Chapter one: This is how it started.
The warm buzz in Eleanor's head was only partly due to the liquor in her hand. There was too much conversation going on around her. She rose slightly in her seat, shifting uncomfortably as she glanced around the large circular table she was sat at. Her father, Richard, was the center of attention, laughing and schmoozing up the ears of the wealthy men that sat around him. Richard had initially brought Eleanor along because he believed her youthful elegance might entice the men to sit nearer to him and buy into whatever he was trying to sell them into investing.
Eleanor rolled her eyes. Half the time her father didn't even fully understand the importance of certain things that went on with his business. It's not like he's put his energy and soul into it. Eleanor's really the one who's done all the grunt work, Richard just takes the credit.
"It's fine," she thought to herself "this is not really what I'm here for tonight."
In truth, Eleanor was here to scope out the place. According to her sources, this is where the bill of sale ends. She just needed to get her hands on it to make their big score. Eleanor figured later into the night, the guests will become intoxicated enough to not notice her slip away.
She sipped gingerly at her mixed drink, half listening to Richards antics. Of course, he would never admit to anyone how Eleanor actually sets up all the shipping appointments, maintains close relationships with all the merchants they do business with and all the other mundane tasks that come with running a business. In the past few years as she grew out of her teens and into adulthood, Richard has done less and less to help actually running the family business. All he seems to do lately is sign his name to paperwork and form new connections with strangely wealthy men. Eleanor ground her jaw down, "it's only a matter of time before I can go off and start my own endeavour." she reminded herself. Every job and heist they pull, she gets closer to her goal of self financial stability. Even if she lays awake at night wondering if once all the money is there, she'll be able to give up this life.
It had started innocent enough. Just some small petty theft here and there to give her the thrill and excitement her scheduled and predictable life was missing.
That changed after one night when a glimmering, husky accented, angel grabbed her wrist while she was slipping her hand into someone's jacket pocket.
It was dark and late in the night, and everyone was way too drunk to notice a small woman gliding across the dance floor shifting through their pockets.
"So, you are my competition?" Sweet hazel almond eyes glanced up at Eleanor. She froze, in fear of being called out on her crimes for the first time. "Oh god, here it comes I knew the day would have to come!" Eleanor's eyes widened. "Relax," the girl laughed "I have no reason to squeal. There's an offer I'd like to propose." She held her hand towards Eleanor "I'm Max."
Eleanor stared in disbelief, first at her hand and then back to her face. She squinted at her. This apparently didn't phase Max and she chuckled at her reaction and then nodded towards the wallet currently in her hand. "Buy me a drink?" And then turned on her heel towards the bar. Eleanor thought about it for a moment, she could spilt right now and book it back to her car.. but the new woman she's just met was so enticing she found herself following after her anyways.
Max had found a seat at the bar but Eleanor refused to let her guard down, choosing instead to lean against the counter beside Max.
"So..." Max drawled out. "What's a wealthy, well off woman like yourself doing pick-pocketing from the lower-middle income scum around these parts?"
Eleanor shrugged. She didn't really know either.
"This is my terf." Max signalled something at the bartender who nodded back at her. "Everything that happens in these surrounding blocks comes to my knowledge.." she turned her body towards Eleanor, gently laying her fingertips along the forearm Eleanor had resting on the counter, "and yet, no one had told me that Eleanor Guthrie slums down here with us. Much less that she steals from us."
Eleanor slipped her arm from Max's touch, her forearm tingling from the graze. She spun around and leaned her back to the bar, watching the dance floor. "I didn't realize how badly off this area was I guess."
"Oh, I bet you didn't." Max bit back. "This bar, these streets and neighbourhoods are off limits. I move everything around here."
Eleanor turned her gaze towards the other woman. The bartender came by and dropped off two shots. Max grabbed for one and handed the other to Eleanor.
"I am however, very interested in the doors you could open. In the sense of the trust people would have to let you into their homes willingly, if you catch my drift." Max looked at Eleanor with a gleam in her eyes.
The corners of Eleanor's lips curled. The pick-pocketing was just for fun. There was never no real money in it, and truthfully it's not like she really needed it. She had everything she could think of. There was however a nagging in the back of her mind. A business of her own. She had the contacts and information of what to do, but none of the financial backing. It wasn't exactly like she could simply ask her father for help. He'd lose it if he thought she was leaving to become competition.
Eleanor raised her shot glass at Max with a smirk on her lips. "I'd love to hear about it, and you, some more." She then threw the drink down the back of her throat. Max grinned back at her and downed her shot as well.
Then she explained to Eleanor all about her business venture with Robin Hood types of bandits, stealing from the rich and giving back to their poor community. Eleanor felt a twang of guilt for targeting the people who couldn't afford to be missing the couple dollars from their wallets. It had never occurred to her how easy it could be to rob the rich her father associated with. Max had many contacts with shady business dealers, money launderers and black market sellers. Anything from the small time hold up at the corner store to stolen antique Chinese ceramic vases valuing $31,000 went through her.
