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Day One

Morning - Tannyhill Estate - Outside

Isa, John B, Lia and Sarah arrived back at Tannyhill after dropping everyone else off, walking through the front gate, along the side of the house as they talked about the plan.

"Okay, what's the plan?" Sarah asked.

"We're gonna go and melt the bricks so they're not traceable," John B answered.

Lia nodded. "Yeah."

"This afternoon, we're gonna take it to the pawnshop," Isa explained. "And after that, we'll pay for JJ's restitution."

"How many bars?" Lia asked.

"I don't know," John B admitted. "It was all muddy." Ward was inside, seeing the four of them arrive through the window. "I think it was like 500."

"500?" Sarah repeated in shock.

John B shrugged. "600."

Sarah smiled., speaking a little too loudly. "600 bars of gold?"

Lia nudged Sarah. "Sarah, shh. Not that loud."

"Right, sorry," Sarah apologized.

"I don't know," John B told them. "It could be a thousand. It was all muddy, but it was everywhere." Ward opened the window to try and hear them. "Covering the walls, stacks of it."

Isa smiled. "Four hundred million dollars, baby. It's all there."

Sarah laughed. "Hey, that's crazy."

Lia smiled at Isa and John B. "You did it."

"We did it," Isa corrected. Lia smiled. "Now we just have to get it out of there."

"Right," Sarah agreed. "So how will we do that?"

"Okay, so Pope has a plan," John B explained.

"Sounds like Pope comes up with most of the plans," Lia remarked.

"The smart ones, anyway," Isa answered. The four chuckled, walking to the front door. "This one basically takes a pulley system..."

When Ward could no longer hear them, he walked out of the room he was in; the gaff hook had been sitting beside him in its holder.

At the front door, Ward walked outside to meet up with the four teens. "Hey."

Isa, John B, Lia and Sarah all stopped in their tracks, no longer speaking. "Hi."

"What are you four plotting?" Ward asked.

"Uh..." John B hesitated, unsure if Ward was serious or just joking. "The usual stuff."

Sarah smirked. "World domination."

Ward smiled. "That's my girls, always aiming high."

Lia gave a forced smile. "You know us."

Ward gestured to Isa and John B. "It's gonna have to wait a day, though, 'cause I'm taking these two kids fishing tomorrow morning. First light."

"Um..." Isa trailed off, taken by surprise.

"Just the three of us," Ward finished.

"No, they can't tomorrow," Lia told him.

Ward gave Lia a look. "Why not?"

Lia crossed her arms over her chest. "Because we have plans, with the other Pogues."

"Oh, really?" Ward asked. "What plans are those? Sit by the pool all day?"

"No," Sarah answered.

Ward pointed out to the boat. "Look, that boat needs a first mate, and you two need to start earning your keep around here, all right?"

"Dad," Lia and Sarah warned.

"What?" Ward asked. "Sweeties, I'm kidding. They're new to the family. I just wanna take them fishing. Is that all right?"

Lia and Sarah knew that they wouldn't be able to win this argument, having to give in in order to keep Ward's suspicions from getting too high. "Okay."

Lia gave Isa and John B an apologetic look.

Ward looked at Isa and John B. "Yeah?"

Isa knew they had to say yes. "Yes, sir."

John B simply nodded.

Ward put his hands on Isa and John B's shoulders. "All right. It's gonna be good."

Ward walked away back into the house, while Isa, John B, Lia and Sarah exchanged a look.

⚓️

Inside - Isa's Room

Isa was in her room, looking at the gold, turning to face John B.

"I can't believe we actually found it," John B admitted.

"Me neither," Isa agreed. "Wish Dad was here to see it."

John B nodded sadly in agreement. "Me too."

Isa looked up at him. "He was proud of you, you know. You were always better on the boats. He always boasted about you, wherever we went."

John B smiled solemnly. "He was proud of you too. You're so much smarter than I am."

Isa smirked. "That's a given."

John B gave Isa a sarcastic look, smirking. "Oh, ha ha. But he always talked about how smart you were. How far you could go if we had the means to get you there. With the gold, we might be able to."

Isa pressed her lips together. "Like I said, JB. I don't need the gold for myself. I wanna find out what really happened to Dad. Once and for all. If he's out there, then we're gonna find him. And if he's not..."

"Well, we can't think like that," John B stated.

Isa nodded in agreement. "Exactly. After all this is over, then I can do what I planned and give back to the Cut."

John B tilted his head. "Come on, Isa. There's gotta be something you want too. For yourself."

"I don't know," Isa admitted. "Not really."

"Well, whatever the case," John B told her. "We'll find Dad. And we'll live our lives as the family we were meant to be."

"Promise?" Isa asked.

John B nodded. "Promise."

Isa wrapped her arms around John B, who returned the embrace as they held each other protectively.

⚓️ Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Outside

Outside the Pogue Nest, Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope were here, and Kaylee was stretching and doing some of her exercises to help heal more of her injury.

John B drove his van up nearby to park in the clearing around the treehouse.

Isa, John B, Lia and Sarah got out of the van.

Kie smiled, walking closer. "Ah, you're here."

Lia smiled. "Hey, Kie."

It was clear that there was some awkwardness between Isa, Kie and Lia, but they were more happy and at ease and getting along than ever before, and the others were watching in intrigued amusement to see what could happen between the three.

Kie looked between Isa and Lia. "Let's make a promise. To never ever bail on each other again."

Lia nodded in agreement. "I promise."

Lia held out her pinky. Kie interlocked her pinky with Lia's.

Isa interlocked her pinky with Kie and Lia's. "I never bailed on either of you, and I don't ever plan too. Please don't break your promises to not bail on each other. And all of us."

Kie and Lia nodded in agreement.

JJ smirked, putting an arm around Kaylee as he looked at Isa, Lia and Kie. "Why don't you three just kiss already?" Isa, Lia and Kie all flipped off JJ in response, and Kaylee flicked JJ in the head. "Ow!"

Everyone laughed because of JJ's comment and the girls' reactions.

After the tension of their adventure at the Crain house, the Pogues gathered back at the Pogue Nest to decompress. There was a palpable sense of relief mixed with lingering excitement as they settled in.

Isa, Kie and Lia sat together, their earlier awkwardness fading into a comfortable camaraderie. The others watched them with barely concealed interest, especially JJ, Kaylee, John B and Sarah, who seemed determined to play matchmaker.

"So," JJ began with a mischievous grin, "now that we've survived certain death by axe murderer, maybe you three can address the elephant in the room?"

Isa groaned. "JJ, I swear..."

"What?" JJ held up his hands innocently. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking."

JJ continued teasing Isa, Kie and Lia about their obvious chemistry, while the others watched with amusement. Though the three girls rolled their eyes at JJ's antics, there was an undeniable spark between them as they sat close together.

"Come on, you can't deny there's something going on here," Kaylee chimed in, gesturing between the three.

"Yeah, it's called friendship," Kie retorted, but her blush gave her away.

"Uh huh, sure," Sarah said with a knowing smirk. "That's why you three can't stop stealing glances at each other."

Isa groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Can we please change the subject?"

"Nope!" JJ declared cheerfully. "Not until you three admit your feelings."

"JJ, I swear I will shoot you with your own gun," Lia warned, though the hint of humor in her voice made it clear she wasn't serious.

The other Pogues laughed, seeing how well Lia and Sarah fit into their group already.

"Don't we have more important things to focus on?" Kie added. "Like, I don't know, the treasure hunt we're in the middle of? We have a piece of the gold, but we have to melt that down and pawn it off and figure out how to get the rest."

John B grinned. "Oh, come on, the treasure's not going anywhere right now. And we're multitasking. This is way more interesting."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Seriously, you three. The chemistry between you is obvious to everyone. Why fight it?"

"It's complicated," Isa muttered.

"Only because you're making it complicated," Kaylee pointed out. "Life's too short for what-ifs."

Pope, ever the voice of reason, chimed in. "Look, I know it's not simple. There's history and complicated feelings involved. But maybe that's what makes it special. You three clearly care about each other. Why not see where it goes?"

Isa, Kie, and Lia exchanged glances, a mix of uncertainty and longing in their eyes. The others watched with bated breath, hoping this would be the push they needed.

"It's just..." Lia began hesitantly. "What if it doesn't work out? I don't want to lose either of you again."

Kie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we've been through so much already. What if trying for more ruins everything?"

"But what if it makes everything better?" John B countered. "You'll never know unless you try."

"Exactly," Sarah agreed. "And you've got all of us to support you, no what."

Lia took a deep breath. "Maybe... maybe they have a point."

Kie nodded slowly. "I mean, we've wasted so much time already..."

"And life is short," Isa added quietly.

The three girls looked at each other, years of unspoken feelings passing between them in that moment. Slowly, tentatively, they reached for each other's hands.

JJ pumped his fist in the air, making a quite "Yes!" cheer as to not ruin their moment.

Kaylee grinned as she turned to JJ triumphantly, the couple beaming at each other as JJ picked Kaylee up and spun her around, making her laugh.

(Song:) Feelings - Lauv

A little while later, Isa, Kie, Lia, Kaylee and Sarah sat in the van with the back door open.

Pope and John B were setting up their pulley system while JJ was wiping the mud off of the gold.

Kie held out a piece of paper that had a very rough diagram of the well sketched into it. "He said it looked something like this."

"So..." Lia trailed off.

"That's 50 feet down, and they're using 100 feet rope," Kaylee explained, running her fingers over the diagram. "So I guess this little wagon will go straight to the gold."

Sarah laughed at the drawing. "Who drew this?"

Isa laughed, looking over to John B and Pope. "Who do you think?"

The girls all chuckled.

Outside, Pope and John B were working.

"So we get this boat winch out, bring it to the basement, drill into the floor," Pope explained. "We lower you down and get as much as we can. And, uh, this time we don't drop you."

John B nodded. "That'd be great."

JJ walked over to the Twinkie where the girls were still sitting, dropping the gold bars at their feet on the floor of the van. "Girls! This better work. We can't pawn this if there's a giant wheat symbol on it."

JJ leaned against the outside of the van.

Kie held up the blow torch. "It's gonna work."

Kaylee lunged for the blow torch with a gleam in her eye. "Let me at it!"

Kie snatched it away, while the chorus of "No's!" echoed around.

Kaylee's lips turned down in a mini sulk.

JJ couldn't help but laugh.

Kie wagged a finger at Kaylee. "Imagine the parental freak-out if they catch you torch-handed."

"And given Kaylee's fiery history," Pope chimed in.

With a dramatic toss of her hair, Kaylee relented. "Alright, alright."

Lia nodded. "Let's do this, then."

They gathered an old metal cooking pot, placing the gold in there.

Kie grabbed some protective goggles and the blow torch, using the flame to melt the gold down. Lia and Isa stood near Kie as she welded, the three laughing about something, smiling at each other.

The rest watched from a distance.

Sarah, John B and Pope sat on the steps of Pogue Nest around the tree; Sarah and John B sat on the steps outside the second level together, hand in hand, while Pope sat on the steps closer to the ground, giving them plenty of distance.

Kaylee and JJ were up to their usual shenanigans.

Kaylee flashed a smirk. "What can I say? We're a pretty big deal."

JJ returned the smirk. "Cocky much?"

"Confident," Kaylee retorted with a grin. "It's not the same."

JJ quirked an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is that so?"

"Absolutely," Kaylee declared, swiping JJ's hat and dashing off.

JJ burst into laughter, giving chase. "Thief!"

Kaylee's laughter echoed as she sprinted away. "Too slow!"

Lia, Isa, and Kie glanced over at the commotion. Lia's smile was one of delighted surprise, while Isa and Kie, unfazed yet amused, just shook their heads.

Sarah chuckled, amused by the scene, as John B and Pope simply lifted their eyebrows, entertained but hardly surprised by Kaylee and JJ's antics.

Finally, JJ caught Kaylee, lifting her in a whirl of laughter. Kaylee, playful as ever, snagged his necklace and pulled him into a fiery and passionate kiss.

JJ took the hat off of Kaylee's head and put it on his, smirking at her, echoing her words. "Too slow."

Isa, Lia, and Kie worked together to melt down the gold, stealing glances and sharing soft smiles as they focused on the task. The tension between them had transformed into something electric, full of possibility, their earlier awkwardness replaced by an easy camaraderie and flirtatious banter.

"You know," Isa said casually. "I never thought I'd be melting stolen treasure with two beautiful girls."

Kie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her grin. "Smooth, Isa. Real smooth."

"What can I say? I'm a natural charmer," Isa replied with a wink.

Lia laughed. "I don't know, I think you might need some more practice."

"Oh really?" Isa raised an eyebrow. "Care to give me some pointers?"

"I might be persuaded," Lia said coyly.

Their laughter filled the air, light and carefree despite the gravity of what they were doing. As they worked, their hands would brush against each other, sending sparks through their skin.

"So," Kie ventured after a moment. "What exactly are we doing here? The three of us, I mean."

Isa, Lia and Kie looked at each other, the weight of Kie's question hanging between them. The playful mood shifted into something more serious as they considered their next steps, both nervous and excited.

Isa took a deep breath. "I think... we're figuring it out together. If that's what you both want."

Lia nodded. "I do. I want to see where this goes with both of you."

"Me too," Kie agreed softly. "I'm scared, but I don't want to lose this chance again."

