𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 » 𝙅𝙅 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙠 [𝙾𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙱𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜]

𝟑 - "𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐲, 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐲, 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐲."

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"Even now I taste the salt on my lips
being dried by the sun.
An ocean limitless,
taking me back to better days."

Up Up - Sandollar

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III.
\\ OPEN INVESTIGATION //
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THE GROUP immediately headed inland to the Coast Guard reporting station, hopeful that telling about the boat they'd found would offer a finder's fee. They parked the Pogue at the docks, seeing the crowd gather around the Coast Guard office, undoubtably seeking help with the aftermath of the storm.

Pope, Kie, and Ava waited just outside the door, watching as John B and JJ weaved through the crowd and up to the front desk. Everyone was speaking at the same time, the crowd obviously frustrated, which only appeared to overwhelm the man at the front desk even more. John B couldn't get the attention of the man at the front desk and when he did, it looked like the man just waved them off.

John B and JJ just walked away, knowing that getting anyone's attention in that crowd was pointless, and headed to the door where the rest of them stood.

"Well, now what?" Ava asked them.

John B dug the key out of his pocket and held it up in his hand.

"I think I know how we're gonna find the guy who owns the boat." He said with a mischievous grin.

"No, no...we don't know whose room that is," Pope pointed out in opposition, "It could be anyone."

JJ grabbed the key from John B and threw it to Ava, "I'm in."

She caught it in her hand, "Come on, Pope. You, Kie, and I will be lookouts."

JJ walked over to Ava and she placed her hands on the back of his shoulders. Knowing what she wanted, he chuckled as he hooked his arms at his side, allowing her to jump on his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he did a little jump, securing his arms under her legs as he began walking.

"Finder's fee, Pope. Just sayin'." John B said as he passed Pope, then turned around and looked back at him, "And, hey, at least you'll only be an accomplice."

Pope sighed, knowing that even if he didn't think it was a good idea, he wasn't going to let his friends go without him.

"Man," He whined, following behind them as they all headed back to the boat.