𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲

twenty-nine: Gold For Cash.

THE next day, they were going over the plan and also trying to figure out a way of how to pawn the gold John B grabbed. "Kie, this better work." JJ said as he and Kai walk over to the van. "We can't pawn this if there's a giant wheat symbol on it." Kai said as he sets down the gold onto the floor of the van before looking up at Kie who holds up a blowtorch. "It's gonna work." She says to him.

And Kie did as she planned, melting the gold until they waited for it to cool down and grabbed it out of the pot before they left to the pawn shop. "Hell of a job melting it down, Dr. Frankenstein." JJ said, holding the gold in his hand.

"Like you could've done better."

"I could have done much better. I took a wielding class." He says. "You did? When?" She said and John B goes over to them. "Woah, woah. Hey. Sh!" He shushed them. "Chill out, okay?" He says before looking at Pope, Kai and Sarah. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one that has to pawn this piece of shit off. How did I get this job anyway?" JJ asked as he adjusted his backpack.

"Cause you're the best liar." Pope says and Kai chuckles, nudging him with his elbow as they head into the pawn shop. "Afternoon, ma'am." JJ greeted the woman at the counter. "Afternoon." She greeted him right back as they all walk in.

"I see you buy gold." JJ says. "That's what the sign say, don't it?" She says and JJ looks at her. "Well, I sure hope you buy a lot of it, because I'm about to blow your mind." He says as he sets down his backpack. "I ain't got much mind left to blow, so have at it." She says to him.

He sets down the gold, "how about them gold apples?" He says and she looks down at it before chuckling as she looks up. "That ain't real." She shakes her head. "That ain't real?" He says. "It can't be." She said, still chuckling.

"Feel how heavy it is." He says and she struggles to even grab it off the counter. "Let's get some light on that." He says, grabbing the magnifying glass with a tiny light on it. "Spray-painted tungsten." She concluded. "Spray-painted tungsten? Really? Okay. Why don't you see how, uh, soft it is?" He says and she grabs the tools.

"Do you mind?"

"No, go for it."

She taps it gently and felt the part she tapped. "Wow. Would you look at that?" JJ said in a cocky tone, looking over at Kai who rolls his eyes. "Hold your horses. We ain't got to the acid test yet." She said before turning away. "Ooh! The acid test. My favourite, guys." He says.

"Well, it ain't plated, and it ain't painted."

"Ma'am, I'm telling ya, this is as real as the day is long." JJ said and she continued to examine it. "It looks like somebody tried to melt it down." She says before looking back up. "My mom." He says before looking up at her unsure face.

"She had all this jewelry laying around the house, and she thought it was best to—to melt it down. To "consolidate" it." He says and Kai glanced over to see the woman weigh the gold.

"Seven pounds? That's a lot of earrings."

"Okay, to be honest, ma'am..." He clears his throat, "it's really hard to see my mom fall apart with Alzheimer's." He looks away with an upset look as Kie looks at Pope. "Alzheimer's?"

"Give me a minute."

"Take your time, ma'am."

Kai looked over at JJ to see him already staring at him with a small grin. He stands by him, "do you think she's gonna give us the exact price?" He whispers and JJ shrugs, looking at him. "Let's fucking hope she does..." He whispers. "She's coming out." Kai said and quickly went over to where Kie and Pope were standing.