They set aside their work on the gold for a moment, turning to face each other fully.

"So we take it slow," Isa suggested. "No pressure, no expectations. We just... explore this and see what happens. All I know is that I care about both of you, more than I can put into words. And I don't want to choose between you."

Lia reached out, taking one of Isa's hands and one of Kie's. "I feel the same way. The thought of losing either of you again terrifies me."

"So maybe we don't have to choose," Kie suggested tentatively. "Maybe we can just... be. Together. All of us. Like they all said."

They fell silent for a moment, letting the weight of that suggestion sink in. It was unconventional, certainly, but the idea filled them all with a sense of rightness.

"It won't be easy," Isa cautioned. "People might judge us, even more than they always do."

Lia scoffed. "Yeah, well, since when has that stopped any of us from doing what we think is right? Or in this case, feels right?"

Kie and Isa smiled at Lia's words.

"Not one goddamn day in our lives," Isa answered.

Kie chuckled. "I admit, I've cared about what other people think about me before, but this... I don't want other people to decide what's right for me this time. I want to choose this, both of you, for me. It's the first time in a long time that I've actually chosen something I want for myself. Not to please my parents or to fit in. Coming back to the Pogues was the first real thing I did for myself. This would be the greatest thing, though."

Isa, Lia and Kie gazed at each other, the weight of the moment settling over them. There was nervousness, yes, but also excitement and hope shining in their eyes.

"So... we're really doing this?" Kie asked softly. "The three of us, together?"

Isa nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. "I think we are. If that's what we all want."

"It is," Lia confirmed. "More than anything."

"It's crazy," Kie said softly. "But it feels right."

They sat there for a moment, hands intertwined, hearts racing. Then, slowly, Isa leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Kie's lips. Kie sighed into the kiss, melting against Isa, her hand coming up to cup Isa's cheek. Lia watched them with a fond smile, excitement coursing through her. When Kie and Isa parted, Isa turned to Lia, cupping her cheek and drawing her into an equally tender kiss. Lia hummed contentedly, her hand twisting into Isa's hair, pulling softly at her strands, making Isa moan slightly into the kiss. Kie watched them with a sense of awe. When Isa and Lia parted, they both smiled.

Isa had kissed both Kie and Lia before. The next kiss was something that would be new for Kie and Lia - their first kiss, but long awaited.

Isa smiled softly as she watched Kie and Lia gaze at each other, years of unspoken feelings passing between them. There was nervousness in their eyes, but also excitement and longing.

"Go on," Isa encouraged gently. "You've both waited long enough for this."

Kie reached out, cupping Lia's cheek tenderly. Lia leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. Then, slowly, they leaned in towards each other.

Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss. It was gentle at first, both girls savoring the moment they had dreamed of for so long. Then Lia's arms wrapped around Kie's neck, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Kie's hands settled on Lia's waist, holding her steady.

Isa watched with a smile, joy spilling through as she saw everything she wanted - Kie and Lia happy together, with her. All three of them were the happiest in this moment than they had ever been.

When they finally parted, both girls were breathless, matching smiles on their faces. Isa felt her heart swell with affection for both of them.

"Wow," Kie whispered.

"Yeah," Lia agreed, a bit dazed.

Isa chuckled softly. "I'd say that's an understatement."

The three girls looked at each other, giddy laughter bubbling up between them. It felt surreal but perfect.

As Isa took the lead with their kisses and brought Kie and Lia back together, it felt as if she was guiding the three of them along, and Kie and Lia felt grateful for the guiding light that Isa provided as they discovered how to navigate this territory together.

The three girls broke apart, laughing and blushing as they heard JJ and Kaylee's enthusiastic reaction outside the van.

"I guess the cat's out of the bag," Isa said with a chuckle.

Kie rolled her eyes fondly. "As if they weren't all betting on this happening anyway."

"Well, we might as well face the music," Lia said, reaching for the van door.

As they stepped out, they were greeted by the excited faces of their friends. JJ was practically bouncing with glee, while Kaylee wore a satisfied smirk. John B and Sarah exchanged knowing grins, and even Pope couldn't hide his smile.

"It's about damn time!" JJ exclaimed, throwing his arms around all three girls.

Kaylee joined the group hug. "I'm so happy for you three!" She nudged Kie, giving her sister a teasing look. "See, if you just listened earlier..."

Kie pushed Kaylee teasingly, smiling. "Yeah, I know I wasted time. Never doing that again."

Isa and Lia grinned.

John B and Sarah stood to jog over and congratulate their sisters as well.

John B threw his arm around Isa's shoulder. "Little sister, you might actually get to be happy this time around."

Isa smiled as she leaned her head against John B's shoulder. "Hopefully."

Sarah immediately enveloped Lia in an embrace, causing her little sister to laugh. "I'm so proud of you."

"For what?" Lia chuckled.

"For letting yourself be happy even after this past year," Sarah answered.

Lia smiled in return. "Thank you."

Pope walked closer, smiling. "Congrats, guys."

"Thank you, Pope," Lia replied.

The Pogues celebrated together, overjoyed that Isa, Kie and Lia had finally admitted their feelings for each other. There was a sense of relief and excitement in the air as the group hugged and congratulated the new triad.

"So does this mean we can stop with all the sexual tension now?" JJ teased.

"JJ!" Kaylee admonished, but she was laughing.

JJ grinned. "What? I'm just saying what we were all thinking."

Isa rolled her eyes fondly. "You're impossible."

"But you love me," JJ said, throwing an arm around Isa's shoulders.

"God knows why," Isa retorted, but she was smiling.

"But it does mean that we can stop tiptoeing around you three," John B said with a grin.

Lia scoffed in amusement. "As if you guys were ever subtle about it."

Kaylee grinned innocently, shrugging. "Hey, we were just trying to help true love move along."

"More like you were all placing bets on us," Kie said dryly, but with a fondness in her voice.

Kaylee, JJ, John B and Pope exchanged a guilty look that confirmed Kie's suspicion.

Sarah laughed lightly. "They so were."

Isa smirked slightly, nodding. "Yeah, and let me guess, Kaylee and JJ won."

Kaylee and JJ beamed.

"Damn right we did," Kaylee answered.

JJ held his hand toward John B and Pope. "That's 20 bucks here."

John B and Pope groaned as they handed Kaylee and JJ 20 bucks, making the pair grin.

Lia laughed, shaking her head. "You guys are unbelievable."

"That's part of our charm," Pope agreed.

Isa gave Kaylee and JJ a sarcastic look. "At least it took us less time to figure things out than you two, dancing around each other since childhood until you finally got together not even a week ago."

Kaylee and JJ's mouths dropped in mock offense, but they had no retaliation to that, as they knew it was the truth, everyone laughing.

"Alright, alright," Pope interjected. "As fun as this is, don't we have some gold to deal with?"

That sobered the group up some, but they will still electric with excitement and celebration.

"Yeah, we finished melting it before..." Kie trailed off, blushing sheepishly.

John B grinned, gesturing to the van to prove his point. "Before fireworks exploded from the Twinkie? As long as it's just kissing in my van, I don't mind. Nothing more, Isa, please."

Isa blushed as she swatted her brother in the shoulder. "John B!"

Everyone laughed again.

Lia reached into the van to pull out the melted bar of gold, which no longer had the wheat symbol stamped onto it. "It's not perfect, but it's the best we can get it on short notice with just a blowtorch."

Sarah nodded. "It looks good enough."

"Let's go pawn this nugget off," JJ cheered.

Kaylee threw her arms up in celebration. "Let's do it!"

Isa took the gold nugget from Lia as she waved it around, smiling. "Time to roll."

Everyone piled into the Twinkie, setting off down the road, buzzing with excitement.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Street

The Pogues got out of the van.

JJ flipped the gold nugget in his hands, tossing a mock salute to Kie. "Hell of a job melting it down, Dr. Frankenstein."

"Like you could've done better," Kie shot back.

"I could have done much better," JJ boasted with a grin. "I took a welding class."

Kaylee gave him the side-eye. "Seriously? When the hell did you sneak that in?"

"You--" Kie began, eyebrow raised in disbelief. "When?"

John B stepped between JJ and Kie, playing peacemaker. "Whoa, whoa. Hey. Shh! Chill out, okay?"

"Kaylee's the one with the magic fire touch," Lia chimed in.

"Appreciate the vote of confidence, Lia," Kaylee responded with a nod.

Pope chuckled. "Lia, you might be signing up for more than you bargained for."

Lia's grin widened. "After watching her set the screen ablaze and send Rafe, Tod, Topper, and Kelce running with just a threat? I've got a pretty good idea, Pope."

Pope shrugged. "Fair enough."

Kaylee smirked.

Sarah smiled in amusement. "Hey, everybody take a breath and calm down, okay?"

"That's easy for you to say that," JJ told her. "You're not the one that has to pawn this piece of shit off. How did I get this job anyway?"

JJ adjusted the strap on his backpack, walking toward the front door of the pawn shop.

"'Cause you're the best liar," Pope declared.

"What about Isa?" JJ inquired. "She's quite the liar too."

"But not as good as you," Isa chimed in.

JJ gestured towards Lia. "And what about our star actress here? She should get a damn Oscar for convincing Daddy Ward she's still taking those brain-fogging, walker-worthy meds to be the perfect daughter, eh, Lia? You're a pro at lying." He chuckled at the play on words. "Lia Liar."

"Yeah, you had us all--me, Rafe, Rose, and Wheezie--believing you were medicated, Lia," Sarah concurred.

Lia acknowledged with a nod, cocking her head. "Sure, but I haven't spilled the beans about Robbie, or what Rafe and Ward did with the meds and the whole lock-up scenario, so JJ can rib me for being a lying champ." JJ just shrugged. They all looked at Lia with a touch of sorrow, now understanding her ordeal and why she was indifferent to the gold, and why she eagerly helped Isa and John B chase their dad's legacy. Lia would've done anything for Robbie. "Okay, JJ. How about I join you and we put our lying prowess to the test?"

JJ responded with a thumbs up. "Let's do it."

John B let out a laugh. "Brace yourselves, folks."

Pope raised an eyebrow. "Is it just me, or do you guys feel like something could blow up?"

Isa flashed a grin, nodding at Lia and JJ. "Well, with their knack for tall tales, they could lie their way into the Oval Office."

Kaylee snorted with laughter. "If that happens, we're all going to need divine intervention."

Lia and JJ smirked, exchanging a look, walking toward the pawnshop. The others followed.

⚓️

Pawn Shop

JJ and Lia walked up to the counter, while the others were in the shop, but let them do all the talking, while they were looking through things in the pawnshop.

Lia saw an older woman behind the counter, greeting her with a smile. "Afternoon, ma'am."

"Afternoon," the woman greeted, setting her magazine aside.

JJ pointed to the sign on the window. "We see you buy gold."

The woman raised her eyebrows. "That's what the sign say, don't it?"

"Well, I sure hope you buy a lot of it, because we're about to blow your mind," JJ told her, setting his backpack in front of the woman on the counter.

The others scattered through the store, pretending to look at stuff.

"I ain't got much mind left to blow, so have at it," the woman challenged.

JJ pulled out the gold, setting it down on the counter. "How about them gold apples?"

The woman chuckled in disbelief. "That ain't real?"

Lia raised her eyebrows. "You think it's not real?"

"It can't be," the woman stated.

"Feel how heavy it is," Lia suggested. "Mm-hmm." The woman struggled to pick it up. "Here, let's get some light on that."

Lia grabbed the magnifying glass on the table, handing it to the woman.

The woman observed the chunk of gold. "Spray-painted tungsten."

"Spray-painted tungsten?" JJ repeated. "Really? Okay."

"Why don't you see how soft it is?" Lia asked.

The woman held up a hammer. "You mind?"

Lia shook her head, gesturing to the gold. "No, go for it."

The woman tried to chip the gold but failed.

JJ smirked. "Wow. Would you look at that?"

"Hold your horses," the woman replied. "We ain't got to the acid test yet."

The woman reached back to grab something behind the counter.

JJ nodded, slightly mocking. "Ooh! The acid test. My favorite, guys."

Lia smirked in amusement. JJ gave a sarcastic smile to Lia and the others behind them.

The woman did the acid test. "Well, it ain't plated and it ain't painted."

"Ma'am, I'm telling you, this is as real as the day is long," Lia assured her.

"It looks like somebody tried to melt it down," the woman observed.

Isa looked at Kie. Kie gave her a look back. Isa lightly hit Kie on the shoulder and they engaged in a small slap fight.

Lia saw the mini slap fight, trying to hide a smile of amusement, before looking at the woman. "My stepmother. She had all this jewelry laying around the house, and she thought it was best to melt it down. To consolidate it or whatever. Rose is a very material person."

The woman put the gold onto a scale. "Seven pounds? That's a lot of earrings."

"More so giant big gold necklaces," Lia corrected for the lie so that it would be somewhat more believable. "Like big statement necklaces, you know the ones I'm talking about." She gestured to her head. "Oh, she even had this giant gold spiky crown she wore to Midsummers that she melted down for this."

Pope and JJ nodded as they remembered that crown because they both made a comment about it. (Pope had said Rose could poke somebody's eyes out with the crown while JJ said that the crown made Rose look like Lady Liberty). Sarah smirked at the truth about Rose that Lia used to back up her lie, holding her laughter back. Isa, Kie and Kaylee were also trying to hold back their laughter. John B smirked. The Pogues were actually really impressed with Lia's lying skills and that she could wove the truth into it with ease.

