Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

72

It's starting to get light out. We're gonna have to make some decisions. Where to go from here.

"So this Berber guy that drew the map, he's Moroccan, right?" Pope asks. "Last time JJ saw Groff, he was probably headed to Essaouira on the Moroccan coast. Seems like that's where we need to go."

Cleo holds up a map of Morocco on her phone.

"I just didn't think it got worse than Luke," I confess. "But Groff? I'm sorry, I should have noticed..."

"Storm," JJ says. "Storm. Your sympathy, thank you, but it doesn't do anything." He holds up a bottle of vodka. "This does."

"JJ I'm just trying to help," I tell him.

I hear a boat engine coming our way.

"Oh shit," JJ remarks. "Guys."

"Who's coming out here this early?" Pope asks.

"It's the cops," JJ tells us.

"How did they find us?" Kie asks.

"So what's the plan?" Pope asks.

"Follow me," John B tells us. "Let's go."

We follow John B into the water under the dock. It's really our only option. Not like we can just get back on our boat with the cops right there.

"JJ Maybank! JJ, we don't want to hurt you. Come on out," the cop shouts. "I have an arrest warrant for JJ in connection to the murder of Hollis Robinson."

"Murder?" I whisper to JJ.

"We'll take the pontoon," John B tells us. "It's ready to go."

It's a tight fit with all of us but we manage to make it onto the pontoon.

"Hey! Hey, stop!" the cop shouts. "Stop! John B, turn it around! Stop! Hey! Stop!"

"So, I guess I'm the new murderer in town, then," JJ remarks. "Check that off the bucket list."

"Forget all of that. We gotta get off this island," Cleo states.

Pope shakes his head. "I can't go back. I mean, might as well go after that scroll, right?"

"I mean, I could be down for a little Moroccan vacay," JJ agrees. "What do you say we get out of Dodge for a few weeks? And maybe... I could catch up with my dad."

"We're gonna need a bigger boat," Cleo states. "Hell, a ship, maybe. You know how far Morocco is? Way, way, way out there."

If we want a boat to get us across the ocean we're gonna need to steal it. We head into the inlet towards town.

"All right, guys, we gotta boost a boat that can make it to Morocco," JJ says. "Take your pick. We got a lot to choose from."

Sarah points at one of the boats. "What about that one?"

"It's a flat hull," John B tells her. "It's not gonna make it across the ocean. Also, they break down all the time."

"What about this baby right here?" JJ asks.

"You know that's, like, a $2 million boat," Pope tells him.

I laugh. "Means it's nice as shit inside no doubt."

"It's pretty," Sarah says.

"Big engine," John B offers.

"That's gotta be the one," Kie states.

"You know, we could all go to jail for taking a boat like that," Pope reminds us.

"Pope, you're gonna go to jail for things you already did," Cleo tells him.