"That's a dangerous accusation, Captain." Mullen looked over at Cafferty who nodded silently.

"Maybe so, but what other explanation could there be? Henry brought us the information about the letters in the first place."

"But he could have taken them himself, why use you?"

"Simple, Mister Mullen. We are the ones with the price on our heads for the theft. Henry has the letters now and can ingratiate himself with the authorities by returning them or he can use them to further his own enterprise beyond the Leeward and Windward islands. Obviously he made some kind of deal with Lieutenant Downs and in turn, Jack Bloode."

"Excuse me, mum," Cafferty said. "What does that, ingrituty word mean?"

Alicia relaxed a little and laughed. "Ingratiate, Mister Cafferty. It means toady up to someone. Curry favour. Get on the good side of." She grinned and leaned forward. "Something you've been guilty of from time to time, my friend."

Mullen laughed and covered his mouth.

They all sat silent for a few moments then Mullen spoke up again. "Are you sure you want to do this? What about uh, Terry. He expects to be back in Tortuga before long?"

The question halted her thinking and she rubbed her eyes, sighing. "Ah yes, Terry. I warned them both about what this life promised. He'll just have to accept that what we do is not fashioned around individual concerns. Freeing slaves was his father's goal and mine as well and this bit of treachery by imagined friends needs to be resolved."

"The Avenger outguns us and I wouldn't expect any quarter from Henry van Dught."

"I hope it doesn't come to that but I don't like being used, especially by those I considered friends. I'm going to find him and face him down, Mister Mullen. I want to know why he did this, pretending to be an ally."

The two hands stood and considered the woman they had followed for so long, and her husband before her, and both knew they would follow again. No questions asked.

"I'll set course for the Grenadines, Captain."

"Best speed, Mister Mullen. See to preparations for the guns, Mister Cafferty . . . just in case."

******

Word passed through the harbour at Curacao about Bloode's hanging like wildfire. The crewman that had escaped was living off free drinks and food for his recounting of the event. Eventually the news reached the guards and subsequently to the prisoners. Downs sat with a thump on his cot when he heard. His nemesis was still alive and an entire crew of seasoned pirates wiped out or imprisoned. He could not accept that he had been beaten . . . and not just once!

A message from the Governor had advised him that he would be presented at his courts marshal in three days. Downs knew he would be drummed out of the service. A naval officer dealing in stolen letters of marque for personal use would never be forgiven nor excused. His career was over. Three days to reflect on his past actions and how, when he finally was freed, he would find the Pirate Queen and put an end to her once and for all.

He had to get word to Henry van Dught and hope to all that was holy, he didn't know about Jack Bloode.

******

The Avenger cut through the calmer waters of the Leeward islands his passage rarely if ever interrupted by allies or enemies alike. Henry's reputation assured that. French and British ships dreaded the sighting of his ship, knowing they could not outrun nor manoeuvre it and also knowing, if he chose, they would be relieved of their cargo and any wealth, personal or otherwise.

Henry stood on the quarterdeck discussing their destination, Montserrat. The British shipping was busy transporting sugar back home and the money made from the trade was supporting their war against Napoleon. The French kept raiding British ships and Henry was eagerly awaiting the individual victors to sail into his waters. He had an ongoing , successful business , relieving both French and British ships of their cargos. His information on the slavers he doled out to other pirates like Alicia, who were more principled on why they were doing what they were doing.

With the letters he had deceived Alicia into getting for him, he could raise his bargaining power immensely with his enemies. Phillip Downs was just a step in creating that power over the shipping in the Caribbean. A officer in the King's navy, false though he was, could command concessions without the need for battle, a welcome change for Henry.

When the crow's nest hailed the sighting of a sail approaching, Henry checked his log and was confused as to what ship it could be. None of those he was awaiting were due yet and certainly not from that direction. He climbed to the quarterdeck and raised his spyglass, staring steadily as the ship rocked on the tiny swells. There was no flag visible but he suddenly recognized the ship and setting aside the spyglass, he gave a command to his helmsman and the Avenger hove to.

"How in all that's holy did they find us here? Now is your chance to get rid of her once and for all. Now, before they close."

"You had better go below. We wouldn't want them seeing you here, particularly with me." Henry's order brooked no question.

"But she can only mean trouble."

"Perhaps we'll see. Go."

******

"They've seen us, captain." Mullen gave a brief order to the helm.

"And I bet he knows who we are as swell. Even without a flag." Alicia dropped her spyglass to her side. They had hunted for the Avenger for almost two weeks after reaching the Grenadines. "He's hauling. Going to drift 'till we come alongside."

"I hope you know what you're doin'. He could sink us with the snap of a finger. Two decks of guns and crew enough to fill a small town."

"Henry might turn out to be blackguard but he has a sense of honour when it comes to fighting. He wouldn't open fire on a visiting ship no matter what the reason." Alicia rubbed her jaw. "It's when we leave, that might be a different story. We'll plan on leaving astern just in case so position us on the weather side accordingly, Mister Mullen."

She looked past Mullen as Terry came and stood to one side waiting.

"What is it, Terry?"

"Can we talk a minute?" He looked at Mullen and the helmsman then at his mother.

"I'll be amidships, Mister Mullen." She waved a hand for Terry to go first and they climbed down from the quarterdeck, finding an empty spot on the rail amidships.

"What is it?"

"This business with Captain van Dught, is it going to take long?"

Right away she saw what was coming. He was stressing about Mel and losing sight of what and who he was.

"Terry, this business is important, very important. It can change a lot of how we follow along with our purpose in these waters. I know why you are asking and I reminded you when you became involved with Mel what this life was like."

"But why do we have be the saviour of all the slaves that come through the Caribbean? Why can't we just- just make a living like the rest of the pirates in these waters?"

Alicia turned away and stared across the sea. Hollick would be livid if he could hear his, she thought. She knew something like this would happen the minute he and Mel announced mutual feelings.

"We are not like the other pirates, Terry, no matter what the authorities think. Our purpose is the freedom of people dragged from their homelands to slave for greedy, wealthy landowners and business people. Whatever else we take is compensation for those ashore that we can help and a little something for ourselves. Men like Jack Bloode, is that what you want to be. Bloodthirsty killers who get hanged in the end?"

He folded his arms about himself and faced her. "No but-"

"No buts, Terry. None. You know your work, get to it and stop pining for Mel. You will see her soon enough."

An hour later the Queen sailed slowly to a halt alongside the Avenger and Alicia hailed the ship.

"Captain Hollick. A surprise indeed. Are you coming aboard?"

"Actually, I'd hoped you would join me on the Queen. We have some fine edibles, compliments of the Mole St. Nicolas mission."

"Do tell." The words hung between the ships and both parties silently affirmed their new relative positions.

"Well, Captain van Dught, what say you?"

"I could do with a taste of some different foods for a change. Have your helm give us a wider berth to lower the long boat."

"You could slip across on the bosun's chair, Captain." Alicia called back.

"Aah, I've always found that so undignified." He frowned at the distance between them and then waved a hand. "Very well, I suppose it's quicker. Secure a line for me."

Henry dusted some sugar from his cheek and burped into his fist.

"By the saints, that was worth the bloody ride across."

"They were very generous after we helped them fight off and hang Jack Bloode." She watched for a reaction and wasn't disappointed.

"Hanged! What! They hanged Jack Bloode? He's dead?" He grasped his mug and drank carelessly, spilling rum on his Captain's jacket.

"Yes. And we found this in his possession." She dropped the letter of marque on the desk in front of him.