hour  drive plus the ferry." Pope commented.

Harley's mind had already spiralled. Why would Carla Limbrey have evidence that could exonerate John B? What did the Pogues have that Carla suddenly wanted? How did she even know the Pogues existed? Was it another ploy to get to Harley? She didn't know what things had been like between her dad and his sister since the incident that put her mother in the hospital.

"How will we get there tonight?"

"We'd have to leave right now." JJ started getting up.

"I think whoever this Limbrey person is, they might be related to the captain of the royal merchant."

Harley's head snapped up.

The image of a 19th century sailor stood proud in a framed photo came to mind. Her aunt had it placed above a fire place in one of her drawing rooms. She remembered her father mentioning the family history once or maybe twice, he hadn't been much interested in it himself.