𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 93: Coast Guard

"Okay so, looking at the schematics of the ship, it'll probably be best for you to enter in around here," Pope explained while circling the stern of the boat on the diagram.

The Pogues were gathered around on the upper floor of the shop. It was an overcast day, a gentle breeze coming off of the marsh and ruffling the sails they used as a roof.

Grace was sat on the couch beside JJ, his arm slung over her shoulders. His gaze kept drifting back and forth between Pope and his wife. Every time she caught his eye he sent her a small comforting smile.

Grace was occupied fiddling with the rings on JJ's fingers, trying to keep herself focused on what Pope was saying and not on the mess that was the previous night.

"Genrette wasn't kidding about this stash. Look. In the captain's log, there's a secret compartment. Right here behind the headboard in the captain's quarters." Pope pointed at the watercolour that depicted just that.

"Are we really still talking about this?" John B plopped down into the chair on the other side of Grace, casually grabbing JJ's beer to take a sip.

"Yep," JJ replied, popping the 'p'.

"The ship's been down there for 300 years. It's been salvaged, we know that," John B repeated the same thing he'd been saying all morning.

"Come on, not gonna hurt to check," Cleo jumped in.

Snapping his fingers, JJ pointed at her appreciatively.

Grace bit her lip, picking at her fingers.

John B sighed heavily while rubbing at his forehead.

"Yeah. It feels right. And also, we know where it is," JJ said while pulling out a map and pointing at the general ocean surrounding Goat Island, "It's right in this area."

"Except we don't know exactly where it is," John B complained.

"What about the Coast Guard?" JJ asked with a raised brow, "I bet they know where it is. Plus, I've heard coasties are quite chill, so we could probably just straight up ask them."

"Hey, wait, Pope, isn't your uncle in the Coast Guard?" John B mused, still hesitant about the whole thing. "Uncle Roger?"

"My Uncle Roger?" Pope echoed incredulously, "No, no, no. That's not gonna work. My Uncle Roger is the most straight-laced, by-the-books person in the history of the world. It's not gonna happen."

Sarah raised a brow. "More straight-laced than you?"

"First of all, I didn't graduate high school. I had to get a GED. That... That's pretty loosey-goosey."

JJ whistled teasingly at his words before leaning back to lounge across the couch, pulling Grace to lay back with him. The feeling of his arms wrapped lazily around her helped to put her at ease. It was almost supernatural the way such a simple gesture lowered her heart rate and stilled her twiddling hands so quickly.

"So, other options..." Pope stood and wandered to lean back against the deck railing, "Wait, JJ, isn't your friend in the Coast Guard? Boogie."

JJ looked over at John B with an amused face while pinching his wife's waist.

He received an "Oh boy," from John B and a laugh from Grace.

They both knew Boogie. JJ had met him in the seventh grade at the marina. They weren't legally allowed to get jobs as they were too young, but JJ had managed to convince Boogie to employ and pay him under the table. After finding out about JJ's job, John B managed to land one with Boogie too. Grace had heard all sorts of stories about the man, none of which boded well for their odds at finding the shipwreck.