𝑇𝑊𝐼𝑁 𝑆𝐼𝑍𝐸 𝑀𝐴𝑇𝑅𝐸𝑆𝑆 / 𝐽.𝐵.𝑅

OUT OF YOUR MINDS.

As the group entered the Outer Banks Police Department, the stark, fluorescent lighting and the hum of office equipment contrasted sharply with the oppressive tension in the air. John B, JJ, Kiara, Pope, and Alex moved as a unit, their faces set in grim determination.

Sheriff Shoupe, a seasoned lawman with a reputation for skepticism, looked up from his desk. His gaze was steady, and he seemed to sense the gravity of the situation immediately.

"Sheriff Shoupe," John B said, stepping forward. "We have crucial information about Ward Cameron. We need your help."

Shoupe's eyes narrowed slightly. "What kind of information are we talking about?"

Kiara stepped in, her voice laced with urgency. "We've got evidence of Ward's involvement in serious illegal activities-money laundering, embezzlement. It's all connected."

Shoupe's expression remained unreadable. "And where's this evidence?"

Before John B could respond, Alex spoke up with surprising firmness. "We don't have it."

John B turned to Alex, bewildered. "What do you mean, 'We don't have it'?"

Shoupe raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "So, you have no evidence?"

Alex's gaze was steely as she took a deep breath. "No, we don't. Not in a way that we can show you without putting ourselves at risk."

The group looked at Alex, a mix of confusion and frustration on their faces. Once they were out of earshot from Shoupe, Alex rounded on them, her voice sharp with frustration.

"Are you guys out of your minds?" Alex exclaimed. "We're talking about hacking here! If we show him the evidence directly, it's not just dangerous-it's illegal. I don't want to go back to jail!"

John B's eyes widened. "You've been in jail before? Just for hacking?"

Alex hesitated, her face briefly clouded with discomfort before she nodded. "Yeah, a couple of times. And it's no joke. Jail is not somewhere I want to revisit."

Pope, clearly unsettled, asked, "Is that really the only reason you've been in jail? Just for hacking?"

Alex's answer came with a hint of hesitation. "Yeah, pretty much."

Kiara exchanged a skeptical glance with JJ. "I don't know if I believe that."

Alex's frustration was evident as she ran a hand through her hair. "Believe what you want, but hacking is serious business. If this gets traced back to us, we're in deep trouble. We need to find a different way to get Shoupe on board without directly showing him the evidence."

JJ leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "So, what do you propose we do? We can't just leave Shoupe empty-handed."

Alex's eyes narrowed in thought. "We need to find another method-maybe use our findings to get a search warrant or something. We can't risk direct exposure. We need to be smart about this."

John B's frustration was palpable. "We're running out of time. We need action, not more obstacles."

Alex's expression softened slightly, and she gave a reassuring nod. "I get it. I'll figure out a way to make this work. Just trust me on this one."

Kiara still looked unconvinced. "You sure you've got this under control?"

Alex flashed a strained smile. "I've handled worse. Just stay focused and let me handle the technical side."

As they left the police station, the sense of urgency was even more pronounced. The group had hoped for a breakthrough, but instead, they faced another barrier. They needed to navigate carefully, balancing their pursuit of justice with the risk of legal consequences.

Outside, the cool night air did little to ease the tension. John B, JJ, Kiara, and Pope exchanged anxious glances, knowing that their next steps were crucial. They needed to expose Ward Cameron without compromising their own safety.

Alex, meanwhile, was already deep in thought, her phone in hand as she began to type furiously. The fight against Ward Cameron was far from over, and finding a way to get the evidence in front of Shoupe without exposing themselves was the next critical challenge.

As they went their separate ways, the weight of their mission hung heavily. They were determined to see it through, but the path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty.

The chateau was a mess of old furniture, papers, and half-empty takeout containers. In one corner, Alex Borden was lounging on a threadbare couch, her laptop propped on her lap. The pungent aroma of marijuana filled the room, and Alex was clearly high-her eyes half-closed, her laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.

John B, JJ, Kiara, and Pope walked in, their faces a mix of concern and disbelief. Alex's behavior was erratic; she was giggling and snacking while her fingers flew over her keyboard.

"Hey guys! Welcome to my little hacking paradise!" Alex called out, her voice bubbling with glee. "Got chips? Wanna join the party?"

JJ raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress his frustration. "Alex, are you even capable of helping us right now? You're-well, pretty out of it."

Alex's laughter spilled over as she waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, don't worry about me! I'm high, but my hacking game is on point. I can juggle data like nobody's business!"

John B rubbed his temples. "We need to get this evidence to Shoupe, and we need it now. Can you focus on that?"

Alex gave him a thumbs-up, her grin widening. "No problemo! Just let me finish this up. Being high makes everything so much more... vivid, you know?"

Pope, looking more uneasy than ever, cautiously approached Alex. "Alex, you mentioned you've been to jail before. What's that about?"

Alex's eyes lit up with mischief, and she burst into laughter. "Oh, you want to hear the tales? Buckle up! I've got some real zingers."

Kiara frowned, her patience wearing thin. "Is this really the time for stories?"

Alex waved her hand in a carefree manner. "Of course! So, first off, I got arrested because of my gun collection."

John B's eyes widened in shock. "Gun collection? You mean like real, functional firearms?"

Alex nodded enthusiastically, her expression a mix of pride and amusement. "Yep! Real guns. I've got a whole stash. You know, collectible stuff-revolvers, rifles, you name it. It's like a little armory. Apparently, that's a big no-no."

JJ's jaw dropped. "That's insane. Why would you even collect guns?"

Alex shrugged, a cheeky smile on her face. "Why not? It's a hobby. Though, I guess it's not so legal to have them all in one place. Who knew?"

Pope looked terrified. "That's... seriously scary. What other reasons have you been in jail?"

Alex's grin widened as she settled into her storytelling mode. "Oh, there's more! Like the time I hacked into a government database by accident. Just a little slip-up-got some top-secret stuff mixed in with my files. Oopsie!"

Kiara's eyes narrowed. "Are you being serious? Or is this just another joke?"

Alex's laughter subsided, and she leaned in conspiratorially. "Alright, alright, it's mostly true. I've had a few run-ins with the law, mostly for stuff like illegal gun ownership and minor hacking incidents. But hey, the point is, we need to keep our heads cool."

John B took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "We need to get this evidence to Shoupe without putting ourselves at risk. Can you focus on that?"

Alex's fingers danced over her keyboard. "Absolutely! Just a few more tweaks, and we'll be golden. And remember, folks, no matter how high I am, I'm still your tech wizard."

JJ watched her, a mix of skepticism and hope in his eyes. "Alright, just make sure you get it done."

As Alex continued to work, the Pogues exchanged uneasy glances. Despite her high state and the strange stories, Alex's hacking skills were crucial to their mission. They had to hope that she could pull through, even if she was operating in a less-than-ideal condition.

The room was filled with an air of tense anticipation as Alex's high-energy antics mixed with her focused hacking, making for a surreal but necessary moment in their quest to bring Ward Cameron to justice.