Eleanor looked down at her drink, suddenly remembering herself in this place in time. She laughed lightly to herself. "Thank whoever for Max finding me." She wasn't sure where she was going with her small time crime operation but she was glad to have become part of something bigger, even if it was more dangerous. Maybe it was the self-depreciation that kept her going.
She glanced down at the watch on her wrist. 1:43am. Seventeen minutes to go.
"If you gentlemen will excuse me." She murmured softly, in no ones general direction. She caught her fathers eye, and lifted her drink and signalled towards the bar. As she got up from her seat she noticed one other head lift towards her direction but paid it no mind. She walked towards the bar and ordered a rum, neat. "Gotta take some edge off." Sure, she knew she could do and do it well enough to not get caught. This was big though, and the excitement of the prize egged her on.
She slipped behind a crowd of people and made her way up the giant staircase towards the upper level of the house. The Addington Estate was gorgeous. Three level villa, two pools, seven bedrooms and a ballroom. Just the right types of people to steal from. The staircase led up to a giant landing before branching off to different wings of the home. On an exceptionally fancy couch over looking the giant ballroom below, bustling with people, was a young woman.
Eleanor cursed under the breath. "I told her no." She walked over to the railing just in front of the couch and sipped at her drink. "I told you not to come." She didn't even look back at her.
"Yes I know, but I couldn't help myself. You know I'm eager to learn, and father thought it best if I came and looked at prospects for a husband." A small voice mumbled behind her. Eleanor could hear fidgeting. She sighed and downed her rum in one go. Grimacing, she turned around to face the young woman. Shaking her head, she walked towards her and opened the small handbag that hung daintily from her shoulders. "If you must insist on being here Abigail, put this in and watch the stairs for me." Eleanor handed her a small wireless earpiece. "Max is also on the line. Just click the button if you want to mute yourself. And just... don't make yourself known alright. I don't like the idea of you being too involved. You're a bright young woman with a great future ahead of you. You don't need this shit."
"Thank you." Abigail took the ear piece and fidgeted with it before placing it in her ear, not moving from the couch. Eleanor handed her empty glass to the girl and walked off towards the right corridor.
She growled and clicked her ear piece into working. "Why the fuck did you let her come?"
"Because she wouldn't shut up." Max retorted.
"She was supposed to sit in the car with you and maybe do some light planning! Not here where she could get caught!" Eleanor hissed as quietly as her anger would let her.
"She'll do whatever she wants." Max laughed, "just let her enjoy tonight. What were you doing at 20?"
Eleanor growled in response. "Is this the right way?"
"Yes, I can see the radiation levels of the safe." Max whispered in awe, Eleanor could hear her furiously typing through the ear piece. "When you get to the door, you'll only have 20 minutes before it locks again and I won't be able to get it open. The technology seems to be newer than my guy could decipher. We'll need some time before we can come back to the prize."
Eleanor pressed close up against the walls, sliding her handbag as she walked along.
"Wait! That's it, that room!" Max exclaimed and then giggled furiously.
Eleanor dug through her bag, and pulled out a small electronic reader. She laid it against the door and turned it on. "Alright Max, let me in." She said with a straight voice.
"Hold on, hold on." Max chided her, her fast typing apparent.
Eleanor glanced down at her watched. 2:06am. She sucked her teeth. "There's no more time." She growled back in response. Just then the light on the electronic reader turned green and the door gave a soft click. She could hear Max humph on the side of the line. Eleanor paused for a moment, taking a breath before softly pushing the door open. She hesitated, peering inside and seeing it was empty she quickly made her way inside being careful to make sure not to close the door behind her.
Eleanor looked around.
"If I was a safe, where would I be?" She felt along the edges of the walls as she walked into the room. She looked above and inside the fireplace. Under the rug that dominated the centre of the room. Nothing.
"Alright Max, I give up." Eleanor sighed. She hated accepting her defeat.
"You're getting warmer." Max teased her. "With 16 minuets left."
Eleanor walked further into the room, nearing the large desk.
"Warmer!" Max laughed.
Eleanor rolled her eyes. She walked around the desk and as she neared the chair the floorboards beneath her creaked. Moving quickly she flipped the rug and revealed the pin pad of a floor safe. Eleanor quickly rustled through her bag and pulled out a small jar and tiny glasses. She dusted the dye over the key pad and pulled out a small flashlight. Eleanor slid on her glasses and turned on the flash light.
"Alright Max, Ive got four numbers here and need help figuring out the combination. I'll only have 3 tries before it locks me out."
"Okay..." Max sucked in a deep breath. "What's the most worn?"
"1." Eleanor whispered back. "Then 9, 8 and 5."
"Okay, well, according to my sources Mr and Mrs Addington married in 1985. Try it."
Eleanor ground her teeth and tentatively pressed the buttons. The light turned green and clicked. She laughed nervously. "Fucking brilliant."
"You know it, babe." Max beamed.
Eleanor opened the safe door and dropped her gadgets to the floor.
