𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐓 / / 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊

CHAPTER 4

The coastguard had taken no notice of the teens when they had rocked up to report the shipwreck. A woman was too busy going on about her diabetic dog, as well as the numerous other members of the public who had all sorts to either report or complain about.

But the packed out little shack set the scene perfectly for little ole' Stella. Whilst her friends pushed to the front of the queue, she carefully wormed her way through the crowd with lithe footwork and savvy slight hands, reaching into the pockets of those none the wiser. She followed in her fathers footsteps, she only stole from those with money. She picked her clientele wisely, based on their jewellery and shoes, the way they held themselves and their attitude towards others told Stella exactly what she needed to know. By the time they had climbed back onto HMS Pogue, she had dropped 5 wallets onto the deck and began to count the cash in each of them - she knew better than to use a credit card. After securing $320, the wallets where discarded into the water as they teens concocted a new plan.

It was John B's idea, ultimately, it was always his idea that got them into shit. She went along with it though, catching his dumbest moments on Snapchat was one of her favourite past times. Sadly, the Cut had no power currently, meaning no mobile phone charge. She made a mental note to give hers to Kie so she could charge it at her house, maybe stop by herself and take a nice soak in the tub with those ridiculous bath salts that Kie's mom used. Some of the benefits of being friends with a Kook.

Stella sat with her legs crossed at the knees, casually leaning back against the side of the boat, smoking a cigarette with a smug look on her face. Pleased with her haul, she weighed up what brand of rum she was going to buy from the bodega enroute home, so much so that she didn't see the run-down motel as they approached their destination.

JJ's whistling brought her back down to reality. "I thought the chateau looked bad."

The motel had been absolutely trashed, whether that was by Agatha or just years of being left derelict, she wasn't quite sure. Adding to the latter, there didn't seem to be a soul in sight bar themselves.

"This place is a shit show."

"Motel or meth lab?" Kie suggested.

"If it was a meth lab, you'd be able to smell it. Plus, the water doesn't look contaminated." Stella put her cigarette into an empty can by her feet and when she looked up there where four pairs of eyes staring questioningly at her. "What?"

John B shook his head, not wanting to know how she even knew that shit. He just hoped Barry wasn't selling meth on top of his other specialities. Wanting to change the subject he said, "Doesn't look like the place somebody with a Grady White stays."

"No, looks like a place someone with a Grady White would get killed." Pope indicated.

"Alright, here we go." JJ stood on the bow of the boat, preparing to jump onto the land. "This is your captain speaking. HMS Pogue comin' in for landing."

He made quick work of securing the rope to a heavy piece of wood on the floor before JB asked, "We good?"

"Yeah, we good."

"Alright, here goes nothing."

Stella stood up, holding her hand out to JJ so he could help her down, but instead the boy scrunched his face up as though she had just called his mother a whore. "What are you looking at? Help me down."

"Erm, no. Not a chance are you coming in there with us." He folded his arms over his chest.

"Are you fucking serious? Of course I'm coming, you two idiots get yourselves into so much shit when I'm not around and you know it." She began to attempt to climb off the boat herself, struggling as she did so.