JJ decided to play the sympathy card so the woman would stop looking at them so skeptically. "And you said something about Rose falling apart with Alzheimer's."

Lia just looked at JJ, making sure not to react though she was puzzled why he did that, going with it because it was fun. "Yeah. Yeah, it's really hard to see her fall apart."

The others were trying not to laugh.

The woman looked between them. "Mm-hmm. Alzheimer's. Give me a minute."

"Take your time, ma'am," JJ replied.

The woman walked out from behind the counter and through a curtain into a back room.

Lia looked at JJ. "Alzheimer's?"

JJ smirked, shrugging. Lia smiled.

Isa and Kie walked over to the knickknack shelf nearby Lia to go through it.

Pope and Kaylee walked closer to JJ.

Isa whispered to the others. "See? What did I tell you?"

Kaylee smirked, keeping her voice low. "These two can really lie their way to presidency."

Lia and JJ smiled.

Isa, Kie and Kaylee smiled in amusement.

Sarah, John B and Pope shook their heads, amused.

⚓️

Backroom

The woman walked into the backroom, speaking to someone. "Some kids just rolled in here with the biggest gold nugget I have ever seen. Almost seven pounds."

The person she was talking to was Barry, sitting at a desk. "You mean seven ounces?"

"I mean seven pounds," the woman answered.

Barry looked up in interest.

⚓️

Main Room

The teens were still talking.

Pope tapped JJ on the shoulder. "She's coming out."

Isa, Kie, Kaylee and Pope backed away a little.

The woman went back behind the counter. "So, I, uh, I talked to my boss."

"And?" JJ asked.

"And, uh, this is what I can do," the woman stated, placing a piece of paper on the counter with the amount on it.

Lia gave her a skeptical look. "Fifty thousand? Ma'am, I know for a fact this is worth 140, at least."

The woman placed a hand on her hip. "Well, sweetie, you in a pawn shop. This ain't Zurich. Do I look Swiss to you?"

"90, or we walk," JJ offered.

John B leaned down on the counter a few feet away from them, watching the exchange.

"70, half price," the woman countered. "And, um, I don't ask questions about where you got this."

Lia and JJ looked over to Isa and John B for an answer.

Isa and John B nodded.

JJ looked at the woman. "Gonna need that in large denominations, please."

Lia smiled over at Isa and Kie, who smiled back.

The woman looked down. "Well, here's the snag. I don't have that much denominated, not here anyway. I can write you a cashier's check."

JJ shook his head. "Cash. No, ma'am, we want the cold hard. That's what that sign says." He pointed to the sign. "Cash for gold. And that's what we expect. Gonna get it in cold hard."

"Well, I have to send you to the warehouse," the woman told them. "I have the money there. Is that all right?"

Lia narrowed her eyes slightly. "Where's this warehouse?"

⚓️

On the Road

(Song:) Jah Jah Why? - Floyd Feivright

The song was playing on the van radio.

The Pogues were driving in the van. John B was driving. Sarah was in the passenger seat. The others were in the back. Isa, Lia and Kie were sitting together on one side, and Kaylee, JJ and Pope were sitting together on the other.

"So they keep money out here?" Pope asked.

"That's what she said," Lia answered.

JJ chuckled, making that inappropriate. "That's what she said."

Kaylee tilted her head at JJ, amused.

Pope was not amused. "Stop."

JJ looked down with a pout.

Sarah turned back to look at the others. "I've never even heard of Resurrection Drive."

Lia shook her head. "Me neither."

"That's 'cause you're rich," JJ commented, pointing from Lia to Sarah. Kaylee flicked the back of his head. "Ow!"

"You've never heard of it either," Kie defended Lia and Sarah.

"Thank you," Sarah told her.

Isa looked out the window. "There's nothing but weeds back here."

"All right, just 'cause it's just weeds, doesn't mean it's like..." John B trailed off.

Kaylee frowned. "I don't like this. Do you guys feel like something's off too?"

"Yeah, I do," Isa answered.

Kie, Lia and Sarah nodded. "Yeah."

"You guys always think there's something off," Pope pointed out.

"And we're always right," Isa replied.

They were interrupted by the sound of a police siren.

"What the hell?" John B asked.

They looked behind them at the car that looked nothing like a police car yet had red and blue lights flashing in the front of it.

"Cops?" Kie asked. "Out here?"

"God!" JJ complained. "Are you kidding me?"

"What did we do?" Kaylee wondered.

John B pulled over and turned the ignition off.

(Song Ends)

"Why are we getting pulled over?" John B questioned. He turned back to JJ. "Stash that."

"Chill, guys," Lia tried to assure.

JJ shook his head. "I hate cops."

"Did you bring the gun?" Isa asked frantically.

"No," JJ answered. "Okay? Everybody told me to leave it back at the Pogue Nest."

"Thank God," Kaylee said. "Please, everything else in your bag."

JJ began to stash the gold in his bag. "I am, I am, all right?"

Pope reached over to help him, the two frantically trying to shove everything in.

"How much weed do you have on you, bro?" Kie asked.

"He's walking up right now," Pope warned.

JJ hid the bag under the seat.

John B sighed. "Nothing better to do--" He was cut off by the sound of a shotgun cocking. "Sir--"

Barry was outside with his face covered by a cloth half-mask to conceal his identity, aiming his shotgun at John B's head. "Why don't I go ahead and see them hands in the air?" No one moved for a second, all of them in a state of complete shock. "All y'all's hands up in the air, now!"

They all slowly put their hands up.

Barry ordered John B. "You, out of the car! Let's go!" John B slowly got out of the car with his hands up. "Out of the car! Let's go! Hurry! Let them out! What are you waiting on? What are you waiting on?! Let them out!" Barry pushed John B with the gun toward the van door. "Go on! Go on! Let's get out of the car! Let's go!"

John B opened the door. As each teen got out of the van, Barry aimed the gun at each one of them.

Sarah, Isa, Kie and Kaylee got out first.

Barry's eyes ran over the four girls. "There you go, pretty girls. You too, girl." Lia slowly got out of the van, hands up. Barry's eyes widened when he saw Lia, muttering to himself. "Fucking kidding me." Lia looked like she recognized his voice and appearance even with the mask on. "What you looking at? Move along!" Isa and Kie pulled Lia toward them. Barry looked into the van. "Here we go, boys! Get out of the car, let's go!" JJ and Pope got out. "Hurry up!"

Kaylee was annoyed. "The only times JJ doesn't have that damn gun and when I don't have my lighter and hairspray is when we actually need them."

Pope looked at Barry. "We're broke--"

Barry moved closer to Pope, pointing the gun straight at his chest. "Shut the hell up!"

"All right!" Isa told him. "Just relax!"

"Shut the hell up!" Barry repeated, turning the gun toward Isa. "Shut up!"

Lia and Kie stood with Isa, pulling her back slightly. 

"Chill!" Kaylee defended.

Barry turned the gun on Kaylee. "I'll blow your damn head off!"

JJ pulled Kaylee back protectively, glaring at Barry.

Barry pointed to the ditch. "Lay down in the ditch! Lay down in the ditch! On your goddamn hands and knees! Down!"

They all sank to the ground.

Lia looked up, having a feeling who it was, and she was in denial but at the same time, she wanted it to be him because then she could finally get some answers if they got out of this situation.

Barry noticed the look on Lia's face and knew that she was recognizing him, grabbing Lia by the hair, putting the gun to her head, causing everyone to tense with worry and fear. "Put your face on the ground! Stay here just like that! Put your head down! Don't let me see you look up! Especially you, bitch! All right? That's all y'all gotta do!"

Sarah, Isa and Kie looked at Lia worriedly, tears in their eyes. Kaylee, JJ, John B and Pope were also worried and not knowing what to do to help while Barry had a hold of Lia with the gun to her head. Lia had tears of anger in her eyes, scared, but that was a distant feeling at the moment as all she could think about was her lost friend.

Sarah, Isa, Kie, Kaylee, JJ, John B and Pope lowered their heads to the ground.

Barry pushed Lia down to the ground face first so her head was down and wasn't looking up, backing toward the van, climbing inside, starting to rummage through their stuff.

"Lia?" Sarah asked worriedly.

"I know him," Lia whispered, not letting Barry hear her because she didn't know what he would do and she couldn't risk it.

They all looked at her in confusion and concern.

"It's a set up, guys," Kie stated.

"We told you something didn't feel right," Kaylee told them.

JJ was fuming. "The old bat shanked us. Fuck! Goddamn it!"

JJ punched the ground.

John B slowly pushed himself up, putting a finger to his lips. "Shh."

"John B..." Sarah whispered, whimpering. "What? No, no, no, no."

They all looked at John B.

Pope shook his head. "John B. Don't be a hero, man."

"JB, no," Isa whispered.

John B put a finger to his lips, backing up toward Barry's car, sneaking into the backseat, grabbing Barry's keys, laying down in the backseat to stay hidden.

"Oh, my God," Sarah whispered.

Barry found the chunk of gold, laughing, getting out of the van. "All right, y'all stay like that." He grabbed Lia, by the hair, leaning closer to whisper to her tauntingly. "Especially you, girl.  Unless you want your brains blown out all over the road, don't move your goddamn head, okay?"

Lia was fuming at the way that he was taunting her because he knew she knew it was him. Barry ran to his car, getting into it.

John B jumped Barry from the backseat, grabbing his head, slamming it against the seat of the car, taking the gun from him, getting out of the back of the car. "Guys, I got the gun!"

Without hesitation, the others all stood, running to help John B.

JJ punched Barry in the face. Barry punched JJ in the face, making him stumble to the ground. Kie punched Barry in the face. Barry pushed Kie away. Pope kicked Barry in the groin to make him double over.

Barry lunged at Kaylee. Kaylee quickly jabbed at Barry's throat, making him cough, grabbing onto his shoulder, kicking him in the groin, making him double over in pain.

Pope ran to the other side of the car to get the gold out of the car. "I got the gold!"

Isa pushed Barry to the ground, pulling his arms behind his back so that he couldn't move, kicking him in the back, making him yell in pain, shoving his head to the ground.

Sarah grabbed the car door, banging Barry's head with it three times.

Lia stood over Barry on the ground, glaring at him emotionally in anger, kicking Barry in the abdomen five times, kicking him in the face, slamming his head into the car, punching him in the face.

Lia ripped off Barry's mask. "I knew it was you." She explained to Sarah, Kie and Isa. "He used to sell to Robbie."

Kaylee looked stunned. "Your friend."

Isa nodded. "Yeah."

Kie looked at Barry in disgust. "So he's a base head."

"Probably knows our brother," Sarah stated.

"He sells coke to my dad," JJ added.

Lia grabbed Barry's collar. "Did you hurt Robbie? Did you kill him?"

"What's it to you, little sis?" Barry asked. "That's what he called you, right? Robbie got what was coming to him. Bitch deserved it."

Lia glared at him. "Why?!"

Barry smirked, trying to get under her skin to watch her snap. "Saw something he shouldn't have. Had to clean up loose ends. He sure did love you though, as a little sister. Told him I could come after you next and the fight he put up then..."

The others all looked at Lia in sympathy.

Lia had tears of bubbling rage in her eyes, like the words that Barry said, along with everything that she had been going through since finding Robbie's body, just caused her to finally snap and lash out, exploding and letting the anger out. She kicked Barry hard in the crotch, making him yell in pain as he clutched his groin. Barry tried to get up.

Lia elbowed Barry in the head hard, sending him falling into the car, punching him in the face three times, kicking him repeatedly in the side. "You son of a bitch!"

The Pogues had been too shocked by Lia's sudden explosion of rage that they didn't have time to stop it before.

"Lia!" Kie told her.

"Hey, chill," John B told her.

"Let her go," JJ replied. "Knew that was gonna happen after all the shit she's been through."

"Not helping, JJ," Kaylee told him.

Sarah pulled Lia back. "Lia!"

Isa and Kie pulled Lia back further, trying to calm her down as Lia was breathing heavily in rage while glaring at Barry.

Pope stood between Lia and Barry to break Lia's eyesight of Barry hoping it could help her calm down. "Don't let him get under your skin, Lia." Lia looked up at Pope, breathing unevenly. "He's just trying to goad you."

Barry smirked. "Worked like a charm, sweetheart."

Isa and Kie both glared at Barry for making Lia snap like that on purpose. "Shut the hell up."

Lia turned away, holding her head, pacing, trying to get a hold of herself.

The Pogues all looked at Lia in concern and sympathy.

Isa and Kie both took one of Lia's hands.

"Calm down," John B told her.

"Lia, hey," Kie said softly.

"It's okay," Isa assured.

"I'm sorry, Lia," Kaylee told her.

JJ took the ID out of Barry's pocket. "We got one last stop."

Lia glared at Barry. "Son of a bitch."

Sarah led Lia away to the van. "Come here. It's okay."

JJ walked toward the van.

"Hey!" Kaylee called.

JJ was blinded by his rage from what Barry did to them. "Let's go see where this son of a bitch lives!"

Pope looked at Lia and JJ. "Guys, chill. When I said that I thought something was gonna explode by you two working together at the pawnshop, I didn't mean for you two to literally explode."

