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Same Day - Same Scene

Day One

Morning - Middle of Nowhere - Ocean

Isa and John B were at the throttle of the ship. 

Ward started 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.

Ward climbed up toward them with the gaff hook, waving the weapon around. "Isa, John B, get back! Get back! Get away from the throttle!"

Isa and John B backed away.

John B raised his hands. "Okay, okay."

Ward pointed the gaff hook at them. "Stay back! We're not going anywhere till you listen!"

"Okay!" Isa replied, trying to get him to stop waving the hook toward them. John B stood in front of Isa protectively as Isa glared at Ward. "Relax!"

Ward pointed at them. "It wasn't my fault. It was your father, okay? It was your father that tried to change--"

John B lunged for Ward, trying to grab the gaff hook from his hands. "You piece of shit!"

The two yelled and groaned as they fought back and forth. Ward pressed the bar of the gaff hook against John B's throat, managing to push John B against the railing, aiming the hook of the gaff hook right at John B's face. John B barely managed to hold the gaff hook off, so Ward headbutted John B, pushing him over the railing of the boat, making him fall down to the bottom of the deck.

Isa looked over the railing to her brother worriedly. "John B!"

"Run, Isa!" John B yelled.

Ward turned to Isa with the gaff hook. "Nowhere to run, Isa."

Isa flipped up the cooler lid, grabbing a beer bottle, slamming the end against the boat to break it off into a sharp deadly piece of glass, holding it out at Ward. Ward hesitated, but swung his gaff hook at Isa repeatedly. Isa ducked under the swings of the gaff hook, slashing the broken beer bottle into Ward's stomach, leaving a shallow cut across his skin. Ward looked down in shock. Taking advantage of the distraction, Isa quickly ducked over the railing, holding on the railing as leverage to jump down to the bottom deck, looking up at Ward. Ward stared down at her, running to the ladder.

John B slowly pushed himself to his feet. "Come on! Come on." Isa helped John B. They ran through the side of the boat to a small compartment on the bottom. John B found a radio, calling into it. "Mayday! Mayday! This is the--" They both groaned as a high pitch static echoed from the radio and to their ears. "Hello? If anyone is hearing this, this is the My Druthers! Mayday. Mayday. Mayday! Can anybody hear me?"

Ward appeared, rushing around the corner, yelling, swinging the gaff hook at them. Isa and John B fell in different directions as they dodged the weapon. The gaff hook slammed on the radio. Ward latched the gaff hook on John B's cast. Isa stood, kicking Ward fiercely in the back. Ward turned to Isa, ready to swing when John B grabbed Ward in a choke hold, lowering him to the floor.

Isa looked at John B. "Let's go!" Isa and John B ran up the stairs and into the inside area of the boat, looking for a weapon or anything to defend themselves with. John B and Isa frantically pulled off the seat cushions so they could get into the compartment underneath. Isa grabbed the spears and a spear gun. "Yes."

Isa handed them to John B.

John B loaded up. "Get behind me!" Ward walked in. "Stay right there! Don't move! Don't move! I swear, I'll kill you, Ward!"

"Do it," Ward encouraged. "Do it, John B. I know you want to."

"Shut the fuck up," Isa told him.

"But then you and Isa would have my body to deal with," Ward told him. "Believe me, it's more complicated than it seems. You won't do it. You're both weak just like your father."

Isa went to grab the spear gun, but before she could, Ward charged at them, throwing his gaff hook at Isa. Isa ducked, narrowly missing it.

John B pushed Ward down, looking at Isa. "Come on!"

Isa and John B ran for the stairs, with John B bolting up first. Isa was right behind him, but Ward was right behind her, reaching the gaff hook out toward Isa's bare torso, as she was only in a bikini right then, grazing over her skin, causing it to bleed. Isa cried out in pain, holding her side, kicking Ward in the face and making him fall down the stairs, running up after John B.

The two siblings ran into one of the rooms as John B slammed the door closed behind them, locking it. John B ran onto the bed so he could unscrew the small sunroof, climbing through first, holding his hand down for Isa.

Ward started to slash his gaff hook through the door. Isa grabbed John B's hand.

John B pulled her up through the window and onto the deck, seeing Isa's bleeding side. "Are you okay?"

Isa held her hand over the large cut, attempting to stop it from bleeding. "Don't worry about me. We don't have time right now. Let's go."

John B pointed to the jet ski, knowing that Isa needed to go sit down. "Get on!"

They ran to the jet ski. Isa had to sit down because of her bleeding, weeping wound. John B found Isa's clothes nearby, tossing them to her. Isa caught her clothes, using her blue bandana tube top to press over her wound to try and stop the bleeding. John B unhooked the jet ski from the straps, hitting the button to raise the jet ski in the air and into the water.

"Come on, come on, come on!" Isa told him. John B climbed over the railing. "He's here. Jump!"

Ward was standing at the throttle, loading a spear into the gun. John B jumped onto the jet ski, sitting behind Isa. Isa started the engine up, the same time John B pulled the small handle to let them fall into the water. When Ward shot at them, they both ducked, but the spear managed to graze deeply into Isa's shoulder as it soared past them and into the ocean behind them. Isa cried out in pain at the searing pain now in her arm.

John B was even more worried. "Isa!"

Isa, trying to ignore the pain the best she could to get them to safety, revving the engine and sent them flying away from the boat.

Ward tried to chase them on his boat, but of course the jet ski was faster, and Isa and John B managed to get away.

Ward looked down at his stomach where Isa had cut him with the beer bottle, coming up with a backup plan.

⚓️

Near Shore

Isa and John B sighed in relief once they passed the lighthouse, knowing they were closer to being home, seeing about a couple yards left to get to the shoreline. The jet ski came to stop.

Isa looked around in a panic. "No, no, no, no."

"Come on," John B said.

"It's out of gas," Isa stated, holding back tears of pain and frustration.

John B stood, looking around, looking at Isa's shoulder and side, which were bleeding pretty heavily, examining the wounds as a shallow cut sliced clean across the top of front of her shoulder and a deeper cut in her side from when Ward tried to stab her, taking his bandana off his neck, tying his bandana around her shoulder to try and stop the bleeding, as Isa held her shirt against her side. "Shit. You think you can swim?"

Isa sighed. "What other choice do I have?"

John B knew she was right. "Tell me if you get tired, all right? I'm not losing you to drowning out here."

Isa nodded, following John B into the water, wincing at the salt water as it burned her wound. "The salt. I'm fine."

They started to swim.

⚓️ Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Kaylee's Room

Kaylee woke up in bed, looking at JJ in the bed next to her. JJ looked content, and Kaylee wasn't going to ruin it by waking him up, lightly trailing a hand through his blonde locks. Soon, JJ stirred, holding Kaylee closer to him as his eyes fluttered open. When he saw Kaylee laying next to him, JJ smiled, giving her a quick kiss.

Kaylee frowned. "I have morning breath."

"Don't care," JJ replied. 

"You okay?" Kaylee asked.

JJ shrugged. "Better than last night. Thanks." The two looked at each other for a few silent moments as they were starting to fully become awake. "Kaylee?"

"Yes?" Kaylee asked.

"When this is all over, would you like to go on a real date?" JJ asked. "Just you and me?"

Kaylee playfully considered. "Well, that depends. Will this date end up with us being on the run from cops or people trying to kill us?"

"Absolutely not," JJ answered.

"Will it have gunfire?" Kaylee asked.

"Nope," JJ answered.

"Sounds good so far," Kaylee admitted. JJ smiled. "What will it have?"

"Many things," JJ whispered into her ear, making Kaylee shiver at his touch, smiling. "I could think of one right now." JJ smirked. "Is that a yes?"

"It's a hell yes," Kaylee answered.

JJ and Kaylee smirked, kissing, pulling away.

JJ considered what to say for a moment. "I wanted to say this last night, but I wasn't really in the right headspace and everything, but..."

"What?" Kaylee asked. "JJ, you know you can tell me anything."

"I know," JJ agreed. "You've just been there for me in ways a lot of other people haven't. I can't list all the ways you have been there and helped me."

"Yeah, well, likewise, with you for me," Kaylee pointed out. "There's been so much that happened and you helped me with some of the most messed up things just by being there for me. Even before all of this treasure hunt stuff started happening."

"Yeah," JJ agreed. "Kaylee Carrera, I love you. I think I started liking you since the sixth grade. And you don't have to say you love me back tonight or tomorrow or next month. But I just wanted to say that. That I love you."

Kaylee's eyes were teary, smiling, kissing JJ happily and passionately, as JJ returned the kiss in kind.

Kaylee wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head against his, eyes still closed contently. "I love you too. JJ Maybank."

They both smiled.

Kie knocked on the door loudly, opening it to peak inside. "Get up! Lives are at stake here."

