30| ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY


"She said the key leads to the Cross of Santo Domingo." Pope spoke as the group all rode together in the Twinkie.

"Wait. Can I see that?" JJ reached his hand out.

"Are we supposed to know what that is?" Sarah spoke up in questioning.

"I'm guess it's some sort of historical artifact of great importance." Pope spoke alongside her.

"You know they rarely clean historical artifacts." Joey cringed. "Kinda like the Twinkie."

"Joey, you can ride on the roof." John B shot back.

"Also kinda like John B's hair!" Joey rose her voice.

"Well, according to the interweb, it was a gift from New Spain to the Spanish king." Kie read from her phone screen, cutting their yelling short.

"New Spain? Is there an Old Spain?" JJ questioned.

"Shit, talk about over-gifting. Look at this thing." Kie leaned forward to show a cross drawing. "It's like there's a person standing next to it."

"So, it's a giant-ass cross." JJ hummed in response.

"It was widely considered at the time to be the most extravagant tribute ever from the provinces." Kie continued to read. "It was lost off the coast of Bermuda in 1829."

"Did you just say Bermuda?" JJ looked back at her.

"Oh, no. Not the triangle." John B shook his head.

"It always leads back to the triangle, dude." JJ shook his head. "Like every single time somethings weird, it's Bermuda."

"What does a key found above your mee-maw's pharmacy have to do with any of this?" Kie looked to Pope for answers. "Where do we come in?"

"I don't know. That's a good question." Pope exhaled with a shake of his head. John B pulled up to the nursing home near the east side of the island, JJ getting out to open the door.

Pope got out first, looking back as Kie started to follow. "Hey, um, actually I think I'm gonna do this one by myself."

"Are you sure?" she nodded her head.

"Yeah, I can handle it. I don't really need you, so.." he trailed off.

"Oh, shit." Joey mumbled.

"Oh, we're just all one big happy family today, aren't we?" JJ hummed as he looked between the two.

"Okay, well, I need some clorox whips and hand sanitizer." Joey spoke up as she crawled out. "Corner store. Anyone want to join?"

"I'm kinda hungry." Sarah agreed, getting out.

"Well, i'm not staying." Kie got out with the two.

"Oh course I thanked Topper." Sarah spoke as the trio searched around the corner store. "He saved my life, and I'd put him through so much already. And you'd think that its the crime of the century."

"I think you did the right thing." Joey said honestly as she whipped her arms and hands with the sanitizer. "Ignore John B, he's just mad your ex is involved. You're not mad i'm always around, he needs to have the same energy."

"See, that's what I thought too." Sarah agreed. "And I know it's different because you're my friend, too. But how am I the bad guy for thanking someone for saving me?"

"You're not, don't worry." Joey shook her head. "Guys are fucking weird and they need to be put in their place every now and then. Remind them, and their unwashed hair and balls, that we're not property to own and control."

"Tell me about it. All this crazy shits happening, and Popes giving me the silent treatment for not being in love with him." Kie explained as she pushed the door open.

"And we're the dramatic ones." Sarah joked.

"All right, everyone clear out." Joey whipped down the Twinkie seats as they got back, tossing some up to JJ. "JJ, please help."

"You know, i'm surprised you actually came." JJ said honestly as he whipped the back of the seats. "Last time we were in the twinkie you tried to jump out."

"Still tempted." Joey crawled in, throwing the dirty whip at John B's face. "Especially tempted."



"I still can't believe you're related to Denmark Tanny." John B spoke in shock as they all crowded under a deck as the rain started to sprinkle. "Are we in the presence of a royal?"

"A king?" JJ asked in an accent. "We shall crown him. All hail the lord of Tannyhill! We're not worthy!"

They all bowed to Pope as he waved them off. "All right, everybody relax. Can we relax, please?"

"That's cool as shit, Pope." Joey nodded, chewing on some ice.

"Relocate to Cat's Ass, question mark?" Sarah hummed with a nod.

