birds of a feather, obx

026. warrant

School had ended a couple of hours after the courthouse did, Kie being the only one to pick Cora up.

Now, they're at the chateau and are gathered on the screened in porch while talking about John B's possible fate. It's pouring rain, thunder booming every few moments.

Cora sits curled up on the couch, drowning in the material of JJ's plaid shirt he had been wearing earlier.

"I'm gonna testify. Under oath. I was there." Sarah states. "I just need to get ahold of my sister."

"Sister?" JJ mutters and Pope shrugs.

"Kie, do you have your phone?" Sarah asks. Kie gives her the device. "Wheezie is the only other person that knows Rafe wasn't home that day."

"Wheezie?" JJ incredulously asks.

"I don't know what else to do." Sarah says. "I got us into this mess. I'm gonna do my best to get us out." She says, going inside the house. JJ scoffs.

"Wheezie? Yeah, that will work." He quips. "Well, she's right about one thing. We gotta do something. Our boy is PO-dub right now, okay? He's held captive by the enemy right now, maybe even scheduled for execution. Are we just gonna sit here?" He angrily asks.

"Okay, so then what's the plan? We start by kidnapping Shoupe?" Kie asks.

"Maybe. Like, that's not the worst idea actually." JJ says. Cora frowns.

"Oh, it's not?" Kie asks.

"No!" JJ answers.

"That is actually the worst idea I've ever heard." Pope tells JJ.

"It's pretty bad." Sarah agrees.

"You know what? Please, just stay out of this. Okay." JJ tells her, looking back at her through the open window. "Pope, look, we've been doing everything your way, and how has that been working out?"

"Okay, okay, so what's your plan?" Pope asks. "You gonna storm in a jail, guns a-blazing?" He asks, standing up.

"Look, Pope, all I'm trying to get you to understand is they got our boy. Now are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? No! We're gonna go get his ass. We're gonna do something about it!"

"JJ, we're not storming a jail. It's not happening." Pope finalizes.

"No, fine, man. Sit in your comfy chair. Do nothing. I'm gonna see what I can do. Make something happen, even if I have to do it by myself." JJ says, putting his hat on backwards.

"Okay." Kie says.

"JJ?" Cora meekly asks. "Can I go?"

"No, stay here." JJ tells her.

"But--"

"Stay!" He orders, storming outside, letting the screen door slam shut behind him. Cora pouts, watching him march over to his bike and get on it. He revs the engine before speeding off, Cora watching him until he's out of sight, not liking the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach due to his anger and what plan he's working on.

"Should we be worried?" Pope asks.

"Yes, for sure." Kie nods. "Look, I'm gonna hit my parents, and I'm gonna see if I can get the money for a lawyer." Kie says.

"John B has a public defender. He really doesn't need that right now." Pope says.

"Are you crazy? Justice costs money." Kie says.

"You're right. So I'm gonna dig in hard into anything I can find out about this key, because that tape Limbrey has, that's exculpatory evidence. That can exonerate John B." Pope states.