JJ and Kaylee glanced at each other, bursting into a fit of laughter. Kie smiled, happy that they were finally happy together.

⚓️

Grubbs House - Outside

Isa and John B walked up to the Grubbs house, walking up to the front porch, dripping wet. Isa was wearing her white capris, but using her blue bandana tube top on her side still, while John B's bandana was around her shoulder.

Lana stood inside, taking a sip of her morning coffee before noticing them, looking over to the two in shock.

"We need to know," John B spoke ominously.

Lana opened the door, motioning for them to walk inside. "Come in." She looked at Isa. "Let me get you a towel. I don't have a first aid kit, but I can wash your shirt and... Take a seat at the table."

⚓️

Inside

Isa and John B sat down, waiting a moment before Lana returned with the towel.

Isa used the towel to apply pressure to her wounds. "Holy shit."

Lana was washing Isa's shirt, trying to get her blood out of it, knowing it was time to come clean. "The night your father disappeared, I came home early from work to find Scooter talking to Ward."

⚓️

Flashback

Night - Grubbs House - Living Room

Lana walked up to the living room doorway.

Ward was crying, sobbing as he confessed to Scooter. "I didn't want him to get hurt. I wasn't trying to hurt him! It was a mistake. It was just a stupid accident. It was just... he tried to change the deal on me, and I wasn't gonna let him, and so he flipped out, and it just--I didn't mean to... hurt him. I didn't mean anything to happen to him."

Scooter sat next to Ward. "Okay, okay. Slow down, C. Okay, start at the beginning."

⚓️

Flashback

Day - Ocean (Middle of Nowhere) - Boat

This boat was in the middle of nowhere on the ocean much like it had been in present time when Ward tried to kill Isa and John B.

Ward: (voice over) "It was this morning. Big John and I were out on the open water."

Ward walked toward Big John. "John, you brought me out here to talk, man, so let's talk. I figured it might be good news." Big John turned to look at Ward. "You found it?" Big John had a small, grim smile. Ward smiled, excited, walking closer. "You found it." He laughed. "You found it!"

Ward went to grab Big John's face.

Big John shrugged him off. "No, no. I need some assurances."

"What are you talking about?" Ward asked. "Yes, okay. You have assurances. Yes."

"I need legal assurances," Big John told him.

"What legal assurances, John?" Ward asked. "We're partners. It's a 50-50 thing, and--"

Big John shook his head. "It's not 50-50. I never agreed to that. I spent 20 years on this. Ward, you just got involved."

Ward closed his eyes, stunned for a moment. "Don't do this."

"20 percent," Big John told him.

Ward gave him an incredulous look. "20 percent, my ass! No! You took my money, and you used my boats, and you used everything that I was giving you. That's when you found it."

"20 percent is reasonable," Big John told him, stepping around Ward.

Ward turned after him. "It is not reasonable!"

"Yes, it is!" Big John argued.

Ward gave Big John a slight push in the back. "I don't give a shit what's reasonable. You promised me! It was my money!"

Big John turned to face him. "It's my research!"

"In 20 years, you didn't find a goddamn thing," Ward told him.

"I knew you would do this," Big John told him. "You've always been greedy, Ward."

Ward raised his voice angrily. "I'm not doing it!"

Big John raised his voice in return. "Yes, you are! You--" Ward started to push Big John. "Don't--don't--"

Ward pushed Big John once more, and Big John tripped over an incline in the boat behind him, falling and hitting his head hard on the edge of the boat.

Ward had fallen to the floor of the boat because of it. "Damn it, John." He looked up. "Where is it? Where's the gold?"

Big John was hurting, shaking his head. "You'll never find it."

Big John put his hand on the back of his head, seeing blood coating his fingers when he pulled his hand away.

Ward was shocked. "Jesus, John. What happened?"

"Ward..." Big John trailed off.

Ward started to get up. "Okay, all right. Hang on, buddy. Okay, all right. Okay, that's all right. It's all right, buddy." Big John groaned in pain. "It's okay. It's okay, buddy. It's okay." Big John had to lay down on the ground. "I'm gonna call somebody, okay? Okay, John? John? God!"

Ward stood, going over to the radio of the ship, grabbing the handheld piece, hearing static crackling and an undecipherable voice on the other line, going to say something about Big John, but didn't both times he went to speak. He looked over to Big John, where he was unconscious, but looked to be dead. Ward walked around the boat, looking all over the ocean to make sure no one was around for miles. He walked over to Big John, pulling a paper out of his jacket pocket, putting it into his pocket, lifting Big John up, and pushing him over the edge of the boat into the water without a second thought, leaving him for dead in the middle of the ocean.

⚓️

Flashback

Night - Grubbs House - Living Room

Ward was no longer crying, no longer putting on the act of guilt, as he recounted the story for Scooter, as Lana was listening. "I would have been in court for years. And for what? Here's the thing, Scooter. And I'm gonna need your help on this. Big John is gone. But the goddamn gold is still there." He pulled the paper out of his pocket that he took from Big John. "And he was close. And now we're close."

Scooter opened the paper, revealing that it was a map.

⚓️

Now

Day - Grubbs House - Living Room

Isa and John B were horrified and angry and devastated by the story that Lana had just finished telling them.

Lana had finished cleaning Isa's shirt, handing it to her.

Isa pulled the shirt onto her, not caring if it was still wet, and not caring that her side would just start to bleed over it again.

"So he stole our father's map and he tossed his body into the sea?" John B demanded angrily.

"Ward sunk your father's boat, where no one would find it," Lana explained. "He and Scooter began to look for the gold every day for nine months. When Agatha built up, there was only one place they hadn't looked."

⚓️

Flashback

Night - Ocean

On the night of the hurricane, Scooter was driving his boat into the storm.

Lana: (voice over) "So Ward sent my husband out into that storm."

⚓️

Island

This was the same island that Peterkin and Shoupe had found Big John's glasses.

Scooter was searching the beach with a metal detector.

Lana: (voice over) "I begged him not to go, but he said that Ward was worried the storm would wash everything away. But Scooter did find something out there. Not what he expected."

Scooter walked over to a small manmade fort made of branches and sticks, finding Big John's compass on the sand next to what looked like a skeleton's hand, reaching down to grab the compass.

⚓️

Now

Day - Grubbs House - Living Room

Isa and John B were near tears.

"He wasn't dead when Ward dumped him," Lana explained. "He made it to shore."

⚓️

Flashback

Day - Island

Big John had just made it to shore, bleeding heavily from the back of his head, and barely able to walk or push himself up. Once he felt stronger, he was able to made his fort made of branches and sticks, falling back against a tree. He carved the message Redfield into the compass for his children.

Lana: (voice over) "And the last thing he ever did was for both of you."

⚓️

Now

Day - Grubbs House - Living Room

Isa and John B were closer and closer to breaking down.

Lana looked at them in guilt and regret. "Isa, John B, I am so sorry."

Isa walked away, falling to her knees as a sob wracked her body. John B knelt on the floor next to her, pulling Isa to his chest, his tears mixing with hers, his own sobs shaking his body.

Isa looked up at John B. "We were... we were supposed to find him. We were supposed to be a family together again. Like we should be. Like you said. He's... he's supposed to be here with us."

Isa couldn't breathe, coughing.

John B held her tighter, trying to calm her down. "Breathe, Isa. Breathe."

Lana watched them with so much guilt and sympathy. "I am so sorry. I should have told you two a long time ago. But you can't say anything. He's dangerous. He's capable of anything."

John B was soon blinded by anger, fueled by rage. "I don't care, Lana!"

Isa and John B stood, storming out of her house.

⚓️

Kildare Sheriff's Department - Peterkin's Office

Peterkin was looking at the missing poster for Big John.

Shoupe was sitting across from her.

Ward walked into the office, holding a cloth over his stomach wound. "Got a minute?"

Peterkin and Shoupe both stood.

"What happened to your stomach?" Peterkin asked.

Ward scoffed softly, bending the truth. "Damn Routledge kids. Isa, to be specific, but John B was involved too."

Peterkin closed the file on Big john. "Uh, yeah, come on in."

After spinning a false tale, Ward was sitting across from Peterkin. "All I'm trying to do at this point is calm them down. I follow them into the galley. I can't even believe it. They're both going nuts, and Isa uses a broken beer bottle to cut me in the stomach. So I'm trying to take care of this. They run off, they steal my jet ski. They're out there, God knows where. These kids are dangerous. I'm worried about my family. I'm worried about my daughters. Lia is close to Isa, and Sarah apparently has some kind of thing with John B."

Peterkin looked at Shoupe. "Let's write it up." She looked at Ward. "In the meantime, you go home. We'll find them."

"Thank you," Ward told her, standing, leaving the office, purposefully limping dramatically to further get Isa (and John B) further in trouble with the law, even though his wound was not that bad.