"I'm with that." JJ agreed.

"How soon can we move in?" Kie looked toward Pope in questioning.

"Cause I don't have a place to stay." JJ agreed.

"I don't have a place to stay either." Kie pointed out. "Bunk beds?"

"Bunk beds." JJ agreed.

"I just keep thinking about the letter, the one that Limbrey sent." Pope cut in as he scratched the side of his face. "It had the wheat symbol on it. That must mean it had something to do with the Royal Merchant."

"Yeah. Something seems fishy." JJ agreed.

"But if we find the cross, we can split it like we were gonna split the gold." Pope spoke up.

"Can we still clean the cross?" Joey rose an eyebrow. "Just making sure in advance."

"Oh, absolutely." Pope flashed her a smile.

"And live happily ever after?" Limbrey spoke as she walked toward the group, Renfield holding the umbrella over her head.

Pope walked forward, Renfield pushed him back. "You assaulted my father."

"Oh, I didn't assault anybody." the blonde woman shook his head.

"He can identify the psycho from a mile away." Kie glared in her direction.

"I hope you know you could have killed him if you hit him on the head the right way." Joey glared at him. "But, of course, you wouldn't care about that, right?"

"Why would my employ a-a-assault your father?" Limbrey faked her shock toward Pope. "That's absurd. Listen, we can keep on negotiating, but the fact is that I want the key."

Pope went to lung at her, John B holding her back.

"And I won't stop until I have it. I didn't have a choice, which means you don't either." Limbrey went on, unbothered by Popes anger.

John B pulled a key from his pocket. "It's Limbrey, right? Is that right?"

She turned to look at him, mesmerized. "Yes."

"Is this what you're looking for?" John B continued to mock her with the tiny gold in between his fingers.

"Yes, it is."

"Looking at the tide right now, id say it's about 20 feet deep out there." John B squinted toward the water. "So, if I threw it in the channel, the probability of you finding it again is slim to none. Wanna give it a shot? Ready?"

He dangled it over the side, Limbrey nearly fell from her crutches. "No! Hey!"

John B paused as the older woman caught her breath. "Please don't do that."

"Get him to back the hell up." the teenage boy spoke, nodding toward Reinfield, who had Pope pinned to one of the post.

"Of course." she answered with a forced smile, looking toward the man. "Back up."

He did so, Limbrey hobbled forward. "As I told you from the beginning, I'm willing to be reasonable."

Pope side eyed John B. "Okay. I'll give you the key. But, I want the tape."

"Pope. Hey, hey, hey." John B walked forward with a shake of his head. "You don't have to do this."

"No it's okay." Pope shook his head as John B tried to protest again. "Hey, it's fine. It's okay. It's about your dad. This is way more important."

John B handed the key over, Kie and Joey shared a look. Limbrey exhaled when it was in her palm. "Oh, you're a good friend."

"The tape." Pope demanded.

"Yes, give him the tape." the older woman looked back with a grin. Reinfid walked toward, dropping it into Popes hands. "You know, I wish that you'd come to this decision earlier. We could have avoided all this unpleasantness."

They headed off, Reinfield looked back. "See you around, Pope."

As they headed off, JJ cleared his throat. "How long do you think we have until she realizes she has your fathers old key?"

"Ten minutes." John B hummed.

"Who's idea was the fake key?" Pope turned around in shock and relief. "Joey?"

"Not me." she shook her head.

"Shockingly, not mine either." Kie spoke up honestly.

"Humm, I don't know. Should we tell him?" John B wrapped an arm around JJ with a questionable look.

"Wow. Im impressed." Kie laughed. "Maybe you are good for something."

"Did hell freeze over?" Pope laughed as he joined in on the pair of boys.

"Woah, JJ. You're taking after me now?" Joey smiled as she clapped her hands his way.

"Even a blind pig can find an acorn at times." JJ giggled as Pope tickled him, while John B shook him. "I actually don't know what that means, but I saw it on Reddit."

