Winifred Routledge X JJ maybank

CHAPTER 7

❁Winifreds POV❁

I wake up to hearing a loud knock on the door. I got up without waking JJ up and I go and open the door

"Good morning sherif" I say nervously

"Morning sweetie" she said walking in the house

"Why are you here so early?" I say letting out a nervous laugh

"We need to talk, where's your brother?"

"He's sleeping"

"Well, DCS called. They wanted me to check on you and your brother See how you're doin'. So how you guys doing?" She said

"Oh uh, we are doing great. Thanks for coming by"

"I'm so glad to hear you say that, Winifred. but I heard a few things that worried me.
Let me see if I can remember. Oh, yeah. One of the things I heard was that your Uncle Teddy, your guardian, hasn't been in the state for three months" she said putting her hands on her hips

" oh uh, yeah that's false" I say rubbing my neck

"You don't have to say anything. I know it's true. I called the school. They said you used to be a good student, but now you and your brother are failin' all your classes" he said picking up a half smoked blunt

"Well he's stupid. And I'm only failing 1, it's math, the guys a dick" I say as She looks at me and raised an eyebrow and sighed

"I heard there was a fight on the beach yesterday, and a gun was involved" she still said looking at the cluttered house

"Okay. Gun? No. Did My brother get in a dustup? Yes, but was there a gun? No " I scoff. I really needed to work on my lying.

"That's okay. I know who it was. I'll get to him" she said. little did she know that he was sleeping in my bed on the other side of the wall. I shook my head and looked down.

"All I'm worried about right now is makin' sure you and John are in a safe home"

"Of course, supper safe, it's my happy place," I sarcastically say stomping a foot on the hardwood floor. "And uncle T is coming home so, nothing to worry about" I lied. Again.

"If he is coming, I think you should be allowed to stay." She said Sarcastically

"Thank you" I roll my eyes

"But if I stick my neck out for you, you have to help me. Tit for tat"

"Tat..wha- what is tat?" I said rubbing my neck

"Let me see, how can you help me? Oh, I know. So, a body was found in the marsh yesterday. Were you in the marsh yesterday?" She said taking her hat off

"Yeah, My brother and I were with some friends and they were fishin' for some drum" I said nodding my head

"Did they catch anything?" She said leaning on her hip

"Not that I know off" I slowing say

"Strange. Fishing's usually good after a storm. All sorts of things get stirred up.
You come across a wreck yesterday?" She said squinting at me

"Nope" I said popping the 'p'

"You skimmin' just above the surface, Winifred Now, down here is foster care, juvie.
Pretty big drop for a smart kid like you.
Up here is you and your brother and your little friends doing whatever you want. Outer Banks... or foster care on the mainland. You one inch above the surface, Winifred, If I was you, I'd start flappin' my wings. Now, you sure you didn't come across a wreck yesterday?" She said walking towards me and looking into my soul