Shoupe walked out of the office with Ward.

Peterkin stood, walking over to the window, looking outside toward Ward, not looking like she totally bought his story.

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Outside

Kaylee was sitting in a bucket for the pulley system, where JJ, Kie and Pope were managing the ropes for the pulley system.

"How's it feeling?" Pope asked.

"Feels good," Kaylee answered.

"All right, we're taking you down," Kie told her.

Kaylee looked down at them. "What if I just plummeted to the ground right now, like full force?"

JJ gave her a sarcastic look. "You're funny."

Kaylee smirked, winking, leaning back like she would do it.

"Don't you dare," Kie told her.

"Kaylee," Pope warned.

Kaylee chuckled at their reactions.

Kie, JJ and Pope lowered the bucket with Kaylee in it to the ground.

JJ offered Kaylee a hand. Kaylee took his hand, standing, getting out of the bucket.

JJ sighed, looking around. "John B and Isa pulling a Houdini."

"Yeah, where are they?" Pope asked. "I got my scholarship interview tomorrow. We gotta get this done."

Isa and John B walked up to the Pogue Nest.

"Speak of the devils," JJ greeted. "Hey. Guys, I set up the entire winch to pull up the gold and everything."

"No, he did not," Pope corrected. "I did that."

"Hey," Kie said. "Isa. John B?"

Isa and John B walked past them.

"Hey," Pope said.

Isa and John B walked inside.

Kaylee frowned in concern. "Okay, what's..."

"Uh, what's all that about?" Pope asked.

"I was gonna ask you the same question," JJ replied.

Kaylee walked toward the first floor door for the Pogue Nest. "John B. Isa."

Kie, JJ and Pope followed.

⚓️

First Floor

Isa and John B were looking around frantically for the gun.

"Are you guys all right?" Kaylee asked, walking closer to her best friend worriedly when she noticed that Isa's shirt had gathered blood from her side wound again, and that her shoulder was bleeding around John B's bandana. "Isa, why are you bleeding? Are you okay?"

"What happened?" Kie asked worriedly.

"What are you guys looking for?" Kaylee asked.

"What's going on, guys?" JJ questioned.

Isa found the gun in the couch, pulling it out. "John B."

JJ looked at them guardedly. "Isa. John B. What do you need the gun for?" John B pushed JJ off of him to the couch. "Talk to us!"

"John B, chill!" Kaylee told him.

John B walked outside.

Isa followed her brother.

⚓️

Outside

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope followed Isa and John B outside.

Kie grabbed Isa's wrist. "What are you guys doing? Isa, what the hell happened to your shoulder? What happened to your side?"

Pope got in front of John B to stop him from getting onto JJ's motorbike. "What are you guys, JJ now?"

John B pushed Pope against the treehouse.

"Isa, John B, what the hell are you guys doing?" Kaylee asked.

John B got onto JJ's motorbike. "Isa, you stay here, get your wounds taken care of."

"Isa!" Kie cried. "Talk to me! What the hell happened? Are you okay?"

"What the hell is going on?" Kaylee asked.

"Ward knows about the gold," John B told them. "He killed our dad."

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope looked at them in shock, freezing, processing the information.

Before they could react, John B drove off in a fury.

"John B!" Isa called.

Pope looked at Isa's shoulder and side. "Did Ward do that to you?"

Isa nodded, lightheaded from the blood she lost. "That whole trip was to find out where the gold was from us. When we didn't give it to him, he slipped up and mentioned Redfield."

Kie led Isa over to the stairs to sit her down. "Come here, come here, sit down. You need to rest."

"Pope, first aid kit, now," Kaylee told him.

Pope nodded, running inside to get the first aid kit.

JJ walked closer to Isa to make sure she was okay. "Redfield? Like the compass Redfield?"

"Yeah," Isa answered. "Somehow he got the watch but he was looking for it, which led John B and me to connect the dots. Ward was helping our dad find the Merchant, he offered money and resources. They were out on his boat the day he went missing."

Pope ran out with the first aid kit, sitting in front of Isa. Pope and Kaylee both used the disinfectant on Isa's shoulder and side wounds, making her groan in pain and hiss and writhe, but JJ and Kie held Isa still so they could do it without Isa losing more blood or getting more hurt.

Kie held Isa's hand. "It's all right, Isa. It's all right."

Isa took a deep breath to steady herself and continue with the explanation. "Our dad told Ward he found the Merchant. Ward thought he was gonna get 50/50, but our dad never agreed to that. They got into a fight and Ward pushed him into the side of the boat. He hit his head. Ward thought he killed him, freaked out and stole our father's map and dumped his body into the sea."

"Oh, my God," Kaylee said in horror, empathy and sympathy for Isa and John B.

JJ, Kie and Pope all reacted the same way, there for Isa as they were helping her with her wounds. Pope and Kaylee used thread and two needles to stitch up Isa's wounds so they could heal a little more faster than they would if they hadn't been stitched.

Isa was wincing. "Ward told Scooter everything that night and roped him in on looking for the Merchant. They looked for it every day since our dad went missing. On the night Agatha built up, Ward had Scooter go into the storm to the last place they hadn't looked. Our father wasn't dead when he dumped him. He made it to shore and died out there. The last thing he did was write Redfield on the compass. That's why Scooter was out there and how he got our dad's compass."

Kie was in utter shock. "I'm so sorry."

Pope and Kaylee put bandages on Isa's wounds.

"Ward tried to kill us next after he confessed," Isa explained. "Had a staff with a hook on it where he stabbed me in the side when we were running from him, and sent a spear into my arm just as we stole his jet ski."

"So, what, you guys were gonna go kill him?" Pope asked. "Jesus, Isa."

Isa was frustrated and devastated. "I know, okay? I was just so angry! I wanted him to pay for what he had done to Dad, to John B and me."

They stood, walking inside.

⚓️

Inside

Isa went to wash John B's bandana and her shirt in the tiny sink to get all the blood off of them.

"Do you think John B could go through with it?" JJ asked.

"I don't know," Isa admitted.

"That's why we have to go after him," Kaylee told them.

"Isa can't, not with the way she's hurt," Pope pointed out.

"Don't worry," Isa told them. "I'm gonna go to the Chateau. John B's gonna find his way there, and when he does, he doesn't need to be alone then."

"You shouldn't be alone either, Isa," Kie told her.

"I'll be fine, Kie," Isa told her. "I just... I need to be home for JB."

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope looked at her in understanding and concern, each giving her a hug. Isa cried softly in the embraces of Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope as they each tried to help her through it, but they knew they had to leave and head separate ways soon.

⚓️

Sunset - Tannyhill Estate - Foyer

John B slowly made his way inside with the gun, quietly moving through the house. He paused for a moment when he saw a picture of Lia and Sarah on the wall.

⚓️

Upstairs Hallway

John B snuck up the stairs, hiding behind the wall when he heard Ward walking down the hallway. He looked around the corner, having the gun ready, but looked like he couldn't follow through.

Ward walked along the way to Lia's room. "Lia?"

⚓️

Lia's Room

Lia was sitting in her room, trying to figure out everything that was going on, more confused and in the dark than anything right then.

Ward walked slowly into the room. "Lia."

"For the last time, I haven't seen Isa or John B," Lia told him bitterly. "And I don't believe either of them would just attack you out of the blue like you were saying."

"Yes, well, they did," Ward told her. Lia scoffed softly, not believing it. Ward walked closer. "I've talked to Rafe."

Lia closed her eyes, biting her lip. "I figured. He always loves to rat me out even if he's not staying in the house anymore."

"You went after a drug dealer?" Ward asked, but it sounded more like a statement.

"I did not go after Barry," Lia answered. "He came after me, and Sarah, and our friends. And yes, the Pogues are our friends, Dad."

"Not anymore," Ward replied.

Lia tilted her head skeptically. "You can't stop us from being friends with them. Especially since Kie was already my best friend before."

In the hallway, John B edged closer to Lia's room where the door was open, able to hear everything Lia and Ward were saying.

Ward gave Lia a dangerous look. "Just a friend? For either you and Kiara or Isa? What have you been doing with those friends of yours, Lia? Not just them, but the others."

Lia paled at the thought of Ward knowing about Lia/Isa/Kie, and what the Pogues had been up to, but didn't say anything to answer, since she didn't know what he could do, especially with the dangerous look in his eyes. 

John B, even in his blind rage moment, looked worried for Lia because of what Ward was capable of.

Lia shook her head. "Nothing. Just friends being friends." She was quick to change the subject. "Dad, how did Rafe know about the fact that Barry killed Robbie?"

"Rafe told you, and Sarah, when he came to warn both of you about Barry," Ward told her.

