Lieutenant Downs could not believe his ears. The elaborate trap he had planned and laid out so meticulously had ended in a sunken ship, a diminished crew and a Captain humiliated with a 'Kissing the Gunner's Daughter' session. Jack Bloode sat grumpily and uncomfortably across from him in the saloon in town, taking the berating with the greatest of discomfort. His hopes were still high that the promised sovereigns would still be forthcoming.

"So now after all this I don't know if she's coming here or not."

"I gave 'er the scuttlebutt just like you says. She warn't too pleased to hear."

Downs frowned and thought about what he might do. The threat he hinted at to his guest was his counter to any resistance from Alicia Hollick. If she didn't surrender herself to he and his men unequivocally then her friend would . . . most uncomfortably.

"Where is your ship now?"

"You ain't plannin' on takin' it because of your schooner I hopes."

"Where is it?"

"In a small cove just up the coast."

"Is it manned, or did you lose all your crew in your recent blunder?"

"I've enough to sail 'er."

Downs plopped another pouch on the table and Bloode's eyes followed the action greedily.

"Get a full crew together and find the Pirate Queen. I want Alicia Hollick here at this table within the week. You do that and this, plus another will be waiting." He replaced the pouch in his coat and Bloode sagged in the chair.

******

Mullen stood in the cabin doorway shaking his head. "I don't like it one bit, Captain."

"I'm not letting Mel rot in a military jail because of me and this is an easier way to enter than by taking the Queen into dangerous waters."

"But how do you know that's what they want to do?"

"Bloode told us the plan. This Lieutenant wants me and is using Mel as bait. I can see him having a back-up plan and I'm betting that's what that ship following us is."

"So we just let them catch up and take you on board." He moved into the cabin. "Skipper, they won't want to stop there, not after what we did to Bloode and his crew."

"Assuming they know, whoever they are." She smiled and thumped Mullen on the arm. "Don't worry, I'm not stupid. But what I am worried about is Terry. I want you to keep him busy down below when this takes place. Send Cafferty with him. I want this to be as smooth as possible."

******

Bloode watched the Pirate Queen through his glass and muttered a curse. She wasn't running and he suspected trickery. If he had his way he'd heave broadside and blow her right out of the sea like she did with the schooner only there would be no longboat available. Bloode thought about that and, in spite of his hatred, she had given he and his men a chance to get away. Bloody vixen!

"Helm! Come up on the starboard side."

When the two ships were side by side, Bloode hailed the Queen and demanded her Captain's surrender if she didn't want a volley right down the full length of her."

"I could say the same, Captain." Alicia called back."

"Aye, but my guns are all primed and readied. Don't press me Captain Hollick."

"Ah, you know my name and would I be correct in saying you are the infamous Captain Jack Bloode?"

Several of the Queen's crew broke out in laughter and Bloode steamed under his plumed hat.

"You made excellent time in recovering your own ship, Captain, and in finding us so quickly."

"These is my waters, missy, and when runnin' my ship, there's none better."

"You or the ship?"

"I'm short on patience, Captain. Surrender yourself or lose your ship and all aboard."

Alicia turned and nodded to Mullen and he ordered a gantline for the boatswain's chair and she climbed in, reminding him, before lifting off, to watch Terry. The men hauled on the line and the chair lifted over the rail and across the choppy water to Bloode's ship.

"Welcome aboard my ship, Captain Hollick." Bloode sneered.

"Your pleasure, I'm sure."

"Arr, ever the wise words, haven't you. Well, we'll see how wise you are when we deliver ye to the dandy."

"The dandy?"

"Aye, that simpery piece o' snot what stays on the military base."

"The one who has imprisoned my friend."

"The same." Bloode laughed. "She'll be gettin' pretty busy by now, I think."

"I doubt that."

"Oh really? Let me tell you, those military types aren't about-"

"No, I meant about you thinking."

He looked puzzled and she could see his lips repeating the words then his face flamed and he stepped closer, the muzzle of his pistol jammed up against her chin.

"Careful, Bloode. I doubt you'll get whatever he promised if you kill me first."

He gave her a brutal shove and yelled at his men to take her below and slip her in irons. He said, if she wanted to be brave, be brave with the rats in the hold.

******

Mullen watched the transfer and the meeting on board and when he saw Alicia being dragged away he knew his worst worries were coming true. The Black Dog, Bloode's ship, set her helm and pulled away, sails filling. When she was well ahead, Mullen ordered the Queen to set a course for Curacao; orders or not, Alicia wasn't going to give herself up without a good fight.

******

When word came to Downs about the sighting of the Black Dog, he took himself to the harbour and waited eagerly for its arrival. He sat in the small street in front of the pub and ordered a large drink, his mind churning with how he would handle the famous Alicia Hollick, Pirate Queen. Throwing her in a cell with Teacher might be a start. Let his men have their way then when they were both defeated, drag them down to the dock and hold a public execution. He drank quickly, anticipation making him restless.

The ship took an agonizingly long time to enter the harbour and drop anchor, and then another stressful period as the longboat was lowered and pulled slowly to shore. Downs dashed over the dock and paced back and forth as the boat was secured and Bloode and some crew disembarked with their cargo.

"Well, well, well." Downs was almost giddy. "The famous Pirate Queen herself."

"I know who I am, who are you?"

He dropped his smile and shot a glare at Bloode. "Didn't you tell her who I was?"

"Aye, she knows. She's just takin' the piss."

Angry now, he stepped close, almost nose to nose, his scar turning white. "Is that right. Well we'll see who takes what, madam.

Bring her to my quarters." Downs turned quickly away and almost ran up from the dock to the street.

"You heard 'im. Follow along." Bloode walked beside Alicia, chuckling. "I don't think you made a good impression on our Lieutenant Downs."

"And I don't think I care."

"Oh ho! You'll care soon enough, dearie. I've heard rumour that his men are all primed to accept favours from his prisoner and now he has two of you."

She could almost hear him drool and the image of Mel in that jail made her sick.