Cutlass Anne

Cutlass Anne - Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

"Heave to, me hearties!" Captain Henry shouted as we drifted into the dock.

The anchor was dropped and the gangplank lowered. I headed to the cargo hold and helped carry up sacks, all the while keeping an eye on the locked door in the back. Whoever brought out that crate was who I would follow. As I returned to the ship for another cargo trip, the captain stopped me.

"Thomas, my boy, come have a sit down with me in my quarters."

I bit my lip nervously before replying. "Okay."

I followed him in and paused at the dining table. The big, burly man sat there already. His icy stare bored into my soul. His very essence was all that I imagined evil to be.

"I don't think you should do this, sir," the man huffed.

"I suppose it is a good thing this is not your call then, eh, Gregory."

I looked from one man to the other in confusion. "What is going on, Captain Henry?"

"Well, Thomas, I like you. You're friendly, a good listener, and, I believe, loyal."

I stood there as he placed three shot glasses on the table.

"Thank you, sir, but I don't understand."

"I have a business proposition for you, lad," he continued, brandishing a short, crystal bottle filled with a dark liquid.

He stopped talking as he carefully poured a bit of it into each of the glasses. The big man, Gregory, reached out and grabbed one after Captain Henry retrieved his. He looked at me and nodded toward the other glass, and I reached for it with tentative hands. I took a deep sniff. The smell burned my nostrils. It was whiskey.

"What sort of business proposition?"

"You see, I have a side venture while The Gilded Lady is berthed here."

"A side venture, sir?"

"We're pirates," Gregory blurted out before swilling his drink.

"I'm sorry, but what?" I exclaimed, almost dropping my shot glass.

The captain laughed heartily. "Not all of us. Only a few on this ship are part of my pirate crew. I have another ship, The Cutlass. It is my pirate ship. My crew for that little venture stays mainly with the ship. Gregory here is my second in command. My first mate stays aboard."

"You want me to join your pirate crew?" I asked, scarcely believing what I heard.

"Essentially, yes."

I pulled out a chair and sat down. I bit my lip and thought. The Cutlass was the pirate ship that was in the bay the day Jane went missing. This meant that Captain John Henry was really Captain John Jacks. There was no denying that I would accept his offer. I could further my plan while onboard his ship and possibly figure out what he did with Jane. I doubted she was on The Cutlass or even in Curacao. I still had so many questions unanswered and wanted to kill both of those men where they sat. I wanted to shove a dagger as far into their hearts as I could so they would feel the same pain I had felt since they took my sister from me.

Jane! Oh, where are you, Jane?

I pursed my lips and breathed in and out of my nose slowly. "Why do you trust me enough to invite me into your fold?" I asked.

"Over the past week you have proven yourself a quick learner, and I enjoy having you around. You are more intellectual than most of the pirate crew," Captain John Jacks replied, pouring another shot into Gregory's glass.

Gregory snorted at his reply.

"Is Flynn involved in this as well?"

"My son? No, it seems my son has a bit of an ethical issue with pirating. He does not see any good in pillaging."

"Is that all your crew does? Pillage?" I pushed, feeling my heart speed up as I had images of my poor sister being manhandled by a pirate.

"No. We dabble in kidnapping, murder, and convincing the occasional sailor to join us."

"Kidnapping and murder?"

I could see the corners of Gregory's mouth flinch upward. Slowly the fear and terror were replaced with anger and hatred. I realized that I would be able to do what was necessary. Jane trumped all. I could do it, and he would be the man I would get answers about that from.

"On occasion," he replied, a smile spreading across his face.

"Have you done such things recently?" I mused, not entirely sure if I should want him to say yes.

"Aye," he said.

"Anyone of importance? Or just the passersby at sea?"

"Oh, we got someone of importance, a governor's daughter." His lips no longer twitched. A smile was plastered on his face.

"That is quite a catch," I replied, trying to hide my disgust.

Gregory stared into his whiskey. "So what is your answer?"

"I would be crazy to say no," I muttered, slowly looking up at them.

Captain John Jacks smiled broadly; Gregory's expression did not change. We lifted our glasses and downed our respective whiskeys. I felt so hollow inside.

I must have started becoming more tolerant of liquor because it didn't burn nearly as bad as I thought it would.

The captain threw his glass to the floor. "Top board! We have much to do before The Cutlass shoves off in two days' time."

"When is The Gilded Lady supposed to leave port?" I inquired, breathing slowly.

"In a fortnight."

"How does it work? Only two weeks on The Cutlass?"

"The days vary for how long we're on each ship. It depends where we are and the cargo each ship carries."

"What sort of cargo are you going in search of for The Cutlass?" I asked.

Captain Henry stared at me for a moment. "No cargo this trip. I have business to attend to in Tortuga."

"The pirate haven?"

"Aye. It could promise to be fun for the crew. They have not had leave in quite some time, and that is a port where the liquor flows and the women are loose."

"Here, here!" Gregory shouted, slamming his fist on the table.

I nodded and pushed my chair back from the table. The whiskey had gone straight to my head. My body felt warm and my head was swimming. It was as though I had a swig of liquid courage. I knew in the coming days I would need more—much more—if I was going to exact my revenge and find out where Jane was.

I had the man who took my sister. I knew who was responsible for destroying my happy world. I could now begin to get my revenge on everybody, starting with Captain John Jacks and his crew.

Finishing with my father.