Lia shook her head. "No. 'Warning' is a bit of an overstatement, because Rafe said that if Barry ends up killing me, then it's my fault, and I haven't done anything to try and get killed like that. And Barry might have said things to set me off and make me explode and fight back against him for entertainment, but he's not stupid enough to come out and say the words about what he did in public in front of Rafe and Topper and God knows who else. Maybe hint at it, but not come right out and say it. Rafe didn't even look surprised by any of it. So I'll ask you again. How did he know? Unless you knew too."

John B's eyes widened slightly, but he wasn't that surprised by the fact that Ward knew the entire time.

Ward tried to get out of this incriminating position with his own daughter. "Do you even hear yourself right now?"

Lia stood angrily, demanding answers since she knew now that Ward knew the whole time. "Yes, I hear myself! And I told you all this time that Robbie was killed, that he was murdered, and you refused to do anything about it. You just told people that I was crazy and put me on so many medications and locked me up here. And Rafe said that Barry is the reason why you did all those things. So that things like yesterday did not happen. So you knew! You knew all this time that I was right, and you made everyone think that I was insane. You basically gaslighted me and let everyone believe that I was crazy for thinking that my friend was killed. You made my life a living hell!"

John B's eyes softened only slightly in sympathy for Lia, though his own rage about what Ward did to his own family was overshadowing everything else he was feeling. He walked away from the door and down the hallway all the way to the end where Sarah's room was.

Ward shook his head, closing his eyes. "We'll talk about this when you're calmed down again. For now, you need to stay here, for your own safety."

Lia knew what he was going to do. "No." Ward stepped out of the room and closed it. Lia ran to the door, trying to stop him from locking it, but was too late as Ward had used his key to lock Lia's door from the outside, once again. "Dad! Dad, let me out of here! Dad, please! I didn't do anything! Dad, let me out!"

Down the hallway, out of Ward's sight, John B could hear Lia begging Ward to let her out of her room, closing his eyes worriedly in guilt. Even if he could help, he didn't know what he could do, and if he could help, then he didn't know what Ward would do if he caught John B in the house, knowing that staying hidden out of Ward's sight was best for everyone to keep them both safe. He slowly made his way into Sarah's room.

⚓️

Sarah's Room

Sarah was sitting on her bed, using earbuds to listen to music, not having heard a thing.

John B walked into the room.

Sarah pulled out the earbuds, sitting on her knees, freezing when she saw the gun. "John B, why do you have a gun?"

"Did you tell your dad about the gold?" John B asked.

"Where's that coming from?" Sarah asked.

"Answer the question," John B told her. "About the gold. Lia wouldn't tell him after everything he's done to her, including right now, but did you?"

"No," Sarah answered. "No, of course not."

"Then how'd he know?" John B asked. "Hmm?" He suddenly grabbed her arm tightly. "Answer me."

Sarah gasped. "John B, you're scaring me."

"Is life outside the bubble wrap scary to you?" John B asked darkly.

Ward called for his oldest daughter. "Sarah!"

John B placed a finger to his lips.

By the time that Ward walked into Sarah's room, John B and Sarah were nowhere to be seen.

Ward started to get worried. "Oh, Christ."

Ward left the room in a hurry.

⚓️

Outside

The sun had set by the time John B and Sarah walked outside.

"Where are you taking me?" Sarah asked.

"Somewhere where we can talk," John B answered.

Rose called for her oldest stepdaughter. "Sarah?"

"John B, what's going on?" Sarah asked, cupping John B's face.

John B looked so numb and hopeless. "Your dad... killed my father."

Sarah dropped her hands from his face in shock, disbelief. "What?"

"I need you to listen to me," John B told her. "Look, Isa and I know they were working together to find the Royal Merchant. There was some sort of conflict, and--and nobody knows what happened to my dad except for Scooter Grubbs."

Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "Stop."

"Look, he was--he was a part of this, okay?" John B asked.

"Just stop--" Sarah started, putting her hand to her head.

"We figured it out on the boat," John B told her. "And your dad, he tried to kill me and Isa, Sarah."

Sarah looked at him in denial. "He wouldn't hurt anyone!"

"He tried to kill us," John B reiterated. "Isa is really hurt right now. She could've bled out."

"He told me and Lia that Isa stabbed him," Sarah told him.

"What are you talking about?" John B asked. "He killed our father and tried to kill us."

Sarah shook her head. "No. I don--I don't believe you." John B tried to take Sarah's hand. Sarah took her hand away, backing away. "No, you're a liar. Get off of me!"

Sarah pushed John B back.

"Look at me," John B told her.

Sarah ran toward her house.

"Sarah!" Ward called.

Rose ran toward Sarah when she came into view. "Sarah! Ward, she's here! Yeah, she's fine. She's fine."

Ward walked toward them. "Sweetie, what are you doing? What are you doing out here?"

John B darted off before Ward or Rose could see him.

⚓️

The Chateau - Living Room

Isa was at home when John B returned.

John B returned, looking around. "Isa? Kie? Kay? JJ? Pope?" Isa ran out toward John B, wrapping her arms around him. John B returned the embrace. "Where is everyone?"

"They went to look for you," Isa answered.

"Why didn't you go with the other guys?" John B asked.

"Because I knew you would come back here and I needed to be here when you did," Isa answered.

They pulled away.

John B shook his head, crying. "I didn't do it."

Isa swallowed, nodding. "It's okay. That's not who we are. We're better than he is." John B nodded, sniffing. "There's something we have to do."

Isa walked toward the last picture of their father they had, taking it off the wall.

⚓️

Outside - Dock

Isa and John B walked down the dock, making a small makeshift boat out of small pieces of drift wood, sitting a single tea candle in the center. Isa took one last look at their father's photo before leaning it against the candle. John B used the blow torch to light it before placing the boat in the water.

The two siblings watched as it floated away, crying. "Goodbye, Dad."

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Upstairs Hallway

Sarah and Ward walked down the hallway toward Sarah's room, stopping at Lia's room.

Lia was trying to open her door. "Dad, let me out of here!"

Sarah turned to Ward in surprise. "You locked her up again?"

"I had to," Ward told her. "It's the only way I know how to protect Lia from Barry."

Lia scoffed. "Oh, please. Don't forget to mention the part where you knew I was right the whole time and that Robbie was killed and you did nothing but make everybody believe I was crazy."

Sarah looked at Ward incredulously in shock. "You did what?"

Ward, backed in a corner, tried to talk himself out of it. "I was just trying to protect her, keep her off the drug dealer's radar."

"By making everyone think that she's crazy and making everyone, including Rafe and his friends, treat her like some psycho?" Sarah asked. "I can't believe you!"

"That's not the point," Ward told them, trying not to get angry or annoyed.

"Then what is the point?" Lia asked. "That you're a hypocrite?"

Ward ignored that, looking at Sarah. "John B was here, wasn't he?"

"No," Sarah lied.

"Sweetheart, please don't lie to me," Ward told her.

"Okay, so don't lie to us," Sarah replied.

"I'm not," Ward told them.

"You've lied to us this whole time about Robbie," Lia told him. "How the hell do you expect us to believe that? How do we know that you haven't lied about anything else?"

Ward looked to the locked door between them. "Lia."

"Tell us what happened on the boat," Sarah told him.

"Sarah," Ward warned. "I wanted to take the kids fishing. You both saw that, all right? I did it because those kids need a father figure. So out we go, and it was great. It was. And then they just started drinking, and then at a certain part, they start accusing me of these... insane things. And the more I try to calm them down, the angrier they get, till finally, they attack me, and Isa stabs me."

Lia shook her head. "No. I don't believe you."

"John B and Isa wouldn't do that," Sarah agreed.

"You don't believe this?" Ward asked. "Do you want to see where Isa stabbed me with the beer bottle? You want to go see the bottle on the Druthers? You want to go out there? Let's go! Right now!"

Sarah was completely overwhelmed, crying. "Stop! Please--please stop yelling."

Ward took a deep breath to calm down. "I'm sorry, girls. I don't mean to yell. But Isa and John B are not who you two think they are, okay? I mean, if you heard the crazy things they were saying on that boat."

"Like what?" Lia asked.

Ward knew that Isa and John B would tell Lia and Sarah eventually (or that John B already had with Sarah), so he spoke the truth this time to weave it into his lie. "Like I killed their father. Like that. Me." He looked at Sarah. "Did he tell you that?"

"Yes," Sarah answered softly.

Lia was processing, not knowing how far Ward was willing to go anymore, but obviously she knew more than Sarah that Ward was capable of that sort of thing after she realized on her own that Ward knew about Robbie being killed but making everyone think that Lia was crazy for thinking that he was.