The others followed Lia, Sarah and JJ to the van.

"I'm gonna remember this shit!" Barry yelled. "You can't hide from me! I know exactly who y'all are! I even know your name, Lia!" Lia glared at Barry in anger, trying not to let him get to her again. "Huh? You're gonna see me again!"

Isa flipped Barry off. "Go to hell."

John B tossed the van keys to Isa. "Here."

Isa caught the keys, so that she could drive. They all gave Barry one last disgusted look before getting into the van.

Kie rolled her eyes. "Come on."

"You hear me?" Barry yelled. "You hear me? Imma see you again!"

⚓️

Barry's Trailer - Outside

The Twinkie drove up to Barry's rundown trailer.

"Welcome to Crackhead Wasteland," Sarah commented.

"I don't know about this, man," Pope admitted. "Dude, why are we at Barry's?"

"I don't know why JJ's here, but while we're here, I need to look for something," Lia told them, getting out of the van, walking toward the trailer.

"What could you possibly be looking for here?" Sarah asked.

Lia was already inside and didn't hear the question.

"This will only take a second," JJ told them, getting out of the van, walking up to the trailer.

"Where are you two going?" Isa asked.

The others got out of the van.

"Yo soy justicia," JJ replied, climbing up the steps of the trailer, going inside.

"Did you glean anything from that?" Pope asked.

"You know, somebody should probably--" Kie started.

"Yeah, we got it," John B volunteered.

Sarah hurried inside to go find her sister. "Lia!"

Kie, Isa, Kaylee and John B walked inside.

Pope stayed outside worriedly.

⚓️

Inside - Living Room

Lia was already looking around, for anything that she could find, in every nook and cranny or anything that looked like it could help.

Sarah, Isa and Kie walked closer.

"Lia, what are you looking for?" Kie asked worriedly in concern.

"Anything that can tie Barry to Robbie's death," Lia answered. "You heard him out there. He basically admitted that he killed Robbie. But that confession? It wouldn't hold up very well in front of cops or an actual courtroom. Not with the way Ward got everyone to just forgot about Robbie because he didn't think he was worth it. I need proof."

"If he had anything that could tie him to Robbie's death, don't you think that he would've gotten rid of it by now?" Isa asked softly, trying to help Lia down from the state of rage that Barry had put her in.

"Robbie's cross was missing from his body when I found him," Lia explained. "It's a necklace that he always wore because his mother gave it to him before she got sick and died when he was young. He would never take it off, which means Barry has it, and if I can find it, then I have some sort of proof. Because I told the cops about the cross, and..."

Lia wasn't making sense even to herself but she couldn't think straight and couldn't snap out of it, holding her head in her hands, running her hands through her hair nervously and anxiously.

Sarah gently grabbed Lia's arms in her hands. "No, no, no. Lia, please listen to me. I am so sorry about Robbie and what Barry did to him. And what he said to you out there and what he did to you. But do you really think finding Robbie's cross is gonna help you prove that Barry killed him?"

"I don't know, Sarah," Lia told her emotionally, desperately. "I finally have a lead after all this time, after all this research, and I can't... I can't do nothing. I can't. I won't."

Lia pulled her arms free from Sarah to continue looking.

Sarah, Isa and Kie exchanged a look of worry, not knowing how to help Lia.

⚓️

Barry's Room

Kaylee and John B walked into the bedroom toward JJ, seeing him making a mess of the place, flinging stuff around as he searched through everything.

"Yeah, so what's your plan, slick?" Kaylee asked.

"Well, as thou hath stealeth from us, we shall stealeth from ye," JJ answered.

"Yeah, that kind of got lost in translation," John B replied.

"An eye for an eye, John B," JJ clarified.

"JJ, what the hell are you looking for?" Kaylee asked.

JJ shrugged. "Justice."

"Yeah, that's great, JJ," John B told him sarcastically. "But what happens after you rob a drug dealer, huh?" He ran over to stand in JJ's way, trying to stop him. "He knows who we are!"

JJ scoffed. "I'm not scared of this guy."

JJ pushed John B out of the way.

"JJ," Kaylee told him.  "Hey." JJ pulled a bag out of the top of the closet, dumping the contents out of the bag, stacks of money falling onto the bed. "Put it back."

"No," JJ refused.

"What are you doing?" John B asked.

"Getting even!" JJ responded, shoving some of the money into another bag, walking out of the room with it. They followed him. "All right, took care of business."

⚓️

Living Room

Lia was getting more and more overwhelmed as she was looking, losing hope, taking a jar from the kitchen counter that adjoined the kitchen to the living room, and threw it to the floor, making it shatter.

Sarah, Isa and Kie jumped slightly.

Sarah walked toward her sister to try and calm her down. "Lia, please."

"Look, you're not thinking clearly," Kie told her.

Lia scoffed softly. "That's a no-brainer, Kie."

Lia looked down through the shards of glass when a leather necklace cord caught her eye. She reached down to grab it.

"What are you doing?" Isa asked.

"Lia, don't," Kie told her. "You'll..."

Lia managed to grab the necklace without being cut by the glass in the process, raising the necklace to show them a cross on the end of it, which was engraved with the initials R. R. Tears formed in her eyes immediately as she looked at the cross, holding it close to her chest. "I knew it."

Sarah, Isa and Kie realized that it was Robbie's cross.

Kie bit her lip nervously, looking at her worriedly. "Lia..."

Isa walked closer, trying to put a hand on Lia's arm. "Hey."

Lia backed away, turning around, pacing. "Oh, God. I knew it."

Sarah took Lia by the shoulders, pulling her into her arms. "Listen to me. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. But what do you expect to do? Without him hurting you?"

"I don't know, okay?" Lia asked. "I don't know. But I can't do nothing."

JJ, Kaylee and John B walked out of the bedroom down the hallway toward them.

"What's going on in here?" Kaylee asked.

"Lia found Robbie's necklace that Barry stole," Kie answered.

Lia's eyes were numb but full of anger and sorrow all the same. "After he killed him. Robbie never took this off. Barry having this... I know it's not proof to the cops, but it's proof to me."

Sarah, Isa, Kie, Kaylee, JJ and John B were all sympathetic.

"Well, there you go, Lia," JJ told her. "Some closure at last."

Isa gave him a look, shaking her head. "JJ, not now."

"Let's bounce," JJ told them.

John B grabbed JJ by the shoulders. "Hey, look at me. If you keep going down this road, you're gonna end up just like your dad."

JJ grabbed John B by the shirt. "You watch your mouth, man. Aren't you tired of being messed with?"

"That's not the point, JJ," Isa told him.

"'Cause I am," JJ continued, letting go of John B's shirt.

"This isn't gonna stop us from being messed with," Isa pointed out. "This could just put us in even more danger. And Lia, you trying to prove Barry that he killed Robbie, it could put you in danger too."

Lia shook her head. "I can't do nothing."

Lia walked out of the trailer with the necklace. JJ followed her.

Sarah, Isa, Kie, Kaylee and John B exchanged a look before following.

⚓️

Outside

They all walked outside, joining Pope again.

"All right, so we're looking at three grand each for reparations for putting us through that bullshit," JJ stated. "Sorry about that, y'all."

Kaylee walked up to Lia and JJ. "I'm all up for some revenge, but in this case, getting even will only get you two hurt. Even worse, killed."

"We will all be fine," JJ replied.

"You don't know that," Kaylee stressed.

Kie gave JJ a look. "So that's what we're doing now? Robbing drug dealers?"

"Barry is gonna find out," Sarah pointed out. "He's gonna come after us."

"Yes, he will," Pope agreed. "This is not the time to start wiling out."

"I am not looking for revenge, okay?" Lia asked. "There's a difference between revenge and justice. What I've been trying to do is justice. What JJ is doing is revenge. I don't know how, but getting Barry locked up is the only thing that will make anything better, so that Robbie didn't get forgotten like Ward tried to make him be." She looked at JJ. "Though stealing thousands of dollars from a drug dealer can put you and everyone else in danger. He's gonna want it back and get even. You haven't seen what this guy has done over little things. He tried to force me to buy drugs and kept taunting Robbie about using me as another way to pay him just to get 600 dollars out of him, and threatened Robbie with a gun when he tried to get him to stop touching me. That's who this guy is."

"Yeah, maybe so, but nothing we can't handle," JJ replied.

Kie, Pope, Sarah and John B gave him incredulous looks. Kaylee and Isa sighed worriedly about both the mental states that Lia and JJ were in.

JJ pointed to Lia, pointing to her head where Barry had put the gun. "How'd you like having a gun pulled on you? He had it right here on you, Lia. Pushed you into the ground and egged you on about Robbie."

Lia shook her head. "Don't."

JJ continued. "Your friend. Said he got what he deserved. You're really telling me that you don't want revenge?"

"I want justice," Lia corrected. "And I don't want to put everyone in danger in order to get it."

John B gave JJ a look. "Look. We've gotta go get the gold, okay? Just give me that shit. I'm putting it back." He took the duffle bag away. JJ pushed John B into the van. "You feel like a tough guy? Huh?"

Isa walked closer. "Hey! Hey. That's enough."

"What are you gonna do when he comes for us?" John B asked. "What are you gonna do if he goes for Kaylee?"

"We punch him in the throat," JJ replied. "And he would never lay a hand on Kaylee. You know why? Because if he did, he would be six feet under."

John B scoffed. "Yeah, good fucking idea, JJ."

Isa and Kaylee pulled JJ and John B apart.

"That's enough," Kaylee told them.

JJ frowned. "I'm not putting it back." He walked toward the van. "You guys getting in or what? What?"

"We're sick of your shit," John B told him.

Kaylee looked at them. "Okay, now you know this isn't--"

JJ looked at John B angrily. "Oh, my shit?"

"Yeah," John B answered. "Yeah, your shit."

"Yes," Kie agreed. "Your pulling guns on people shit."

"You acting like a maniac," Pope chimed in.

"Guys, stop," Kaylee told them.

"Stop it," Isa agreed. "The last thing we need to be doing is fighting each other."

"Okay, Pope, I took the fall for you, man!" JJ told him. "Know how much money I owe because of you?"

"I'm gonna pay you back," Pope told him. "And I didn't ask you to do that!"

"I just did!" JJ told him. "Pay it back. Right here. Right now. By myself. That's exactly what I'm gonna do. Go off by myself."

Kaylee walked after JJ. "JJ."

JJ gave her a short hug, whispering in her ear, knowing that deep down, the others were right, that it was a deadly dangerous thing he was doing, and he didn't want Kaylee around him right now in case Barry did come after him. "It's safer for you to stay with them. Stay here."

JJ pulled away, storming off with the bag over his shoulder.

"JJ," Kaylee called out.

"Just let him go," Sarah stated.

Isa took Kaylee's arm. "Let him cool off."

Lia held Robbie's cross in her hands, pacing, breathing unevenly, running a hand through her hair.

John B, Isa, Kaylee, Kie, Sarah and Pope looked at Lia in concern.

Sarah walked over to her sister, trying to put a hand on her shoulder. "Lia."

Lia backed away, letting out a shaky breath. "I just... I need a minute."

⚓️

Country Club

(Song:) How Many? - Blue Steel Billionaires

Rafe was ordering a drink. "Uh, can you put this on Cameron, Ward? Cameron, W-A-R-D? Thank you. You're the best."

Kelce walked up behind Rafe, looking at Topper. "Hey, bro. You think you know who, they're scronking yet?"

Topper gave him a glare. "Shut your--"

Kelce clapped his hands together to mimic sex tauntingly. "What's that sound? What's that? They're making that sound."

"You think I wanna hear this right now?" Topper asked.

Rafe walked closer. "Come on."

"Why not?" Kelce asked.

"I'm trying to get my mind off it," Topper answered. "You think I want to hear this now, Rafe?"

"Calm down," Kelce told him. "All right? We're trying to make you feel better."

"It's not funny," Topper snapped. "How is it funny?"

"This joke's on her," Rafe told her. "Look who she's with."

Kelce looked behind them. "Who's that?"

"And after that, she's--" Rafe started, turning around to follow Kelce's gaze, groaning slightly.

Barry got out of his car. "Rafe Cameron! Get over here."

Rafe looked at Topper and Kelce. "Okay, let's go."

Rafe walked toward the gate of the country club.

(Song Ends)

A worker stopped Barry from going inside. "Are you supposed to be here, sir?"

"Yeah, I believe so," Barry told him.

Rafe grabbed Barry by the shoulders, leading him away, speaking quietly. "Hey. What are you doing, man? You good?"

"No, I ain't good, man," Barry answered. They walked out the gate, as Rafe looked back at Topper behind them. "Why's your family think I'm just some bitch they can shit on? First I got to deal with your dad who kneecaps me outside my damn house."

"You got your money," Rafe told him.

"That ain't the point," Barry replied. "I'm asking you, what am I? Am I just some little bitch? Is that what your family looks at me like?"

Rafe shook his head. "No. No."

Barry laughed mockingly. "No? No? Okay, so then why are your little sisters and their little surf rat friends running around stealing 25K out of my house? Can you tell me that?"

Rafe and Topper looked at him in shock.

"My little sisters robbed you?" Rafe asked.

"Yeah, Lia and Sarah robbed me," Barry elaborated. "That's why I'm here."

