P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Another Hit

"I'm gonna testify under oath," Sarah said to the group. "I was there."

Cory threw her head back, letting it rest on the seat behind her.

Lightning flashed nearby as the rain poured down.

She nodded.

Mother Earth seemed to understand how the Pogues felt.

"I just need to get a hold of my sister," Sarah said.

"Sister," JJ mumbled.

"Kie, do you have your phone?" Sarah asked. "Wheezie is the only other person that knows Rafe wasn't home that day."

"Wheezie?"

"I don't know what else to do," Sarah sighed, starting into the Chateau. "I got us into this mess. I'm gonna do my best to get us out."

She disappeared around the corner, leaving the other four Pogues in their misery.

"Wheezie?" JJ scoffed. "Yeah, that'll work. Well, she's right about one thing. We gotta do something. Our boy is a PO-dub right now, okay? He's held captive by the enemy right now, maybe even scheduled for execution."

"This is real life, not a movie, Jay," Cory sighed.

"What, are we just gonna sit here?" JJ snapped back.

Cory looked up at him angrily as Kie spoke up.

"What's the plan?" Kie asked loudly. "We kidnap Shoupe?"

"Maybe!" JJ snapped back. "Like, that's not the worst idea actually."

"Oh, it's not?"

"No!"

"That is actually the worst idea I've ever heard," Pope spoke up.

Through an open window, Sarah chimed in. "It's pretty bad."

"You know, please, just stay out of this," JJ sighed. "Okay, Pope, look. We've been doing everything your way, and how has that been working out?"

Pope stood, his face growing angrier by the second. "Okay, okay, so what's your plan? You gonna storm a jail, guns-a-blazing?"

"Look, Pope, all I'm trying to get you to understand is they got our boy," JJ said, standing to face Pope. "Now, are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? No! We're gonna go get his ass. We're gonna do something about it!"

"JJ, we're not storming a jail," Pope said sternly. "It's not happening."

"No, fine, man," JJ shrugged. "Sit in your comfy chair. Do nothing. I'm gonna see what I can do. Make something happen, even if I have to do it by myself."

"Okay," Kie sighed.

JJ turned to go, pushing the door open into the rain. He briefly turned back, making eye contact with Cory. She pursed her lips, averting her eyes to the ground. He sighed, pushing out into the rain.

Pope turned back to the others with frustrated gestures.

"Should we be worried?" he asked.

"Yes, for sure," Kie said. "Look, I'm gonna hit my parents and I'm gonna see if I can get money for a lawyer."

"John B has a public defender," Pope argued. "He really doesn't need that right now."

"Are you crazy?" Kie asked. "Justice costs money."

"You're right," Pope nodded. "So I'm gonna dig in hard into anything I can find out about this key. Because that tape Limbrey has, that's exculpatory evidence. That can exonerate John B."