Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪
''Oh, great. So we're going to a house with a dead body in it? That's the plan?''
≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪
THE TWINKIE'S ENGINE growled as it carried us down the winding road. JJ lounged in the passenger seat, his legs propped up on the dash like he didn't have a care in the world, while I was squished in the back. The van smelled faintly of old upholstery and sand, a scent that was oddly comforting.
''So,'' JJ started, turning to John B, ''walk us through it one more time.''
John B gripped the steering wheel, his eyes on the road. ''Okay, right there.'' He pointed vaguely to the glovebox, which held a map. ''That's where they're taking him. South America.''
JJ stared at him. ''You just pointed to all of South America. You get that, right?''
John B nodded firmly. ''Yep.''
''That's all you know?'' JJ pressed. ''He's somewhere in South America? That's it?''
John B kept his focus ahead. ''Look, that's why we're going to the professor's house. He was at the site.''
JJ threw his hands up. ''Oh, great. So we're going to a house with a dead body in it? That's the plan?''
''Yeah,'' John B confirmed with a shrug.
JJ turned in his seat, aiming a questioning look at me. ''And you're just... fine with this?''
I crossed my arms, leaning back against the seat. ''He's my dad, so I have to be.'' I replied simply, though even I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about it.
JJ gave me a look—half amused, half resigned.
''Yep, she's officially a Routledge,'' John B muttered.
John B glanced at me in the rearview mirror, grinning. ''In the eyes of the law, not really,'' I corrected.
''Can we make this quick?'' JJ cut in. ''In and out. Like, five minutes.''
''Obviously,'' John B replied, pulling into the driveway.
The professor's house was quiet, the kind of eerie that made the hairs on my arms stand up. We moved cautiously.
''His body's gone,'' John B announced, stopping in the middle of the room. ''Sowell was right here.''
JJ glanced around, his brow furrowed. ''And Sowell was... the professor, right?''
''Right,'' John B confirmed.
''Well, they've already been here,'' JJ reasoned. ''Sweepers probably cleaned everything out. This room's deader than he was. Let's bounce.''