Ward sighed. "Sarah, I know you have feelings for John B. Lia, I know you're close with Isa. And I know how strong that can be. Especially at your ages. But, sweethearts, they're dangerous right now. I don't know what they would do to you if you made them angry, and I just... can't have that. I need you to promise me that you'll stay completely away from them, and to stay here until this thing all blows over. Not just with them or their friends, but with Barry too."

Lia leaned against her door, scoffing. "It's not like I have a choice.  You locking me up again and all. You're not just locking me up because of Barry, and you know it. You're locking me up because you don't want me around Isa or Kie, or John B, or our friends. Just go away. I don't want to hear it. And I need to be alone."

Lia walked away from the door to her bed.

Sarah walked away from Ward toward her room, walking into her room, closing the door behind her.

Ward thought about what to do.

⚓️

Ward's Office

Ward walked into his office, sitting down at his desk, noticing the For Sale folder for the Crain House on his desk.

He remembered what Rose had told him about the house. "New pocket listing. Forty acres on Figure 8. Got robbed by some kids."

Ward realized that the kids had found the gold in the Crain House, grabbing the for sale folder, chuckling, sitting back against his seat, laughing lightly.

⚓️

Figure 8 Dock

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope were standing in the HMS Pogue on the water by the dock, looking toward Tannyhill Estate.

"What now?" JJ asked. "We just go up to the front door and ask, 'Hey, have you seen John B?'"

"Look, Isa and John B live at Tannyhill now," Kie pointed out. "It's plausible. Look, we can play dumb."

"Play dumb?" Kaylee repeated.

"It's pretty late," Pope pointed out.

"Look, I've never seen Isa or John B like that," Kaylee told them.

"We should honestly be going to the cops," Kie told them.

"The cop--" JJ started. "Yeah, and say what, Kie? We're worried about our friend because he's going off on a rampage because Ward Cameron killed Big John?" Kaylee picked up a pair of binoculars, using them to look into the house. "Like, they're not gonna believe us."

"Hey, I see Ward," Kaylee told them.

Kie walked over to Kaylee. "Let me see."

Kaylee handed the binoculars to Kie so she could see. "Doesn't look dead to me."

"Great," Pope said. "Let's go home."

"Wait," JJ said.

"What?" Kaylee asked.

"Uh..." Pope trailed off. "Okay, obviously, Mr. Cameron is fine, and even if John B was here, he isn't now, okay? He probably already went home where Isa is waiting for him. Plus, I have the biggest, most important moment of my life in six hours."

"Yeah, well, our friends are in trouble," Kie told him.

Pope shrugged. "I'm in trouble. Guys, I haven't been home in three days. My dad's probably put all my shit on the street by now."

Kaylee looked down, understanding about that line since of her own troubles with her parents.

"Okay, so that's it?" Kie asked. "In a time of need, you're just gonna bail? You're just gonna walk away?"

"Okay, guys, can we not do this right now?" Kaylee asked. "This isn't gonna help anything."

"Hey, I have a scholarship interview in the morning," Pope told them. "I can't--"

"Okay, well, what about Isa and John B?" Kie asked.

Pope was annoyed. "Why is it always about Isa and John B?"

Kaylee and JJ both sighed.

"It's not always about Isa and John B," Kie denied. "You're so stupid. It would be any of you in this situation."

Pope scoffed. "Oh, bullshit."

"Guys, bring it down," JJ warned.

Kie gave Pope a look. "This is about friendship. Look, this is about Pogues for life."

"What about forensic pathology, huh?" Pope asked.

"Forensic pathology?" Kie repeated incredulously.

"It's my life," Pope told them. "Everything I've worked for."

Kie walked around the wheel to stand in front of Pope. "That's your priority?"

"Would you stop the moral high ground bullshit?" Pope asked.

"Pope, come on," Kaylee told him.

Pope pointed at Kaylee. "No."

"Excuse me?" Kie asked.

Pope looked between Kaylee and JJ. "No, no. She has no room to talk." He looked at Kie. "Where were you when Big John went missing? You weren't there. You weren't there for John B or Isa. You weren't there for any of us. Remember your Kook year?"

"Dude," JJ interceded.

Pope ignored him, looking at Kie. "Yeah, you forgot about us. Like Isa and Kaylee said when you wouldn't give Lia a chance to explain what went down between you two. Your parents didn't want you to end up 'the problem child' like Kaylee. You called her a disappointment and a problem and turned your backs on all of us. Now you feel guilty. You were being a hypocrite with the Lia situation, and now you're being a hypocrite now."

"Okay, that's enough," Kaylee warned.

Kie was hurt because it was the truth, pushing Pope out of her face. "Give me a break. That what you need? You need a break?"

Kie and Pope were pushing each other.

"Hey!" Kaylee told them.

JJ and Kaylee pulled Pope and Kie apart.

"Yo, yo, yo, cut it out, all right?" JJ asked. "If I'm helping mediate, we've hit rock bottom." He pointed at Pope. "Bow, now." Pope walked toward the bow of the boat. Kaylee sat down. "Pope, I'll drop you off."

"You worked all your life for that interview, and you're gonna get it, Pope," Kaylee told him. "You deserve it. Kie, JJ and I'll help Isa and John B. We'll figure it out, guys."

⚓️

Heyward House - Living Room

Heyward was sleeping in a chair in the living room.

Pope walked into the house, seeing Heyward. "You waited up."

Heyward sat up, now awake after hearing the door. "You left? Because I hadn't noticed." He stood. "Oh, right. Right, um... when you quit on me at Midsummers, you vanished. For--for three days." Pope looked down in shame. "And your mama was cryin' for two of them. So, it--it's... it's comin' back to me now."

Mrs. Heyward walked into the living room. "Pope, is that you? We're just glad you're back, honey." She put her arms around Pope. "It's all right."

Heyward gave his wife a look. "Hell no, it ain't all right."

"I'm sorry," Pope apologized.

Heyward gave Pope a look. "You sorry, all right."

Heyward walked off.

Mrs. Heyward turned Pope to look at her, tears in her eyes. "Don't do that to us again. Hear me?"

"I'm sorry, Mama," Pope told her sincerely.

They embraced. After they pulled away, Mrs. Heyward went to check on Heyward.

Pope walked toward the ironing table, seeing his shirt and his jacket for his interview in the morning laid out and ironed. He sighed, walking off to his room to get some sleep.

⚓️

Day Two

Morning - The Chateau

Isa and John B had slept in their own beds in their own rooms.

When John B woke up, he got dressed for the morning, walking to Isa's room to see that she was sleeping and wincing in her sleep because of the wound in her shoulder and side, which were both still bandaged. 

John B decided to let Isa get some well needed sleep, heading out on his own.

⚓️

Crain House - Outside

John B pulled his van up to the stone wall outside the Crain House, parking, getting out of the van, seeing a for sale sign outside the house, quickly climbing over the wall, running up to the house, seeing a 'Cameron Development' sticker on equipment outside the house. "No. No!"

⚓️

Underground

John B had made his way down the well and into the underground cavern, in denial when he saw that all the gold was gone, horrified and angry. "No. No, no. No." He continued to search furiously, yelling. "No! No! No!" He screamed, hitting the walls around him. "No! No!"

⚓️

Heyward House - Pope's Room

Pope was now dressed in his suit for the interview, looking in the mirror, looking guilty about the way he reacted to his friends the night before, but knowing he had to go.

⚓️

Outside

Pope walked outside toward his father, toward the truck. Heyward watched him go.

⚓️

Law Offices of Franklyn & Meyers - Outside

Heyward and Pope got out of the truck, walking up to the building where Pope's interview was taking place.

Pope turned to look at his father, clearing his throat. "Thank you." Heyward nodded. "Are you gonna wait?"

Heyward laughed lightly. "Are you kiddin' me, man? I got--I got three palms blocking a--a private airstrip. Cameron's plane is too big for the runway, and it just..."

Pope turned to face him completely. "Cameron?"

"Yeah," Heyward answered.

"He's a thief," Pope told him.

Heyward wasn't surprised by this, shrugging a bit. "Aren't they all? But the money's good. He's payin' Guffy double. Guffy passed it on to me if I can get it done this afternoon. I--I need the money, son. I..." He sighed. "Look, I know better than to try to give you a pep talk, okay? But--but if you get this, though... you'll be set, for life." He fixed Pope's tie. "No pressure, now. Just don't screw it up."

Pope nodded, walking inside.

⚓️

Glissons Home - Porch

Rafe was sitting down, smoking a bong, reading a magazine that had nude women on the cover.

Wheezie walked out onto the porch. "Rafe!"

Rafe flipped over the magazine to hide the cover against the table. "Sorry."

Wheezie chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna tell anybody."

"Did you want some, or..." Rafe trailed off.

Wheezie turned to look at him. "You legitimately just offered me drugs? I'm 13."

Rafe scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh..."

Wheezie looked around. "This is a sweet crib. How'd you con the Glissons into letting you crash here?"

