Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 19.1 - Jessie's Trial

Chapter nineteen

Jessie's Trial

Sam shuffled through the maps, trying to get a complete picture of their surroundings. The light of the flames was traitorous and his eyes went astray. He'd have to do this in the morning.

"Sam, take a look at this." Kyle stopped next to him, holding a blue backpack high above his head. Billy was behind him, trying to snatch it out of his hand.

"You're... teaching Billy tricks?" Sam asked.

"Give it back, Kyle. I'm warning you!" Billy jumped, but Kyle avoided him.

"Oh, no, I'm shaking all over!"

Sam half expected him to thump his cousin on the head, but Kyle threw the backpack to him, instead. It was really heavy. "What's in here?"

"That's my...um, survival kit," Billy said.

Sam raised his eyebrows and rummaged inside. "It's full of food. Billy, where did you get this?"

Billy shuffled his feet. "I packed it from home."

"And were you planning on sharing it any time soon?" Kyle asked.

"I shared the supplies I've received from headquarters. This is my personal stuff. I'm not asking you guys to share your underwear—"

Kyle leaned towards him menacingly. "We would if it would help us survive."

"That's enough, you two." Sam waved, indicating that they both sit down. "You're not getting the food back. We're sharing it. Good catch, Kyle. We have more important things to discuss now." He waved his arms to get everyone's attention.

Sam spotted JT and Steve sitting on one of the higher steps of the temple, both of them bent over Steve's laptop. None of the two looked too happy. They actually appeared to be arguing. Sam decided against calling them over.

"What's up?" Angie asked.

"I think it's about time we discussed Jessie. We can't go on like this. We either trust her or we don't. Jimmy, what's the verdict?" Sam noticed Alice looking away from him pointedly.

"She's clean." Jimmy said at once. "I haven't noticed anything suspicious about her."

Sam raised his eyebrows. He'd been a bit too quick to answer.

"I agree with you. And I'd vote 'innocent' if it weren't for what she did today," Jerry said.

"What was that? Fix my shoulder?" Jimmy asked and Sam could detect a slight protective edge in his voice.

"No. Her attack on Eye Patch was completely uncalled for. She could have gotten us in so much trouble," Jerry said.

"Okay, so she has a bit of trouble with her temper—"

"Jimmy, she almost got you killed. I have no idea what was inside her head, attacking like that. No one hurt her—"

"Yes, no one hurt her. That's why she's in your tent, sick," Jimmy snapped and Jerry pulled back.

"To be honest, Eye Patch was actually aiming for you," Tom said.

"Not you, too." Jimmy turned to him. "I thought you liked her."

Tom raised his hands. "I do like her, but that doesn't mean I don't find her actions confusing. We've had enough trouble with traitors before. In case you can't remember, I almost died."

"Yeah, Jimmy. If we like her, it doesn't make her less of a traitor," Sam pointed out. He would have been ready to trust her if it hadn't been for that one, unexplainable action.