"They won't pick a dollar up off the street," Rafe told him. "What are you talking about?"

Barry got in Rafe's face. "Do I look dumb to you? You think I don't understand what's goin' on here? I know you heard me and your dad outside the trailer last night. You know what happened. What I did. Now Little Lia and her little friends are out for revenge." Topper looked at Rafe in confusion. Rafe tried to remain emotionless. "You better sort this out with your sister, or else I am. 'Cause I want my money, and I'm not going to prison because of her."

Rafe tried to play dumb to get out of a dangerous situation with Barry right then. "Listen, I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't know what I'm talking about?" Barry repeated skeptically.

"Enlighten me," Rafe told him.

"Enlighten you?" Barry repeated. "So the Pogues are all around Outer Banks stealin' shit out of everybody's house, and you got no idea what I'm talking about? Both your sisters are involved in it, but only one has an ax to grind with me."

Rafe put his hands to his head. "Lia and Sarah Cameron, home invaders? Lia's not the type to go out looking for revenge of any kind." He put his burned arm on Barry's shoulder. "You know how stupid--"

Barry grabbed Rafe's burn, making him yell in pain, twisting his arm down, completely angry and acting psycho. "How stupid are you? How many times I gotta deal with you?" Topper ran closer, putting himself between Rafe and Barry. "That's 25K! And I'm not gonna let your little sister lock me up!" Barry pushed Topper out of the way, getting in his face. "What's up, Country Club?"

"We're good!" Topper told him. "We're good!"

"We're good, we're good," Barry repeated mockingly. "Stand down." He glared at Rafe. "Sort this shit out with your sisters."

"All right!" Rafe agreed. "Okay. It's cool"

"I'mma get my money, and you get Lia to stand down and let go of her little friend of the past because if she even tries to get me locked up, she's in for another world of pain," Barry warned. "Taunting her about it, getting her wound up and watching her explode, that was just entertainment even if it was on me. But I'm not going to prison because of that bitch. You get her to back off."

Rafe held up his hand to get him to back off. "Yes, of course."

"Remember how I can make things look like an accident or self-inflicted," Barry reminded. "That's what got us into this little mess in the first place. I'll see you boys around."

Barry walked away to his car.

Topper looked at Rafe in shock as they walked back through the club's gate. "Hey, what the hell is goin' on?"

Rafe shook his head. "I don't know, man. This guy's nuts."

"No, no, no," Topper told him. "What are you doin'? What are you gonna do?"

Rafe shook his head. "Nothin'. It's not my problem."

"That's your sisters you're talking about," Topper told him.

"Since when do you give a fuck about Lia?" Rafe asked. "You're only obsessed with Sarah."

"Doesn't mean I want either of them to die," Topper replied. Rafe nodded sarcastically, knowing Topper really didn't care about Lia. They watched Barry speed away in his car. "That psycho brought up Lia's friend. Said he knew how to make things look like an accident and self-inflicted. Lia's been saying that her friend was killed, not that he killed himself. Now he's threatening her and Sarah. What are you gonna do?"

Rafe looked around. "All right, come on. Come on."

They walked out the gate and toward their motorcycles.

Topper grabbed his helmet, shaking his head. "Jesus, Rafe."

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Ward's Office

Ward was sitting at his desk, looking at Big John's compass.

Rose walked in. 'Okay, I know that this hurricane is devastating, and a lot of people are hurting, but sometimes, you know what? After the rain, you get rainbows. New pocket listings. 40 acres, prime real estate. Some retiree tired of the dark nights got robbed by some kids, wants to go into assisted living."

Rose handed a "For Sale" folder for the Crain House to Ward.

Ward put the folder aside, not seeming interested. "Thank you, baby."

Rose frowned. "Hey, Ward, you'd normally be salivating over something like this."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Ward told her. "Right now, I am focused on something that's a little bit bigger than a pocket listing."

"Oh, God," Rose said. "You're not still chasing lost treasure, are you? Ward, that is 40 acres in Vanderhorst. Come on."

Ward shook his head. "This is different. Sweetie... this isn't just a dream anymore. I promise you, we are this close." He stood, leaning closer to Rose. "This close, baby."

Rose nodded skeptically. "Mm-hmm."

"Yeah," Ward stated.

"Yeah," Rose replied.

They kissed.

Ward pulled away, nodding. "I'm gonna make this happen." Rose didn't look amused, groaning, standing, walking away. "Thank you."

"Yup," Rose replied, walking out, closing the door behind her.

Ward smirked.

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Second Floor

Lia was sitting next to the window, looking at Robbie's necklace in her hand. Sarah sat in the next to her, as Isa and Kie sat on the couch next to them.

Kaylee was sitting in a chair, biting her lip worriedly.

John B, Kie and Pope were standing.

Isa knew that Lia was still shaken up. "You okay?"

Lia's eyes were glassy, but not with tears, just with distance. "Not really. I'm calmer now. I can think more clearly. That's something. But this... this isn't gonna help much with proving what Barry did. I mean, he took a keepsake from his body and we all heard him confess, and we can tell the cops that, but they all listen to my dad who told them not to bother with it. I don't..."

Kie took Lia's hand worriedly. "I'm so sorry, Lia."

Isa rubbed Lia's shoulder. "You've got us, okay? We're gonna help you, whatever way we can."

Lia sniffled, looking up. "I know. Thank you. Are you guys okay?"

Sarah nodded. "I mean, we're in one piece, so... Lia, I'm so sorry. I know that seeing Barry again, him taunting you about Robbie..."

Lia sighed. "I'll be fine. I just... can't think about that right now. What about JJ?"

"Look, he'll come around, all right?" John B asked. "It's... he's doing a JJ thing."

"You think he'll go home?" Isa asked.

Kaylee stood from her chair, pacing, annoyed and on the verge of angry even though she was still very worried. "He couldn't stay here, that was for sure."

"What's your problem?" Pope asked.

Kaylee turned to give Pope an incredulous 'seriously' look, crossing her arms over her chest, tilting her head skeptically. "My boyfriend just took money from a drug dealer and stormed off alone. That's what. He needed us. You really think that he's a maniac? He doesn't deserve the shit that you guys said to him. How can you all not see that he's trying his best? He wants to protect us because we're his family. Because his dad failed him. I get it, we all had reason to worry about what he did this afternoon with stealing a drug dealer's money and how Lia was spiraling and trying to find a way to expose Barry for killing Robbie... sorry about that, Lia." Lia looked down. "Because Barry knows who we are and could come after us." Kaylee gave John B, Kie and Pope a sharp look. "But none of you had the right to say you were fed up with his shit when all JJ's has done is fight for us, protect us and take the fall for us. At least Isa didn't go off on him, but you, Kie? JB? Pope? What the hell were you thinking?"

John B, Kie and Pope looked shamed, knowing that Kaylee was right.

Isa took a deep breath. "Okay. It's too dangerous to go after Barry right now, in any way."

Pope was pacing. "And it's too dangerous to pawn this thing off piecemeal. So our best bet is to go down there and get the rest of it. Bring it all up at once. Put it in--in a safe or a vault or something. I--I don't know. Just until we can find someone who won't rip us off. I can figure it out tonight, get it all done, and we can be out there as early as tomorrow morning."

"All right, let's do it," John B agreed.

"Easy," Pope said.

Isa looked at Lia and Kaylee. "You two up for it?"

Lia and Kaylee didn't know the answer.

Kaylee placed her hands on her hips, looking around curiously, trying to figure it out.

Sarah looked at Isa and John B. "What about the thing with Ward?"

"Shit," John B muttered.

Isa rolled her eyes, shaking her head, tilting it. "Forget about that thing. We have more important things going on."

"What thing?" Kaylee asked.

"Isa and I have to go fishing with Ward," John B answered.

"You can't get 400 mil 'cause you're gonna go kill fish?" Kie asked skeptically.

"Look, Isa, we have to go," John B told her.

Lia barely shook her head. "Like Isa said. Just blow it off."

"It's 400 million in gold," Pope pointed out.

"Make something up," Kie told them.

Isa looked at John B. "Are you seriously talking about dipping out because of Ward?"

"Look, we--we have to, okay?" John B asked. "He--he saved us, all right? If it weren't for Ward, you and I would be in foster care and separated, Isa." Isa knew he had a point, rolling her eyes. "So, we have to go."

Isa sighed. "Fine. Plus, it'll be better to do it at night. Right? Less chances of getting caught."

The others knew Isa had a point there.

"Fine," Lia said. "Fine, go fishing."

"And at least JJ will probably have washed up by then," Kaylee told them.

They all nodded.

Lia stood, pacing, still anxious from earlier, but not losing it.

Sarah stood, walking closer. "Hey."

Lia turned to face Sarah. "The way he was pushing me... the way I exploded... I don't want to be crazy like everyone was saying, Sarah."

Sarah shook her head worriedly. "No, no. You're not crazy, okay? Come here."

Sarah pulled Lia into her arms.

"Anyone would've reacted the same way if they were in your shoes, Lia," Kie told her in concern.

"It doesn't make you crazy," Isa assured. "Trust me."

John B, Kaylee and Pope looked at them sadly in sympathy.

⚓️

Maybank Trailer

(Song:) Half a Mile - Elenowen

The country song was playing on a radio.

Luke was sitting in the enclosed patio of the trailer, working on mechanical stuff.

JJ walked out of the house. "I've been staying at Kaylee's treehouse. The Pogue Nest."

"I didn't ask you where you were stayin'," Luke told him. "Or who you're sleeping with."

"We're not--" JJ started.

"Not yet," Luke replied. "Don't care." He stood, walking away from the table. "I knew you'd get hungry. The little slut living in a treehouse disobeying rich mommy and daddy wouldn't have a lot of food there with her, huh?"

JJ glared at him. "Don't talk about her like that." Luke grabbed a tool, going back to sit down and work. "I got the money."

Luke scoffed. "Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it."

JJ put the money that he stole from Barry on the table in front of Luke. "It's all there." Luke opened the bag, looking through the money, in awe. "25K."

JJ had a small smile, thinking that for once, his father would be proud of him, taking off his hat, flipping it in the air, catching it in his hand.

(Song Ends)

Luke chuckled in disbelief, shaking his head. "I don't know how you got this. I--I don't even wanna know." He pointed at JJ with money in his hand. "You did it." JJ smiled. "I'll grant you that. You did it. There's beer in the cooler." JJ put his hat on his head, walking toward the cooler. Luke stood with money in either hand. "I think that sale's still on at Guffy's of Makos. They're practically givin' 'em away." JJ's smile fell. Luke walked over to a newspaper, picking it up, looking through it. "Yep."

JJ took off his hat. "Dad, that's for the restitution."

Luke didn't pay attention. "Nice. We're gonna tap that, put al little more in."

JJ hesitated. "Dad." He put his hat down, walking closer. "Dad. Can you please just do the right thing for once, okay?"

Luke stepped closer to JJ. "You know how much you cost me, you little shit?" He held up the money in his hand. "This nut? It ain't going to the cops. No." He put the money in a blue canister, closing the lid. "I'm gonna take it south, I'm gonna triple it--"

"Dad!" JJ repeated.

Luke turned angry real fast. "You got somethin' to say? After everything you done?" He gave JJ a push in the chest. "You wanna get into it? I didn't think so." He walked away toward the table. "Man, people keep wastin' my time. I gotta fix this motor." JJ hurried to grab the blue canister with the money, and tried to dart back toward the table for the back with the rest of the money, but Luke pushed JJ away from the bag, shoving him into the wall of the house, hitting him in the stomach, punching him in the face hard enough to make JJ fall to the ground and spit up blood. "Boy, you stay down there."

JJ stood, swinging around to punch Luke in the face. Luke punched JJ in the face, tackling him to the floor of the patio, gripping his throat, strangling him. JJ clawed at Luke's face, kneeing him hard in the side, making him fall off of him and to the patio floor next to him. JJ instantly stood, going for the money, but Luke grabbed JJ's ankle, making him fall to the floor again. Luke stood, kicking JJ in the stomach, making him fall onto his back, lifting JJ up, slamming him against the wall, punching JJ twice in the face, and once in the stomach. JJ punched Luke twice in the face, pushing him through the screen of the enclosed patio, making him fall to the ground outside.

JJ jumped down next to Luke. "You wanna steal from me?" He kicked Luke in the stomach and side, slamming him onto his back. "You gave me nothing! You gave me nothing but a shitty life!" He was crying as he was punching Luke in the face repeatedly. "All you ever did was try and scare me!" He picked up the wrench from the tool bag next to them. "Well, guess what, Dad?" He was so close to using the wrench to bash Luke's head in, but he couldn't do it, crying softly. "I ain't scared of you anymore."

JJ dropped the wrench, sobbing, standing up, walking away up the steps to the patio, grabbing all of the money and heading inside.

⚓️

On the Road

(Song:) Paradise - The Natural Mystics

The song was playing on the radio.

John B was driving. Isa was in the passenger seat. Sarah and Lia were in the back. Everything was silent and tense because of everything that happened that day.

John B spoke up to try and ease the tension and make the girls feel better, looking at Lia and Sarah. "So welcome to the Pogue life. Is it everything you ever dreamed of?"

Sarah played along with trying to cheer Lia up. "And more."

"Ooh," John B said. "Ooh."