"I, uh..." Rafe trailed off. "I didn't tell them is how, all right? They're in Sun Valley all summer, so keep a lid on it, please."

Wheezie nodded. "I mean, as long as you let me stay here whenever I want."

"Yeah," Rafe said. "Dad trying to kick you out too?"

Wheezie sat down in a chair a few feet away from him. "Worse. I am officially the least favorite daughter." Rafe nodded, chuckling. "Sarah, Lia and Dad are going to the Bahamas, and did they invite me? Nope."

Rafe looked at her in confusion. "Wait. They're--they're going to the Bahama house? In summer?"

"Yeah," Wheezie answered. "I mean, according to Rose, 'it's business'. I mean, they're all up in some new development, and for some super-secret reason, they're going to the Bahamas."

Rafe sat back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, shaking his head, knowing why Ward was taking Lia since Rafe told him about Barry's threat to Lia. "No, Lia's not going because of business. Dad's getting her out of the city."

"Why would Dad do that?" Wheezie asked.

Rafe leaned forward, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter. But Sarah? You know, I--I know about, like... a billion times more about the business than she does." He stood, pacing. "What--what is this?"

Wheezie sighed. "Ugh. We're the black sheep. Get used to it."

Rafe sighed. "Yeah."

Wheezie stood, grabbing her bag, making a sheep noise. "Baa!"

"Shut up, okay?" Rafe asked.

"Baa!" Wheezie repeated.

Rafe grabbed Wheezie's wrist tightly, causing her to look at him in shock. "Hey, shut up! Wheezie, I told you to shut up, okay?"

Wheezie ripped her wrist out of his hand. "Don't tell me to shut up." She took out some cash, throwing it into Rafe's chest, making the money fall to the ground. "Here, my life savings."

Rafe went to pick up the money, muttering to himself. "Life savings..." He sat down again. "I'll pay you back."

Wheezie nodded. "Whenever."

"I know this looks really bad right now and everything, but..." Rafe trailed off, scratching his head, before tapping himself in the chest. "Like, I'm gonna--I'm gonna get my shit together, okay? Like, I will. I'm gonna get it tight, like, you know..." He tapped the table. "Like, real tight. You'll see." He leaned back against the chair, tapping the arms of the chair on either side of him. "Um... yeah."

Rafe banged his hand on the arm of the chair twice.

⚓️

Law Offices of Franklyn & Meyers 

Pope was in the middle of his interview, speaking with a man and a woman.

"And how have you been keeping busy all summer?" the man asked.

"Are you taking any classes or interning anywhere?" the woman asked.

Pope nodded. "Independent study." The man nodded, writing this down. "We were looking for an old shipwreck, the Royal Merchant."

The woman and the man exchanged a look, chuckling.

"And did you find it?" the man asked.

"Yes, I did, actually," Pope answered. "Me and my friends."

"Oh, really?" the man asked skeptically.

Pope looked up, nodding. "Yes, really. Denmark Tanny, the--the fugitive slave turned free man, he was the sole survivor of the Royal Merchant, and he brought the gold to shore."

The woman leaned forward in intrigue. "And you found evidence of this?"

"Definitive proof," Pope answered.

"Are you trying to get us to believe that you found the Royal Merchant?" the man asked.

"And if so, where's the gold?" the woman asked.

Pope looked down in thought, coming across a realization. "It was too heavy." He stood. "Excuse me."

Pope ran off.

⚓️

Outside

Pope ran outside, taking off his suit jacket, and took off as fast as he could down the street.

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Outside

The Pogues, minus Pope, were sitting at the Pogue Nest.

"You sure he got everything?" Kie asked.

"Every bar," John B answered. "The whole enchilada."

Isa shook her head in anger. "Everything we fucking worked for."

John B pulled the cast off his wrist. "Look, it's not like I expected a happy ending or some shit."

Kaylee gave him a look. "John B."

"What, Kay?" John B asked. "It's a hairline fracture. Who cares?"

"You should care," Kie told him. "Your arm's gonna be messed up for life."

"It's fine, see?" John B asked, holding up his arm, wiggling his fingers.

Isa rolled her eyes, looking away.

Pope ran toward them. "Guys! Guys! Oh! Oh, my God! I ran all the way here."

"You all right?" Isa asked.

"You should've been on the track team instead of the math team," Kaylee told him.

JJ smirked at Kaylee's comment. "How was the interview, Pope?"

"Don't ask," Pope said breathlessly. "Isa, JB, look. I'm sorry, guys, about everything."

Isa and John B looked down, devoid of emotion. "It's fine."

"But I don't have a lot of time, and I have information that is tactically relevant," Pope told them frantically.

"Okay," Kaylee said. "Spill."

Pope nodded, still catching his breath. "So, before I had my interview, my dad said he was going down to the private airstrip to cut palm for Cameron's big plane, because it was too heavy and needed a longer landing strip to take off. So there I am sitting in my interview, thinking to myself, hmm, why would Cameron need a longer airstrip to take off? What could be so heavy to weigh it down?"

The Pogues all exchanged a look of realization.

"Gold," JJ answered.

John B sat up straighter. "That's right."

Pope waved his arms around in excitement, pointing at them. "Exactly. Guys, this is our chance, but it leaves tonight, and we have to go."

Kie hopped off the stair railing with a smirk. "Guys, we can't give up now."

"What's the plan, big guns?" JJ asked.

John B smirked. "We're gonna steal that shit back."

Isa raised her arms, yelling with laughter. "Hell yeah we are!"

Kaylee clapped, throwing her arms up, jumping onto JJ who caught her and spun her around. "Hell yeah!" The Pogues cheered with laughter. "That's what I'm talking about."

They all got up and ran away from the treehouse through the woods toward Twinkie.

"Let's do this!" Pope cheered.

"Come on, guys!" Kie encouraged.

They ran to the van, piling in.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Porch

Ward was standing on the porch, looking out toward the ocean.

Rose walked toward Ward. "Sweetie? The car's packed."

"Yeah," Ward said.

"Okay, then what are you doing?" Rose asked.

"I'm just... takin' a moment, all right?" Ward asked.

"Okay," Rose agreed.

"God knows if I'm ever gonna get to see this view again," Ward told her.

Rose sighed. "Oh, Jesus, Ward. Come on. Don't be melodramatic."

"I'm not being melodramatic, all right?" Ward asked. "Those two kids know about their father."

"What is to know?" Rose asked. "It was an accident."

"What is there to know?" Ward repeated, turning his back to the railing of the porch, leaning against it, arms crossed. "For one solid year, Isa and John B have gone to bed every single night wondering what happened to their father. That's suffering. And that was my fault, and they know that. Just like Lia. She knows now that I knew the entire time that she was right about what happened with Robbie. What we did with the medicine, with locking her away, making everyone think that she was just delusional and in denial. She suffered this entire time wondering what really happened with Robbie, and now she knows the entire truth. About the drug dealer, that I knew."

"Okay, but what choice did you have, Ward?" Rose asked. "Not just about the Routledges, but about Lia? About her friend? You did all that, we did all that, to make sure that she was safe and off the drug dealer's radar, right? Even if it meant that everyone thought she was crazy. Even if it meant Rafe and his idiot friends and everyone at their school treated her poorly. It was a price to pay to keep her alive. Okay, so don't worry about it." Ward sighed. "Did you talk to the people in Nassau?"

Ward nodded. "Yeah. Caribbean National is set to take possession as soon as my wheels hit the ground."

"Okay, then it's done," Rose told him, smiling. "Baby, you did it. It's over." She chuckled. "Come on. Congratulations." They kissed. "Now get going."

Ward sighed, nodding. "Lia's not gonna like going."

"I put a double the dosage of medicine in her tea that I brought up to her earlier," Rose explained. "She's going to be more out of it, and probably half-unconscious until you get to the plane, but she'll go without much of a fight."

Ward nodded thankfully, walking inside.

⚓️

Lia's Room

Lia had drank her tea since no one had put her medicine in her tea before. Since it was double the dosage than what she had been used to before she stopped taking them and pretending she was still on them, she was extremely out of it, and she was incredibly distant and numb, almost zombie-like, for real. The way she acted before that she was on her medicine was done brilliantly since it was close to the way she was acting now, but now that it was double the dosage, and this was the first time she actually had her medicine in her system in months, it hit her harder than Ward or Rose would've thought before, since her tolerance to the medication was depleted from not taking it for months.

Lia looked at her tea, realizing. "No. No, no, no."

Ward unlocked the door, walking in. "Lia? Honey, it's time to go. Sarah's waiting."

Lia looked up tiredly, exhausted. "What did you do? What did you do to me?"

Ward helped Lia stand, leading her to the door. "It's gonna be all right."

⚓️

Church - Outside

Peterkin and Shoupe drove up to the church.

