READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 6: Low Tide
The marsh was different at night. Even from Rafe's Range Rover, JJ could tell the usual geography had shifted, the low tide revealing secrets usually hidden beneath the water. The compass in his hand seemed to pulse with each turn deeper into the darkness.
JJ's point of view
"Last chance to back out," Rafe said, killing the engine. In the distance, WE could still hear the Boneyard party, the bass carrying across the water. My phone buzzed again—another text from my mother: *Baby, please tell me you're not in the marsh. Ward Cameron just left here looking for you.*
"Your mom doesn't want us here," Rafe observed, leaning closer to read the text. His cologne mixed with the salt air, making it hard for me to focus. "Yeah, well, she also didn't want to tell me why she sedated John B, so—"Headlights swept across them, and they ducked down. Through the windows, I could see Topper's convertible speeding past, Sarah noticeably absent from the passenger seat., I looked at Rafe and he noted it too as he nodded his head at me.
"What's that plastic doll doing out here?" I muttered."Same thing we are, probably." Rafe pulled out the paper Kiara had slipped from them. "These coordinates... they're close."We exited the car, and the mud immediately ruined our designer shoes."damn mom is going to kill me for ruining these shoes," I thought to myself as I pulled out my phone's flashlight, illuminating a narrow path through the marsh grass."Barbie's going to kill us if we get murdered out here," I joked, but his voice was tense."Sarah knew what she was doing, getting close to Topper," Rafe said, following close behind me. "She's always been the smart one."
"Yeah, well—" I stopped short. There, half-buried in the mud, was a wooden post with familiar markings. The same markings that had been on the photo of Big John and Ward."Look," Rafe pointed to more posts, forming a line into the darkness. "It's like—"
"A path," I finished. The compass was moving now, the needle swinging wildly. Suddenly, voices carried across the marsh. We ducked behind some tall grass just as flashlight beams cut through the darkness."It has to be here somewhere," Topper's voice was strained. "Your dad said—" "My dad says a lot of things." Sarah stepped into view, her party clothes replaced with dark athletic wear. "Like how he'd ruin the Genettes if JJ didn't back off."I felt Rafe tense beside him. I reach out and squeed his hand for a second, more for me than him, though."Dr. Genratte made her choice," Topper replied. "She chose to help cover up Big John's death. And now her precious son is going to—"
"Going to what?" Sarah challenged. "Find out that my father killed his best friend over gold? That you've been helping him move it through your dad's shipping company?"
"Sarah, baby," "Do not call me that. " Topper's voice turned sickeningly sweet. "Think about what you're saying. About who you're protecting. Your Pretty boy ex and your brother? They're not worth—"
" They are to me, Asshole. They are worth so much to me. JJ isn't just how do you say it," she paused as if she was thinking," Ah, my pretty boy ex, he has been my best friend since we were in diapers." She interrupted him. Topper went to speak, but a branch cracked under Rafe's foot. The flashlight beams swung toward our hiding spot."Run," I whispered, grabbing his hand.
They crashed through the marsh grass, the shouts behind them growing closer. My phone buzzed again—my mom.*They found John B's boat. Again. Baby, please. Ward knows about you and Rafe. He's going to use it against me,*
We reached the Range Rover, mud-splattered and breathing hard. Through the trees, we could see more headlights approaching."My place," I decided. "Mom has some explaining to do."As we peeled out onto the road, Sarah emerged from the marsh. She locked eyes with me through the window, mouthing two words: "Be careful."The compass had stopped spinning, now pointing steadily toward the ocean, toward the place where Big John had disappeared. "You know," Rafe said as they sped toward Figure Eight, "for what it's worth, you were a much better Ken than Topper."Despite everything, I laughed. "Yeah, well, your sister was the perfect Barbie. Until...""Until you realized you liked a different Cameron better?"I could feel my face turn red because of embarrassment. " You're not funny," I replied, rolling my eyes and looking out the window."I think I am," he responded with a light laugh. Before I could answer, red and blue lights flashed behind them. Sheriff Peterkin's cruiser.And behind her, Ward Cameron's black SUV.