"I like it, besides psycho assholes from my past coming back to bite me in the ass," Lia remarked.

Isa nodded in understanding, taking Lia's hand. "You gonna be okay?"

Lia took a deep breath, managing a nod. "Yeah. I think so." Hearing a motorcycle's horn beeping, they looked back, and Lia and Isa could see through the back windows. "Speaking of psycho assholes from our life."

Sarah sighed. "Oh, shit. That's Rafe."

Rafe drove alongside the van. 'Hey, pull that piece of shit over!"

Rafe swerved in front of the van to make John B pull over.

"Oh, shit," Sarah muttered. John B and Isa went to get out of the car. "No, no, no, no. Isa, John B."

"What?" Isa asked.

"Let us handle him," Sarah answered. Lia and Sarah got out of the van, walking up to Rafeas Sarah demanded of their brother, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Rafe lifted his glass visor on his helmet. "There they are!" He looked at Sarah. "Little Miss Perfect!" He looked at Lia. "Little Miss Crazy."

"You're one to talk," Lia replied. "Hello? Are you high?"

Rafe's blown out eyes proved that he was high off of coke, and combined with his spiraling insanity, it made him volatile and unpredictable, even to his own sisters. He didn't want to hurt them - he was trying to warn them about Barry's threat, but he was spiraling so far out of control his anger lashed out at them at the same time.

Sarah pulled Rafe and Lia further away from the van. "Damn it, Rafe. We could have run you over."

Rafe took off his helmet. "I just heard about your little home invasion."

Lia shook her head to play dumb. "What are you talking about?"

"What would Dad say if he knew you two were robbing drug dealers?" Rafe asked.

Isa and John B got out of the van.

Isa rested her arms on the car door in front of her to lean against it, looking toward them curiously in concern.

Sarah gave Rafe a sarcastic look. "I don't know. You could tell him if he didn't kick you out."

Rafe put a hand to his chest. "I tried to take care of my little sisters--"

Sarah scoffed. "That's a lie. All you have ever done is manipulate us, rat Lia out and help Dad lock her up, so don't even go there."

"Yeah, and it's a good thing too, otherwise you two go out and do stupid things like this," Rafe retorted. He looked at Lia. "Especially when you're trying to get your little justice. Lia, Sarah, the guy that you robbed is a bad man."

"Yeah, we're aware, Rafe!" Sarah told him.

"No shit, Sherlock," Lia told him. "He killed Robbie! But you already know that because you just said 'little justice'. And this entire time, you've called me crazy and helped Dad lock me up when I was right the whole time!"

Rafe nodded in acknowledgement, looking away, looking guilty but believing that it was necessary to protect Lia from Barry, like Ward convinced him of.

Lia narrowed her eyes at Rafe, knowing that he didn't know until recently. "How do you know that he killed Robbie?"

Rafe couldn't out the fact that Ward knew the entire time because he wanted to protect their father knowing how Lia would react. "He came to threaten me after you two did your little spree with your friends. You guys stole from him! And he killed your friend, and you want to go vigilante on him. What do you think he's gonna do to you and your Pogue friends?"

"Don't you dare," Sarah warned angrily, knowing that this could make things worse on Lia's mental state. "Don't you dare!"

Lia held her head desperately, overwhelmed. "I can't do this right now!"

Rafe looked at Lia cautiously, his anger momentarily fading as he looked actually concerned that Lia could be spiraling like him. "He told me about how he pushed you off the edge and forced you to snap. You beat the shit out of him, and you really think that you should go around him and risk losing your mind more and getting yourself killed?"

Lia's eyes flashed with anger and pain. "You don't get to lecture me about losing my mind, Rafe. Not after everything you've done. And I'm not crazy - I was right about Robbie this whole time!"

"I know," Rafe said, his voice softening slightly. "But Lia, this guy is dangerous. He'll kill you without hesitation if you keep going after him."

"So what, I'm just supposed to let him get away with murdering my friend?" Lia demanded.

"No, but there are other ways," Rafe insisted. "Ways that don't involve you putting yourself in danger."

Sarah stepped between them. "Okay, both of you need to calm down. Rafe, you need to back off. We can handle this ourselves."

"Can you?" Rafe challenged. "Because from where I'm standing, you're both losing control."

Lia shook her head, tears of anger and frustration in her eyes. "You have no right to say this after everything you've done to make my mental state worse. You and Dad locked me up and drugged me when I was right about Robbie this whole time!"

Rafe's expression flickered with guilt, but he pushed it aside. "We were trying to protect you!"

"I don't need your protection!" Lia shouted. "Not after you betrayed me and helped Dad keep me prisoner in our own home!"

Sarah put a hand on Lia's shoulder, trying to calm her. "Lia, breathe. He's not worth it."

Lia took a shaky breath, her fists clenched at her sides. Rafe looked between his sisters, his drug-addled mind struggling to find the right words.

"Look, I know I've messed up," Rafe said, his voice uncharacteristically vulnerable. "But this isn't about me. This is about keeping you both safe."

"Safe?" Lia scoffed. "You call what you and Dad did to me 'safe'?"

"We didn't know what else to do," Rafe admitted. "You were spiraling, Lia. We thought..."

"You thought locking me up and drugging me was the answer?" Lia interrupted. "Instead of actually listening to me?"

Sarah squeezed Lia's shoulder supportively. "Rafe, you need to leave. Now."

Rafe shook his head insistently.

Isa watched Lia and Sarah in concern, exchanging a look with John B. They looked behind them when they heard another bike driving closer, seeing Topper driving closer.

Isa rolled her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake."

Isa slammed her van door, walking around the van toward John B, glaring at Topper.

Topper stopped his bike, getting off, pulling off his helmet, placing it down.

Isa glared. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

John B leaned against the van. "Come to try to kill me again, Top?"

Topper walked closer. "Yeah, here we go. Here we go. It's always the Kook's fault, isn't it?"

"When it comes to you, Rafe, Tod and Kelce, it sure the hell is," Isa answered. "Trying to drown JB while trying to traumatize me about our dad's drowning, pushing him from the Hawk's Nest, choking out Pope and nearly killing him after you and Rafe already jumped him, hurting Kaylee where she's still recovering and cornering Kay and JJ at Midsummers, not to mention what Tod did to Kaylee last year and did to us this year. You guys have wracked up an impressive psychotic resume there, champ."

Topper just glared at Isa, trying to ignore her true words, before pointing between Isa and John B, pointing toward where Lia and Sarah were still arguing with Rafe. "Look, I'm not the one corrupting these girls from a prominent family, getting them involved in a life of crime--"

"You have no idea what's going on!" John B snapped.

"And don't pretend that you give a damn about Lia after the way you four jackasses have treated her," Isa added.

Topper pointed at Isa. "One, that's none of your businesses." Isa scoffed. "Two, I have no idea? I know you're stealing 25K from a drug dealer. The same guy that killed Lia's friend and now wants to kill her if she tries to put his ass in jail. You gonna help her get herself killed?"

Lia heard Topper, glaring at him. "Stay out of this, Topper. You don't give a shit about me, so don't even try to get into this. This has nothing to do with you so butt out!" She looked at Rafe, pointing at Topper. "What the hell is he doing here?"

Rafe waved Topper off dismissively, not even knowing why Topper followed him either. "He was there when Barry showed up at the country club threatening us and telling us about the money and what he'd do to you if you didn't stand down."

Sarah stared Rafe and Topper both down. "You both need to go now, before you make things worse."

"Look, I'm trying to help you," Rafe insisted, his voice rising in frustration. "This guy is dangerous. He'll kill you both without hesitation if you keep going after him."

"We don't need your help!" Sarah shot back, even more hateful and angry toward their brother than Lia was, when she had very little reason to be in comparison. "You've done enough damage already!"

Lia shook her head, tears of anger and pain in her eyes, but she was utterly exhausted and defeated. "I didn't take Barry's money, and I don't have anything on him so you can go tell your little drug dealing boyfriend that."

Sarah glared at their older brother. "Just leave us alone, Rafe. We're done with you and your twisted idea of protection. You worry about your shit, we'll worry about ours!"

Rafe's expression hardened as he snapped at Sarah's words, the drugs amplifying his volatile emotions as his voice raised to a yell. "All right, I'm taking care of my own shit, okay?!" He lowered his voice, intense, angry and insane. "Sarah, you know, Lia has every reason in the world to hate me and hate Dad, but what's your excuse?" Sarah didn't have a response. Rafe shook his head. "One day, I'm gonna be running the show and you're gonna wish that you were nicer to me then."

Sarah scoffed. "Why don't you give me a save-the-date on that? You psycho!"

Rafe stepped forward confrontationally. "You want to get yourselves killed? Fine. But don't come running to me when it all goes to hell."

Lia stepped between Sarah and Rafe, trying to dispel the tension between the siblings despite her own spiral. "Stop! Please!" Her anger had dissipated into utter sadness as she looked at Rafe. "What have we ever done to you that you think it's okay to treat us like this? Huh? What happened to our brother?"

Rafe fell silent, having no idea about that answer himself, and that terrified him more than he would admit.

Lia shook her head sadly in defeat. "If it's not your problem, if you don't care whether I live or die, then why the hell are you here?"

Lia's words struck a chord within him, triggering emotions of vulnerability and guilt that he hadn't felt in what felt like so long.

Rafe did care - he was spiraling so far that he couldn't tell what was wrong or right anymore, let alone what was the right way to protect someone he cared about, even if he and his sisters had fallen out some time ago. Ward's sense of protection didn't help by imprisoning Lia in their own home, teaching Rafe by example a warped view of safeguarding his sisters. In addition with his spiraling mind and inner darkness and the drugs, he had no idea how to express that he did care that didn't push his sisters further away after all he had done to cut them down to isolate himself from them as well.

Rafe stared at Lia, his expression conflicted as her words sank in, a mix of anger, pain and confusion on his face. For a moment, the anger in his eyes faded, replaced by a flicker of the brother they once knew as the hardened mask he wore cracked. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, buried under layers of drug-fueled paranoia and misplaced anger.

"You're right," Rafe said, his voice low and bitter. "It's not my problem. You want to get yourselves killed? Go ahead."

Rafe jammed his helmet back on and walked back toward his bike.

Lia's shoulders slumped in defeat. She was hoping to reach her brother completely, and while she saw a glimpse of him, it slipped away before she could help him before he was too far gone to be helped.

Rafe paused just at his bike; he knew that Lia was trying to get through to him, but he still believed that he didn't need help. He glanced at Lia and Sarah as he climbed onto his bike, a flicker of doubt crossing his face before he pushed it down.

Next to the van, Topper glared at John B. "Listen, I--I know I'm the one that cares about Sarah, not you."

"Why don't you go get on your fucking bike, Topper?" John B asked.

"Or what?" Topper challenged.

John B glared at him. "Get on the bike." Topper backed away toward his bike. John B leaned back against the van. "See you later, sweetheart."

Isa smirked slightly.

Topper pulled on his helmet, starting his bike.

Isa held out her hand to flip Topper off, waving bye with her other hand sarcastically.

Rafe started his bike, looking at Lia and Sarah. "You're welcome."

Lia was too defeated to respond, while Sarah merely glared at their brother.

Rafe sped off on his bike.

Topper drove up beside Sarah. "You're better than this, Sarah!"

Topper sped off with Rafe.

Sarah ran a hand through her hair, overwhelmed, looking at Lia worriedly.

Lia looked down at Robbie's cross in her hand, even more rattled and overwhelmed.

Isa and John B walked closer.

Isa looked at the Cameron sisters sympathetically. "You okay?"

Lia shook her head. "What does 'okay' even feel like anymore?"

Lia put Robbie's cross in her pocket.

John B looked at Sarah, talking about Topper. "Well, he's a tool."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Sarah commented. "I dated him."

Isa put an arm around Lia. "It's okay."

Lia looked away. "I need some time to think. I can't... God, I can't think."

Lia started to walk away.

Sarah started to go after her. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No," Lia answered. "Sarah, you don't have to take care of me. Just do whatever you want."

Lia walked away to think by herself, needing the walk to clear her head.

"Someone should be with her," Sarah pointed out. "She's not gonna like me going though."

Isa nodded in understanding. "I got this. Kie will be back soon with Kaylee and Pope after they get everything we need for tomorrow, anyway."

Sarah and John B nodded barely.

"Thank you, Isa," Sarah told her.

Isa nodded, walking away.

John B put his arm around Sarah. "She's gonna be okay. Trust me."

Sarah sighed, putting her hands to her head. "I just want to take my mind of all this."

John B thought for a moment. "I might have something that can help with that. I wanna show you something."

⚓️

Church - Outside

John B drove the van up to the remains of the church.

"Oh, my God," Sarah said. "I didn't even know this place existed.

John B got out of the van, walking around it to take Sarah by the hand, helping her out of the van. "Do you trust me?"

"Is this my official initiation?" Sarah asked.

"No," John B answered. "Come on."

"Okay," Sarah agreed.

"You ready for this?" John B asked.

Sarah let out a long side. "Boy, am I ever."

⚓️

Inside

John B led Sarah inside. "Check it out."

Sarah looked around the inside of the old church in awe. "Oh, wow."

"Pretty cool, huh?" John B asked.

"Yeah, it's beautiful," Sarah answered.

"Yeah," John B agreed. "My, uh, my dad used to come here when he was a kid."