"Need a wingman in there?" Shoupe asked.

"No," Peterkin answered. "I got this."

⚓️

Inside

Peterkin and Lana were sitting in the church pews.

Lana was confessing everything to Peterkin. "I know I should have said somethin' sooner, but Scooter said Ward would kill me. I know it was wrong not to say anything."

"You did the right thing in the end," Peterkin told her. "That's all that matters."

Lana cried, nodding. "How much did you know?"

"Ward tipped his hand usin' me to get that compass," Peterkin told her. "I figured out the who and the why. Now I know the how."

"You should be careful how you handle this," Lana warned. "Ward's got a lot of friends."

Peterkin looked out the church window toward Shoupe by the car. "Yeah, I know."

⚓️

On the Road - Twinkie

John B was driving his van. Isa was in the passenger seat. Kaylee, JJ, Kie and Pope were in the backseat.

Kaylee sat between JJ's legs, leaning against his chest, watching as he loaded the gun in front of them.

"We go in there guns a blazing, make Ward Cameron beg for mercy, abscond with as much gold as possible and vamonos, get the hell out of there," Isa listed.

"Send that shit right down the Intracoastal," John B added.

"Wait for the weather," Kie continued.

"Exit to Cuba," Pope finished.

"Cuba?" JJ repeated. "No, man, Xcalak, Jewel of the Yucatan. Lobsters so thick, mangoes, and no word for money."

JJ cocked the gun.

Kaylee looked up at JJ with a smile. "Let's do this shit."

JJ looked down at Kaylee, and Kaylee closed the gap as they were mere inches apart.

Pope shielded his eyes. "Gross, could you guys not do that right now?"

JJ smirked teasingly. "You jealous, bro?"

Kaylee laughed, playfully hitting JJ's shoulder.

"No, I just don't wanna watch you two mack on each other," Pope answered.

JJ shrugged. "My girl's just so hot, I can't control myself."

Kaylee smiled at the fact that JJ called her his girl. "JJ."

"Yes, Kaylee?" JJ replied.

"Can you maybe not... talk about my sister like that, when I'm right here?" Kie asked.

JJ held up his hands. "Sorry, Kie. It's true though."

JJ winked at Kaylee, smirking, leaning closer toward Kaylee. Kaylee smirked, playfully pushing him away.

⚓️

On the Road - Ward's Car

Ward was driving. Sarah was in the passenger seat. Lia was in the backseat, hardly even awake after the double dosage of medication that she hadn't received at all in months, which was why it was taking such a big toll on her now since her body had no resistance to it anymore.

Sarah looked back at Lia worriedly. "Dad, what did you do to Lia?"

"It's nothing, sweetie," Ward told her. "Rose and I just upped her medication after everything the other day with Barry and his threats."

Sarah realized that was why Lia was like this, since she hadn't been on her medications before this, incredulous. "You drugged her?"

"We just gave her her medicine," Ward corrected.

"Yeah, and how did you do that, in secret?" Sarah replied. "How much did you give her? She didn't need that much!"

"Dad..." Lia trailed off. "Why do we need to go to the Bahamas?"

"Because I'm keeping you out of harm's way when it comes to that drug dealer," Ward told her. "You getting out of the city is the best way to do that. Sarah, you're going with us is another precaution."

Lia knew it was more than that, breathing heavily, very out of it. "And so you can... keep Sarah away from John B. And me away from Isa and Kie. You know. About me. Rafe told you, didn't he?"

Ward didn't answer, but it was clear that Rafe did which was why he was taking so heavy and extreme measures when it came to Lia, drugging her, locking her up, not just because of Barry but because of what he now knew about his daughter and who she liked. Why he also was able to hurt Isa twice with the gaff hook and the spear shooter, while he didn't hurt John B like he hurt Isa.

Sarah looked at Ward incredulously. "I think I--I really need to talk to John B. You need to let Lia talk to Isa and Kie."

Ward shook his head. "That's not happening, Sarah. I told you, Isa and John B are not themselves right now, all right? This isn't forever. It's just until they're able to find them and get them the help they need, and until Barry's no longer a threat to your sister. Lia doesn't need to see them or Kiara. Trust me, all right?"

Lia glared at Ward weakly and tiredly.

⚓️

The Runway

John B parked the van outside the private air strip. They all scrambled out, jogging to the chain link fence to try and get a visual of the inside.

"What's the plan?" Kaylee asked. "Broad strokes?"

"I don't thing we got that far," John B admitted.

Pope was looking through binoculars. "They're loading up the gold."

Pope handed them to Isa so she could see.

Isa was watching the Cameron car arrive. "Ward just got here."

Ward got out of the car.

Workers were helping load Ward, Lia and Sarah's things onto the airplane.

One of the workers looked at Ward. "I'm worried. You'll need more runway with that weight."

Ward closed his car door. "Didn't they cut down palms to extend it?"

"Yes, sir," the worker answered. "But if you're gonna abort, you're gonna have to do it early. All that weight's gonna shorten everything."

Ward nodded. "I'll be right. Thank you." He handed his car keys to the worker. "Take the car."

"Yes, sir," the worker agreed. "Safe travels."

Sarah got out of the car, helping Lia out of the backseat, having to help steady her.

"Come on, let's get this done," Ward instructed the workers.

Back with the Pogues, Isa could see Sarah and Lia with the binoculars, lowering them in worry.

"What?" Kie asked. "What?"

"He's got Lia and Sarah," Isa answered. "Lia looks drugged. Sarah's having to help her just to stay standing."

John B and Kie both looked at Isa, worried as well.

Kie was surprised and concerned.

John B was also concerned, but didn't look surprised by the fact that Lia was drugged. "Last night, Ward locked Lia up in her room after she confronted him. He knew the whole time that Robbie was killed by Barry and he still made everyone think that she was crazy and put her on all those medications. He must've put her back on them when she didn't realize."

Isa and Kie both looked at John B, horrified and worried. "What?"

Kaylee, JJ and Pope looked at them worriedly too.

On the runway, Sarah kept her arm around Lia to steady her. "Shh, it's okay. It's okay."

Ward was instructing the workers. "Come on, guys. Let's get this stuff loaded." Sarah and Lia watched the workers load up metal crates into the back of the plane. "Hey, be careful with that."

"What's in the boxes?" Lia asked.

Ward turned to face his daughters, hands on his hips. "Uh, just some, uh... decorative marble pieces that Rose found for properties down there. Antiques, I think."

Lia didn't buy it, stepping away from Sarah, having trouble keeping her balance, but able to, looking at another worker. "Excuse me. Hi. What's in those crates?"

Ward grabbed Lia as she was swaying on her feet, pulling her back. "Hey."

Lia tried to pull out of Ward's grip. "No, excuse me."

Ward pulled Lia back toward Sarah. "Hey, come on."

"What?" Lia asked. "I'm just asking questions."

"There's nothing wrong with asking questions," Sarah pointed out. "Let her go."

"Get on the plane," Ward told them.

"No," Sarah denied.

"Please get on the plane," Ward told them. "We have to get going."

"No, we're going home," Sarah told him, taking Lia by the hand, helping her over to her.

"Sarah," Ward warned. "Lia!"

Lia and Sarah walked toward the car.

"Excuse me," Sarah called.

Ward grabbed Lia and Sarah both by the arms. "Do not cause a scene."

Lia tried to pull her arm free from Ward. "No! No!" She couldn't get free because of feeling so dizzy and out of it, not able to put up much of a fight like Rose had said. "No!"

Sarah pulled free from Ward, trying to get him to let go of Lia. "Stop! Let her go!"

Most of the workers were now gone.

Ward looked over to the pilot. "Gavin, grab Lia for me, please."

Gavin hesitated but walked closer to grab Lia before she could fall from pulling free from Ward.

Ward grabbed Sarah and dragged her onto the plane.

Sarah struggled, screaming. "No! No! No!"

Gavin grabbed Lia, lifting her up, carrying her onto the plane.

Lia couldn't struggle and fight back as much as Sarah could, but she still wasn't going without fighting. "Let me go! I don't wanna go!"

Back with the Pogues, John B was looking through the binoculars this time, seeing Ward and Gavin carrying Sarah and Lia to the plane, and Sarah and Lia were both fighting back. "Wait a minute. They're hurting Sarah and Lia."

Isa, Kie, Kaylee, JJ and Pope all looked at John B. "What?"

"They're fighting," John B explained. "Holy shit."

Kie grabbed the binoculars from John B to take a look for herself. "Lia and Sarah are fighting him off. God, Lia looks so vulnerable and drugged."

"Wait, so they..." JJ trailed off. "What? I had no..."

Kaylee clung to the gate in front of them in worry. "We gotta help them."

Gavin and Ward put Lia and Sarah into their seats on the plane.