"We gotta take this tape to Shoupe." John N announced, Kie jumped off the side of the deck. Joey dumped the rest of her ice into the water when it started to melt.

"Yes, sir. Ward Cameron, we're coming for you, big boy!" JJ cheered.



The trio of girls sat together on the chateau bench, listening to the boys cheer from inside. Kie noticed Sarah's discomfort. "Do you regret it?"

"No." she said nearly immediately. "He deserves all of it. And I know that."

"He's your dad, I get it." Kie shook her head.

"Here." Joey gave Sarah the cream soda. "I whipped the can down so try not to let your mouth touch it."

"Thanks, Joey." Sarah gave a small smile.

"I'm sure it sucks to be in the middle." Kie agreed.

Sarah's phone went off, turning it around to see a smily picture of Topper, indicating he had been calling. She looked toward the two. "Sorry."

Joey watched her go, biting the inside of her mouth as she looked off. Kie looked oddly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Joey hummed, leaning on the side of the porch.

"Is it John B and Sarah?" Kie gave her a small look. "Look, we didn't mean to hide the marriage thing from you. We just wanted to think about your feelings."

"I get that." Joey nodded her head. "But I already feel like I don't always fit in with you guys, and I hate thinking that you all are walking on egg shells around me."

"I know, i'm sorry." Kie nodded at her. "Seriously."

"I was kinda a dick to John B about it though." Joey shook her head with a sigh. "It's just- it's so weird sometimes, you know? I like that we're friends and we're trying to work on a friendship, but it's weird."

"I know." Kie nodded at her. "I think you've grown a lot though. It's still weird, it's probably always gonna be weird and kinda difficult, but you've handled things a lot more maturely lately. Seriously."

"Hey, they're coming for my dad." Sarah walked back to the two quickly.

"What?" Kie gapped.

"We have to go, I need to be with Wheezie." Sarah spoke quickly, hurrying into the chateau to round of the boys.

They were all in the twinkie in no time, John B driving behind a large black van. Sarah gripped the side of the van. "Can you hurry, I really wanna be there for my sister."

"You think I wanna miss this?" John B looked her way in questioning.

The twinkie came to a stop infront of the large wall outside of the Cameron's, each of them jumping out. They stared at the multiple police cars, all running out toward the Druthers.

"Screw it, i'm going over." John B spoke, attempting to jump the wall.

He went over first, yanking on the rope as they all followed close after. JJ hoisted Joey over as John B helped her down. Sarah and Kie coming next before Pope and JJ hurried with the rest of them.

"Wheez." Sarah called as she ran toward her sister. She hugged her tightly "Go inside. Don't come out."

"What? What's going on?" Wheezie asked quickly.

"I will explain soon." Sarah tried.

"Sarah, wait-" Wheezie started.

"Go, i'll stay with her." Joey cut in as she looked to Sarah. "I'll keep her in the house."

"Thank you." Sarah spoke quickly.

"What's going on?" Wheezie asked Joey as she pulled her inside. "Why are the police here?"

"Your dad is in trouble. All you have to do is stay put, all right?" Joey asked, pulling out her phone quickly. "Hang on."

The line rung. "Hello?"

"Topper, can you come to the Cameron's?" Joey asked quickly. "I have to stay with Wheezie and I don't know what's gonna happen out there."

It wasn't long for Topper to show up, running into the house. "Joey!"

"There out back." Joey spoke quickly as he hurried to her. "Hurry, I-"

They were cut off by a loud boom, Topper and Joey stumbled backwards as they grabbed each other's arm. Joey panicked. "Go. Go make sure they're okay."

Topper listened, hurrying off. Joey looked to Wheezie. "It's gonna be okay."

She wrapped her arms around her, holding Wheezie head onto her chest and just hoped for some form of news soon.



kylie speaks

joey comforting wheezie
bc she had no one to comfort
her when she was her age

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top