"Oh, yeah?" Sarah asked.

John B nodded. "He said it was a relic from the old island."

"Ooh," Sarah said in intrigue. "An antique?"

"Yeah, something like that," John B answered. "Before all the... the condos and the developments." They looked up at the ladder leading up to the bell tower. "Oh, that's the bell tower. Back in the day, they used to ring the bells when the boats would come in."

"Can I see it?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah," John B answered, grabbing two candles from the alters, which were small and in tiny glasses. "Wait, I'll--I'll go first. You know, sort it out, type of thing." He started to climb. "Rats and whatnot." Once he was in the bell tower, Sarah climbed the ladder, and John B took her hand to help her up into the room. "All right, watch your head. It's pretty cool, right?"

Sarah looked around in awe. "Yeah."

"Check this out," John B told her, showing her three initial carvings, one with the letters J.R., the second with John B, and the third with I.R.

"Is that you and Isa?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah," John B answered.

Sarah smiled. "Aw."

"I was ten," John B explained. "Isa was nine. We did it with our dad." Their gazes locked for a moment. "Yeah, um... oh, check this out." He walked to the other side of the room. Sarah slowly followed, holding the rope to the bell. "You ready?"

Sarah let go of the rope, standing next to John B. "I don't know." John B opened the window shutters in front of them, showing them a beautiful view of the island at sunset. Sarah was breath taken by the view. "Oh, my God. It's so beautiful."

John B smiled, crossing his arms. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Why do I get the feeling I'm not the first girl you've brought here?" Sarah asked.

"You think I bring all my random hookups to my secret spot?" John B asked.

Sarah shrugged. "I don't know what you do with your random hookups."

John B shook his head. "First time."

Sarah had a small smile. "So, this is gonna sound really morbid, but outside of what happened with Lia and Barry... today was a lot of fun."

"Enjoying life outside the bubble wrap?" John B asked.

"I love it," Sarah answered. "I just... want to make sure everyone's okay."

John B nodded in agreement, gently cupping Sarah's chin with his hand. "We will be." They started to kiss. Sarah suddenly broke the kiss. "Um..." Sarah looked nervous. "Hey."

Sarah shook her head. "No, no, um..."

Sarah cleared her throat. 

"Sorry," John B apologized. "I, um..."

Sarah sniffled. "No. I feel like I should warn you." She brushed back her hair. "When I get to this point, usually, with boys, I... bail."

John B didn't seem bothered. "Maybe we should stop."

Sarah didn't look happy with the idea of stopping, though a lot was going on, looking away. "Okay."

"Hey, it's okay," John B assured. "Promise."

Sarah smiled a bit. "Okay."

Sarah went to sit down.

"I have a question for you," John B told her.

"Shoot," Sarah replied.

John B sat down. "So, um..."  Sarah had an idea about what he would ask, looking at John B in amusement. John B looked at Sarah curiously. "Ha--have you--"

Sarah shook her head in answer. "No. I haven't. Does that freak you out?"

"No, actually," John B answered.

"I mean, it's not like there haven't been chances," Sarah stated.

John B laughed. "I'm sure you've had plenty of chances."

Sarah gazed off. "I say I want to, and I--I think I want to... but when that moment comes..."

"Think you're gonna lose control?" John B asked.

"No," Sarah answered. "I guess I'm afraid that you'll see who I am. And that you won't like it."

John B gave her a small smile. "You gettin' ready to bail now? Is that what's going on?" Sarah smiled, glad that he was teasing her about it and that he was cool with it. "You just gonna take off and leave me here in the bell tower?"

Sarah chuckled. "You never know. Preemptive strike."

John B inhaled sharply. "I like the strategy. Hit hard, hit first."

"Gotta keep you on your toes," Sarah mused.

John B lit his lighter to light the candle on the floor next to him. "I guess so."

"What about you?" Sarah asked. "Was it special for you?"

John B nodded sarcastically. "Oh, it was, um... it was... it was super special, yeah. Tourist from Cincinnati. We met at a party. And five minutes into it, she just... asked."

Sarah nodded in amusement. "Straight shooter."

"Yeah," John B agreed. "And, uh, so we went back to her condo, and it lasted a total of 25 seconds."

Sarah smiled. "Marathon." John B waved his hand toward Sarah. "And then you and JJ high fived."

"No," John B answered. "I kind of felt like shit."

Sarah frowned curiously. "Kind of thought all boys just wanted to hook up with anyone, anytime, anywhere."

John B shrugged. "Yeah, I just ended up getting wasted." Sarah lowered herself to sit on the floor next to him. "Then we'll wait."

Sarah smiled. "Thank you."

(Song:) The Raft - Fat Freddy's Drop

Sarah and John B held hands, before kissing, which got more and more passionate, both saying, "Hi," between a kiss.

Sarah leaned closer to John B, laying him down.

"Are you sure?" John B asked.

Sarah moved her hair over her head to one side. "Positive."

They continued to make out. John B lowered the strap of her crop top, both smiling and kissing. Sarah looked at the candle next to them, blowing out the flame.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Night - Woods

Lia and Isa were walking on the way through the woods toward the Pogue Nest.

Isa reached for Lia's hand. "Are you okay? I know it's a stupid question, but I meant, compared to..."

"Compared to earlier," Lia finished. "I know what you meant, Isa. And I know that you, Kie and Sarah were just trying to make sure I wasn't losing it earlier. I'm so sorry for lashing out like that."

Isa shook her head. "Don't be. JJ was right about one thing earlier when you lashed out at Barry. You were bound to explode after all the shit you've been going through."

Pope's truck pulled up nearby them, parking a little distance away from the Pogue Nest.

Kie, Kaylee and Pope got out of the truck.

"Gotta be done before my scholarship interview in the morning," Pope told them.

"Okay, well, we gotta focus," Kaylee stated.

Pope nodded. "I know. It's gonna be fine. We got John B and JJ inside the well, me and Isa up top. And Kie, you, Kaylee, Lia and Sarah will be outside transporting. We got this. I got a winch. That tin can hold over like... 200, 300 pounds."

Kie saw Isa and Lia, looking at them in relief, running closer. "Isa! Lia! My God. You two okay?"

Lia shook her head. "Barry threatened Rafe and told him to give us a warning. About what he'd do to me if I didn't stop trying to expose what he did to Robbie. And if he doesn't get the money that JJ stole back. And Rafe basically said he doesn't care if I keep going and get myself killed, saying it would be my fault."

Kie sighed worriedly. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Lia whispered. "Me too. I don't know what to do. If I do nothing, then it's like I'm just betraying Robbie's memory after everything I went through because no one believed me. And no one wanted to do anything to get justice and find out the truth. But if I keep going, then I could get hurt, or get someone I love hurt, and I can't do that to you guys."

Isa and Kie both held one of Lia's hands.

"You said that you understood why John B and I were on this mission with the gold because of what you went through with Robbie," Isa told her. "So you know I understand why you want to get justice for Robbie and try and expose Barry and get him locked up. You know that. I want to find out what happened with my dad just as much. And I would do anything for people to know the truth too. But I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of it. So I get it. Trust me."

Kie used her other hand to take Isa's other hand. "Isa? Lia? Whatever happens... whatever you two choose to do... I'll stand by you."

Lia nodded with tears in her eyes. "Thanks, Kie."

Kie wrapped her arms around Isa and Lia, as the three embraced.

Kaylee and Pope watched them sadly in sympathy.

"And thanks, Isa," Kie told her.

"For what?" Isa asked.

"Stranding me and Lia," Kie answered. "You know, making us make up."

Isa nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Of course."

The three pulled away.

Lia wiped her cheeks. "I don't know how I would do this without you guys."

"Well, luckily you don't have to find out," Kie told her.

Isa, Lia and Kie managed small smiles.

Kaylee walked closer. "Hey, Lia. How you doing?"

Lia shook her head. "Don't ask. You okay, Kaylee?"

"Yeah," Kaylee answered. "Don't worry about me."

Isa pointed at Lia. "That's usually her saying."

Isa's goal to try and cheer Lia up worked a bit, as Lia barely managed a small smile and chuckle. Isa and Kie smiled.

Kaylee gave Isa and Lia both a hug, who returned the embrace. "It's gonna be okay."

Pope walked closer. "I'm sorry about earlier, Lia. About everything."

Lia shook her head. "It's not your fault, Pope. But you all did help. More than you think."

Kaylee patted the girls on the shoulders. "Come on. Let's get to the Pogue Nest."

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Outside

A bunch of multi colored lights were strung from the trees and on the treehouse, and a giant hot tub was nearby the treehouse.

Pope, Kaylee, Kie, Lia and Isa walked closer, in shock by what they saw.

"What the hell?" Lia asked.

JJ sat in the hot tub wearing a pair of sunglasses on the tip of his nose, popping the cork off a bottle of champagne.

Pope looked at him in shock. "What did you do, JJ?"

JJ lowered his sunglasses more to look at them, giving a drunken laugh. "I got a jet going straight into my butt right now. Y'all should get in immediately. You hear me? Salud!"

JJ filled glasses that floated on flamingos with champagne.

"How much did this cost?" Pope asked.

"Uh, well, with the generator, the petrol, and, oh, hey, express shipping, pretty much all of it," JJ answered. "Yeah. Hey, Kay, at least even though your parents wouldn't get you another generator, I did."

Kaylee was in shock. "All of it?"

"Yeah, all of it," JJ answered.

"You spent all the money in one day?" Pope asked.

JJ nodded. "Yeah, burned a hole right through my pocket. But, I mean, come on, guys. Look at this. Finest in jet-based massage therapy. That's what they told me."

Lia awkardly looked at the others. "I'll just..." She pointed to the Pogue Nest. "Be inside."

"Yeah, go ahead," Isa agreed. "We need to talk to him."

"Aw, really?" JJ asked. "If anyone else needed a drink after today, it'd be Lia."

Lia raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, maybe later."

Lia walked to the Pogue Nest, walking inside, leaving the Pogues (minus John B) to talk alone.

Kie watched Lia go, before looking at JJ in disbelief, raising her eyebrows.

"Kie, what?" JJ asked. "Can't a man have a little luxury in life? Come on. All this scrimping and scraping. I mean, like, guys, you only live once, right? Enough of this emotional shit. Come on, get in the cat's ass."

"In the what?" Isa asked.

JJ snickered. "The cat's ass. That's what I named her. Oh, hey, yo! I almost forgot." He clicked a button, sending streams of water flying in all directions, and a giant disco ball came down from hanging on the treehouse up above. "Yeah, that's right. Disco mode. That's right, baby."

Pope gave him a scolding look. "Are you kidding me? You could've paid for restitution!"

"Or literally given it to any charity!" Kie added.

Kaylee stood silent, looking at JJ worriedly because she knew something was wrong when he looked so drunk and so lost and hopeless.

"Or better yet helped buy supplies to get the rest of the gold out of the well," Pope added.

Isa gave Kie and Pope a look, knowing something was wrong too. "You two are not helping right now. JJ--"

JJ rubbed his temples before standing up. "Okay, well, you know what? I didn't do that. I got a hot tub!"

Now that JJ was standing up, Pope, Kaylee, Kie and Isa could see the deep purple and red bruises that covered JJ's torso and rib cage.

Kaylee looked shocked and like she lost her breath completely after seeing this, tears already starting to form in her eyes at seeing JJ so hurt.

Isa was just as emotional since JJ was like her brother, putting a hand over her mouth.

JJ continued. "For my friends. Screw friends, for my family! I got a hot tub for my family!"

Kaylee started to cry. "JJ."

Kie was concerned and confused, worried. "JJ, what the hell?"

JJ turned around, motioning to his surroundings. "I got this for you. Guys, look what I did for you! Look at this!"

JJ turned to face them again.

Kaylee could barely saw his name loud enough for him to hear as she took a step closer. "Jayj."

Isa slowly stepped forward. "No..."

JJ looked at Kaylee and Isa's reactions, his eyes softening as tears started to flow from his as well. "No. Stop being emotional. It's fine, okay?" He looked down, trying to keep himself from crying. "I mean, it's sweet, right? Everything--"

JJ choked back a sob.

Kaylee climbed into the hot tub, walking closer instantly. "Hey, it's okay."

Kaylee pulled JJ gently into her arms.

JJ cried in her embrace, burying his face in her neck, holding her tightly against him, breaking down. "I just couldn't do it." Kaylee gently rubbed his back and neck to try and calm him down, crying, but staying strong for him, knowing he needed her. JJ held onto her tightly as if he was afraid that she would slip away from him, his head still in the crook of her neck as his body racked with sobs. "I can't take him anymore! I was gonna kill him!"

Kaylee cried with him, holding JJ soothingly and protectively, running her hand through his hair to try and calm him down. "He can't hurt you. I promise. I'm not gonna let him hurt you."

Isa climbed into the hot tub, walking closer through the water to wrap her arms around JJ and Kaylee, nearly crying from seeing JJ in so much pain, emotionally and physically. "JJ, you're safe here. It's gonna be okay."

JJ instantly put one arm around Isa as she held both of them, and Kaylee wrapped her other arm around Isa as well.

JJ cried. "I just wanna do the right thing."

"I know," Isa whispered, reassuring him. "I know."