"Get in!" Ward demanded, buckling them up. "You listen to me!"

Lia pushed Ward off of her weakly. Sarah was crying, sobbing.

Gavin went to start up the plane from the pilot pit, while Ward was the co-pilot.

Back with the Pogues, Isa looked at John B. "I have an idea. Come on."

Isa looked at Kie in concern, wanting to leave her and the others out of this in case this stunt they were about to pull hurt her and John B or worse.

Isa and John B ran to get into the van, with John B in the driver's seat and Isa in the passenger seat.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Pope asked.

"Isa, John B, where are you going?" Kie cried.

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope all yelled for them. "Hey, hey!"

In the van, John B looked at Isa. "What's your plan?"

"We're gonna stop that plane," Isa answered.

John B turned the ignition on, shifting the van into drive.

JJ grabbed Kaylee's arm as they backed away out of the way as John B pressed on the accelerator, driving straight toward the fence.

"Hey, hey!" Pope yelled.

"Hold on!" JJ told them.

"Guys, stop!" Kie exclaimed.

"Isa!" Kaylee called. "John B!"

"Don't be heroes, guys!" JJ told them. "Isa! John B!"

John B drove the van straight through the fence, leaving a gaping hole. The brakes squealed as the van swerved back and forth, and John B continued to drive toward the plane.

Kaylee ran up to the gap in the fence. "What are you guys doing?"

Kie ran closer. "Isa! John B!"

JJ ran closer with the gun in hand. "What are you doing, guys?"

"Hey!" Pope called. "Guys! Come back! Hey!"

It was no use, as Isa and John B were clearly on a mission.

Isa grabbed onto the handle by the roof to hold herself steady as the van wobbled from the sharp turn John B took to get on the airstrip. The fence left a large crack in the windshield that ended up spidering around it. 

Ward, sitting with Lia and Sarah, as co-pilot, was starting to drive the plane down the runway, but the gold was weighing it down so much that it was going so slow.

John B shifted into next gear, sending them catching up with the plane, gaining enough speed to get level with the front windows, seeing Sarah and Lia inside, fearful.

John B spoke, even though they couldn't hear him. "Hey, it's okay."

Sarah gave a soft smile, eyes bloodshot, tears falling.

Lia saw John B and Isa in the van, laughing softly in relief, though she was worried about them.

Ward saw the van. "Get off the runway! Get off!"

"John B, go faster," Isa told him.

"I know, I'm trying," John B agreed, passing the plane by several feet. "Hold on."

Ward went faster, about to try and make the plane take off.

Lia pushed at Ward to stop him from making the plane take off or hurting Isa and John B in the van. "No! No!"

Ward pushed Lia off and back into her seat hard enough to hurt her. "Back!"

Sarah screamed at Ward to stop. "Don't hurt her!"

In the van, John B pulled the emergency brake, turning the wheel to the left, squealing to a stop in front of the plane, with John B's side closer to the plane.

Sarah looked at Ward desperately. "Stop! Stop, you're gonna kill them!"

"Stop!" Lia demanded.

Ward managed to stop the plane just in time, the plane tires screeching loudly, causing them to groan, especially when a crate of gold smashed into the wall behind Sarah and Lia's seats, and caused them to snap forward from the force of it.

Isa and John B breathed a sigh of relief as they looked up and saw that the plane was just an inch away from crashing into them when it stopped.

Lia and Sarah sighed in relief when they saw that they were okay.

Isa and John B jumped out of the van.

"Sarah!" John B screamed. "Sarah!"

"Lia, are you okay?" Isa called.

Ward jumped out of the plane, storming over to Isa and John B. "You trying to kill them? What are you trying to do, trying to get us killed?"

John B glared at him. "We want the gold, Ward!"

Isa ran to the plane, helping Lisa and Sarah out. "Come on."

Lia gasped in relief, barely able to stay alert and awake enough to stay on her feet. "Isa!"

Isa pulled Lia into her arms, holding her steady. "Shh, it's okay. I got you."

Lia had tears in her eyes. "He knows about you, me and Kie."

Isa held Lia upright. "Shh. I figured. It's okay."

Lia noticed Isa's bandaged wounds on her shoulder and side because of her white bandana tube top, horrified. "He did that to you? Did he do that to you?"

Isa didn't answer, not knowing what to say.

Sarah saw Isa's bandages and wounds as well, realizing everything that John B had been saying was true. "Oh, my God." She ran toward John B, who opened his arms and she ran into them. "John B!"

Ward reached for Lia and Sarah to pull them away from Isa and John B. "Get away from them."

Lia pushed Ward off of them. "No! Don't touch us! And you don't get to tell us what to do anymore."

Sarah clung onto John B's arms which were wrapped protectively around her.

Isa stood between Lia and Ward, holding Lia up to steady her as Lia held onto Isa for grounding so she didn't fall, as both glared at Ward.

By the gap in the fence, Kaylee, JJ, Kie and Pope were still here.

Kie looked like she really wanted to run over to the runway, looking through the binoculars to see what going on, sighing in relief when she saw that Isa and Lia were together and backing away from Ward, holding onto each other. "Oh, my God. Isa and John B got to Lia and Sarah."

Sirens wailed in the distance.

"Guys, I can't get arrested," Pope told them.

"I'm on probation," JJ added. "Look, we're no good if we're all in jail."

Kaylee knew they had a point but hated the thought of leaving them. "We can't just leave them."

"I can't leave," Kie told them. "Sarah, John B, Isa and Lia. Ward already made Lia's life a living hell and drugged and kidnapped her and Sarah, and almost killed Isa and John B. You saw what he did to Isa."

"Kaylee, Kie, they would want us to leave so that we can stay out of trouble and keep out of jail," Pope pointed out.

JJ looked between Kaylee and Kie. "And keep you two from losing your family. Kaylee, Kie come on."

Kaylee and Kie knew they were right but absolutely hated leaving. JJ and Pope both took Kaylee and Kie's hands, as the four of them had to run away.

Ward stalked closer to Lia, Isa, Sarah and John B threateningly. "You think this changes anything? It doesn't."

Lia and Isa backed away from Ward, and Sarah and John B pulled them back further away from the psycho, protective of their sisters after everything that Ward already did to both of them.

Ward looked back at the cop car approaching.

Sarah looked at Isa and John B. "You guys gotta get out of here."

"Go," Lia told them. "You and the Pogues need to leave, go."

Peterkin got out of her car, walking closer.

Ward sighed in relief. "Oh, thank God you're here. Susan, I told you these two have lost their goddamn minds!"

"Put your hands on your head!" Peterkin ordered.

Ward looked at Isa and John B with a cocky smirk. "I'd do what she said."

Peterkin pulled out her gun, aiming it at Ward.

Isa smirked.

John B nodded to Peterkin smugly. "She's talking to you, Ward."

Ward turned around, seeing Peterkin aiming her gun at him, in shock.

Peterkin glared at Ward. "You're under arrest for the murder of Big John Routledge."

Sarah gasped.

John B held onto her. "I got you."

Lia couldn't blink.

Isa held Lia's hand. "It's okay."

"Are you kidding me?" Ward asked.

Peterkin continued to aim her gun at him. "Put your hands on your head."

"Are you kidding me, Sue?" Ward demanded.

"Put your hands on your head!" Peterkin ordered. Ward slowly did as told, lifting his hands to the back of his head, interlocking his fingers. "Turn around." Ward turned around, glaring at Isa and John B, who both glared in return. "Drop to your knees!" Ward closed his eyes in anger before doing so. Peterkin placed her gun back in the holster, walking over to him, pulling the cuffs out of her belt, placing them around his wrists. "I don't like being used. I waited a long time for this."

Ward resisted, reaching for Peterkin's gun.

John B stood in front of Isa, Lia and Sarah protectively, as the four backed away. Isa and Sarah both reached out to steady Lia as she looked like she could fall.

Peterkin pushed Ward roughly to the ground, aiming her gun on him again.

When they heard a gunshot, John B, Isa, Lia and Sarah all flinched, but they were all stunned when they saw that it wasn't Ward who was shot. They looked up to Peterkin, seeing blood spreading through her uniform on her upper shoulder. Peterkin fell to her knees.

Rafe stepped out from behind the plane, gun in hand, staring down at the sheriff.

Sarah was in shock. "Rafe, no."

Lia was shocked, horrified. "Rafe..."

Even Ward was shocked. "Rafe, what did you do?"

Peterkin turned to look at Rafe before falling over.

Rafe had a large grin, laughing. "I saved you, Dad. I saved you."

John B, Isa, Lia and Sarah just looked at Rafe in horrified shock. Rafe turned to aim his gun at them, muttering distantly, not loud enough for them to hear anything he said, but keeping them on gunpoint so they couldn't do anything.