Kie and Pope got into the hot tub with Isa, JJ and Kaylee, wrapping their arms around JJ on either side of Isa and Kaylee. They all stood there, clinging onto each other for as long as JJ needed them to.

It was sometime later when Kaylee and JJ were sitting outside Pogue Nest, alone now.

Kaylee took his hand. "Come on. Let's go inside."

JJ nodded. They both stood, walking inside. 

⚓️

Inside - First Floor

Kaylee turned to JJ. "Do you need the bathroom? A shower? I can try to see if my parents are asleep so you can use the shower."

JJ shook his head. "I'm fine. I don't want to get you in trouble."

Kaylee looked at him sadly. "Are you hungry?" JJ nodded. "I'm gonna go get you something to eat, okay?"

JJ nodded, starting to look more like himself. Kaylee kissed his forehead, leaving to go get them some food. 

⚓️

Third Floor - Kaylee's Room

Once they were finally ready to go to sleep, Kaylee and JJ laid in Kaylee's bed, arms around each other, as Kaylee trailed her hand through JJ's hair to help him relax and feel at ease enough to where he could fall asleep, worried about him and trying to make sure he would be okay.

⚓️

Woods

After JJ's breakdown, Isa, Kie and Lia were walking through the woods in the darkness to walk Kie back to the Carrera house.

"Do you think JJ's gonna be okay?" Lia asked in concern.

"I don't know," Kie admitted, worried and concerned.

Isa looked tormented after what JJ went through with his father. "I hope to God he will be. JJ's like my brother. It hurts so much to see him in pain."

Kie and Lia nodded in understanding, sadly.

Isa sighed heavily. "But Kaylee's there for him now. I just wish JJ would've let us stay instead of sending us away."

Kie nodded. "But I get it. He doesn't want to be crowded right now."

Lia nodded sadly. "I get that, too."

Kie reached for Isa and Lia's hands. "I wish you guys could stay."

"I have to get back before my dad realizes I've been out all night," Lia pointed out. "God knows what my brother told him after today. If I don't play it safe, my dad could lock me up for good this time."

"We're not gonna let that happen," Isa assured. "That's why John B and I are going on this fishing trip with him, to keep Ward from getting suspicious."

Kie looked between Isa and Lia in concern. "If you guys need anything, I'm right here. Just let me know."

"I'm fine, Kie," Isa assured.

Lia took a deep breath. "And I'll be fine. I just... now that I'm not blinded by rage or sadness anymore... I can think a lot more clearly. But I still have no idea what the fuck to do that won't get someone hurt."

Isa nodded in understanding, holding Lia's hand. "We'll figure it out. I promise."

Lia looked between Isa and Kie, taking both of their hands to pull them closer, placing a hand on both of their cheeks. The three girls looked at each other for a long moment before Lia kissed Isa gently but passionately, and then gave Kie a kiss with the same amount of emotion and longing. When they pulled away, they stayed close, holding onto each other.

"What was that for?" Kie whispered.

"Just being so understanding of everything," Lia answered. "Isa, Kie, all I want is to help people, Isa. You two, the others. I don't want anyone getting hurt."

Isa nodded in understanding. "We know. It's gonna be okay."

Lia, Kie and Isa leaned their heads together, still emotional from everything, but more calm after everything had started to settle down... for now.

As Isa, Kie and Lia stood together in the moonlit woods, their foreheads touching as they drew comfort from each other's presence, the night air was thick with humidity, cicadas chirping in the distance. Fireflies danced around them, tiny pinpricks of light in the darkness.

Isa and Kie gazed at each other, both hesitant to say goodnight. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the girls' faces. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the scent of salt from the nearby ocean.

"I guess this is where we part ways," Isa said softly, her hand still entwined with both Lia and Kie's.

Kie nodded, her eyes never leaving theirs. "Yeah, I guess so."

They stood there for a moment longer, neither wanting to be the first to let go. The night was quiet around them, save for the distant crash of waves and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Finally, Isa took a step closer, her free hand coming up to cup Kie's cheek. Kie leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. They met halfway in a soft goodnight kiss, just as passionate as the kisses Lia gave both of them. Lia watched them with a soft smile until they pulled away.

Isa and Lia reluctantly pulled away from Kie.

"We should go home," Lia said softly, her voice tinged with regret. "I don't want to, but..."

"I know," Kie assured them. "Be safe, okay? Both of you."

Isa nodded. "You too."

Isa and Kie both pressed a gentle kiss to Kie's cheeks, causing her to smile as she kissed both of theirs as well.

With one last longing look, Isa and Lia turned and disappeared into the shadows of the trees, leaving Kie alone.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Ward's Room

It was nearly 3 AM when Ward's alarm clock went off, but he was already awake, turning the alarm off.

⚓️

John B's Room

John B was sleeping in bed when John B's alarm started to go off on his phone. John B swatted at his phone to turn the alarm off without opening his eyes.

⚓️

Sarah's Room

After getting dressed, John B made his way up to Sarah's room, walking in, laying behind her in bed, putting his casted arm around her. "Hi."

Sarah smiled, turning to look at him. "Hi."

They kissed.

"Bye," John B whispered.

"Bye," Sarah replied.

John B stood, walking out of the room.

⚓️

Day Two

Dawn (still dark) - Figure 8 Docks

On the boat, John B began to string some fishing line while Isa looked around the fancy boat that had a couch, kitchen area and different levels.

Ward walked closer, setting his stuff down on the dock. "Look at you already hard at work. I like it."

"Yes, sir," John B called back.

"How'd you sleep?" Ward asked.

"Didn't get much, if any," Isa answered honestly.

"That might be because you and Lia came home around 2:30," Ward replied.

Isa made a face. "Uh... we both just needed some air. We stayed close to the house, though."

Ward nodded barely, skeptically. "Mm-hmm." He loaded the stuff onto the boat with John B's help, as Isa and John B exchanged a look. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Isa answered.

Ward and John B grunted as they lifted heavy cases onto the boat.

"You got it?" Ward checked. "All right, big man."

"Guffy said he got into it pretty good just north of Big Rock," John B explained.

"Guffy, huh?" Ward asked, scratching his beard. "With the mouth on him, there'll be 15 boats up there already. I say we go south. Swansboro Hole. It'll be just the three of us down there." Isa and John B exchanged a look. "Sound good?"

Ward boarded the boat.

Isa looked down at Ward. "Yeah, yeah."

Ward headed up to steer the ship. "All right, let's do it."

"Let's do it," John B mumbled quietly.

Isa shook her head. "We should've dipped."

They made it out to where the water was dead calm, just south of the island. They stood at the top of the boat.

Ward was drinking, putting his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky. "We picked a good one, didn't we?"

The sun was just beginning to rise, the sky a mixture of orange and purple hues.

"Sure did," John B replied.

Ward handed the glass to John B, patting his shoulder. "Hit me again." John B moved toward the cooler. "Ah, you know what? Hold the grapefruit juice on this one. Let's get this day on its feet. In fact, you know what? Pour one for you and Isa, too."

Isa and John B looked at him in surprise and confusion.

"We're, uh..." John B trailed off with a laugh. "I'm 16, sir. Isa's 15."

"John, I know how old you both are, okay?" Ward asked. "It's okay. It's just one drink. We're out here in the ocean. These are almost international waters."

Isa shook her head. "I'm good."

Ward looked between the two siblings. "Come on, we're celebrating."

John B poured himself a drink. "All right, all right. Yes, sir. I'll have just one."

Ward smiled. "All right. Isa?"

"No, I'm good," Isa answered. "Really."

Ward was a little tipsy already. "See, here's the thing. I don't know if you know this, but you're about to be fishing with a Grand Knight of the Rhododendron. I know you two probably don't know what that is, and it doesn't seem like a big deal, but... to me, it is. It means I'm a--I'm a trusted member of this community. That means a lot to me. Trust."

"Absolutely, yeah," John B remarked.

"Here's to trust," Ward told them, holding out his glass.

John B held out his glass to clink their drinks. "To trust." They both took a drink. "Whew."

Isa smirked slightly. "You okay?"

"Yeah, no, I'm...' John B trailed off. "Yeah."

Ward pointed at John B. "Wait, I got one more. One more, I promise. I hear your girlfriend's pretty nice."

Isa rolled her eyes, turning around to lean against the rail. The wind picked up, blowing gently through Isa's hair as she looked off into the distance.

John B gave an awkward smile. "To Sarah."

"To Sarah," Ward agreed. They clinked their glasses. "Isa, you seem to be getting close with Lia."

Isa turned back, knowing to keep Lia's secret from Ward because of how he was and how he treated her, not yet knowing how bad he really was. "Yeah, Lia's a good friend, to us and our friends. She fits in naturally."

Ward nodded, seeming to know that there was more to it than that.

⚓️

Morning - Middle of Nowhere - Ocean

As the day continued and it had gotten hotter, Isa and John had removed their extra clothes so they were in their bathing suits, standing at the back end of the ship, watching the fishing poles as they leaned against the edge.

"Anything?" Ward asked.

"Nothing," Isa and John B answered.

"Whew!" Ward said. "Three hours trawling, one hour out here. We're getting skunked. Not a damn fish. I guess Guffy was right, huh?" He walked closer to them. "You know, half the time, I don't even care if I find fish. I just like being out here."

Isa squinted through the sunlight. "That's what our dad used to say."

Ward looked at them. "John B, Isa, I wanna be real honest with you two right now. I'm gonna ask you both to do the same for me."

John B nodded. "Okay."

Ward looked at Isa. "Yeah?"

Isa shrugged. "Yeah, yeah."

"All right," Ward replied. "First thing I have to do is apologize to you."

"For what?" John B asked.

"I told you to stop looking for the Royal Merchant gold," Ward told them. "And you didn't. Goddamn it, you found it."

Isa and John B looked at him, confused at how he knew that.

Isa shook her head. "I wish."

Ward looked between the two, laughing. "You can play it that way if you want to. I'm not gonna force your hand. But I know that you did." He leaned against the railing, speaking more seriously. "And it's amazing. Sincerely, it's unbelievable. 150 years, people been looking for that goddamn gold. None of 'em could find it. You two, your friends, my daughters, found it. You think I don't know how Lia and Sarah helped? I'm betting Lia's knowledge helped a lot. If I listened to her more, maybe I'd have found it. Here's the thing, kids. Finding it? That's where your fun ends. That's where all your problems begin. Ones you haven't even thought of. I mean, excavating it. You're probably trying that right now. If it's in the water, how do you get it up? If it's on land, on somebody else's property, and they catch you trying to take it? That's theft. Jesus, we are talking a massive about of gold there. John, you're 16. Isa, you're 15. How are you gonna transport that gold? How are you gonna turn it into something in your bank account, something you can spend? See what I'm saying? See the difficulties? This is what I'm talking about. All right? The real truth, the hard truth is that, right now... you are way over your heads. You need me. Let's do this together. I can make all those problems go away. That's my job. We can figure out an equitable split. I know that your friends helped you two and my daughters, so we cut them in. Don't be so nervous. It's okay, all right? I'm just here to help you. All you gotta do is trust me. What do you say? Wanna do this?"

Isa and John B shook their heads, not trusting Ward because of how much he seemed to know and how he said if he had listened to Lia more, then maybe he might have been the one to find it.

"We don't know what you're talking about," John B told him.

Ward nodded in disappointment. "Okay. Okay. All right, all right. We can play it that way. I think very quickly you'll come to realize that there's really no other choice. I mean, I know, right? I know that you have it. I know that you've had a little taste of it. I know a submersible went missing from the salvage yard, right? I know maybe that's how you got it out of the water. If it's on land, I know that you've been all--all around the 8 recently, okay?" Isa and John B realized that Ward must have been watching the Pogues so closely for him to realize all of that. "I know that maybe it's something to do with Redfield." Isa's head snapped up. "I know that you asked for the map from Lia, so I gave you the map from Tannyhill."

"What did you just say?" John B asked.

"I know..." Ward trailed off. "The map of Tannyhill."

Isa shook her head. "Wh--what did you just say? The other thing. How do you know about Redfield?" Ward scoffed a laugh in response, realizing he slipped up. "Unless you have our father's compass."

"Um, I don't--" Ward started.

John B raised his eyebrows. "And if you have the compass, then you knew to search for it, right?"

"Do you hear yourselves right now?" Ward asked.

"Yes, yes, we're listening," Isa answered.

"You sound crazy," Ward stated.

John B raised his voice. "Redfield! You said Redfield, did you not?" He looked at Isa. "Did he not?"

Isa crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Ward suspiciously. "He did. Redfield was the last message our father left before he disappeared. You know about his disappearance, don't you?" Ward looked worried, shaking his head. "Don't-don't-don't fucking lie to us, Ward. I can see that you do."

Isa and John B were getting angrier.

"Let's see what the sheriff has to say about this," John B threatened, climbing up the steps to control the boat. "Come on, Isa. We're going home.'

Isa climbed up the steps to the highest level of the Druthers. John B steered the boat back toward home.

Ward realized how badly he screwed up, closing his eyes. He leaned against the edge of the boat, thinking coldly and heartlessly. He walked over to grab his gaff hook from the floor of the boat, looking up at Isa and John B above, starting to climb up the ladder toward them, the gaff hook clinking against the ladder as he climbed.

Isa and John B heard the clinking sound from the ladder behind them, turning to see Ward with the gaff hook.