Stacks of money, expensive jewelry and paperwork shoved inside. Eleanor shuffled through the paperwork until her eyes landed on what they've been looking for. She hurriedly grabbed it and shoved it inside her tiny bag along with all the discarded items on the floor. "I got it Max, holy hell." She breathed, suddenly feeling very overwhelmed. Eleanor slammed the safe door shut, flipped the carpet down and went to make her way to the door.
"Uhm guys?" A soft voice came over the communication. "There's two men coming up the stairs."
"Merde.." Max cursed under her breath. "It's okay, we'll get you out."
"Abigail, I need you to figure something out." Eleanor said to her sharply.
"Okay." Abigail replied with shaky confidence. Eleanor listened to Max breathe shaky breathes with a pounding heart.
"Good evening gentlemen." Abigail called out. She was met with courteous replies. "How were the tables?" Abigail awkwardly asked. The men seemed to ignore her. "Oh, oh my!" Abigail exclaimed as the two women on the line listened to a thud hit the floor. There were two frantic male voices and the ruffling of clothes. "I must be dehydrated." Abigail explained, "its my woman's time you see." There were sounds of agreeing. "If you would both be so kind as to help me with my way back to the bar for some refreshment?" Hurried agreement sounds came from the men. "You're both such big, strong gentlemen. I can't thank you enough."
Max stifled a giggle while Eleanor struggled to choke back a laugh. Standing in front of the door ready to make a run for.
"Thank you so much gentlemen for walking me all the way to the bar."
That was her queue. Eleanor creaked the door open and crept out. It clicked behind her. She leaned against the shut, locked door and sighed. Heart pounding in her chest.
"With three minutes to spare, great job girl." Max encouraged her.
Eleanor laughed uneasily. "If it weren't for Abigail we'd have been fucked. Great job, Abi." Eleanor said breathless.
There was no reply from Abigail.
"Meet me outside by the back gate, you're welcome to leave with us." Eleanor continued addressing Abigail. "I'll be out in 10 minutes Max, don't keep me waiting."
Max huffed, "have I ever?".
Eleanor composed herself and walked back towards the landing. She felt absolutely giddy. She couldn't believe step one went so well. She'll have to find her father before heading out.
"Hey..." Max drawled out. "There's a weird black van that just pulled up..."
Eleanor hummed in response, caught in thought about the thrill of sneaking around.
"No, seriously. It's weird. This late into the night, and a mysterious van in a wealthy neighbourhood?" Max voiced her concerns. "Do you think someone may be trying to pull something here?"
"Hard to say... can you see inside? Or make out any distinguishing marks?" Eleanor responded in a low tone.
"I don't know, from here it's too far. I don't want to risk driving closer." Max sounded nervous and Eleanor's heart ached from it.
"Stay where you are, I'm on my way out. Your safety is my concern." Eleanor softly whispered. "Besides—"
"Miss Guthrie!" Someone from behind her called out. Eleanor paused for a moment before turning around slowly.
There was a slightly older man standing in front of her. He was wearing a dark uniform suit and she could see the three chevrons on his shoulders. Eleanor silently rolled her eyes. "Good evening Sargent Rogers. I was just taking my leave for the night. Have you seen my father? I wish to say goodbye before heading home."
He took a step closer to her. "Actually, I was just talking to him. And he very much made a point to tell me that you weren't seeing anyone."
"Oh. Of course he did." She shook her head at him. "I'm much too focused on my future and career goals at the moment to focus of relationships and the like. I'm flattered." Eleanor waved him off and tried to turn her back to leave.
Woodes reached out to grab her hand, trapping her in the spot with him. "That's too bad." He chided at her. "It'd be a shame to let your beauty go to waste."
Eleanor snatched her hand out of his grasp. "Good night Sargent Rogers."
Woodes half bowed to her. "It's Woodes."
Eleanor nodded in his direction and walked down the stairs back into the bustle of the ballroom, the place had died down. Many guests had left, those few that remained either were passed out or just about. Eleanor spotted her father, still drinking and gambling, half intelligible crap spilling from his drunken lips. She walked behind him and laid her hands on his shoulders. She leaned closer into him to whisper in his ears. "I'm going home now. I have called for a ride, I'll leave the keys with you but please don't drive home like this." She tightened her grip on his shoulders.
Richard didn't even look up from his cards. Just gave her a single nod as she left the car keys on the table. Eleanor dropped her hands from her father and walked towards the foyer to collect her jacket, when she suddenly remembered Abigail. Her eyes scanned the room, glancing towards the bar. Abigail sat on a bar stool, clearly intoxicated. Eleanor chuckled and made her way over to her. When she reached her, she gently placed her flat palm on Abigail's back. "Hey, lets go." She tried to coax her. "You did great, I'm proud of you, let's go celebrate." Abigail didn't say anything as she swayed getting off her seat. Eleanor wrapped an arm around her waist and Abigail grabbed her shoulders.
"You're a gr-great role model. And I love you." Abigail giggled.
"How much have you had to drink?" Eleanor raised an eyebrow and laughed.
Abigail waved her off, but the sudden movement only made her trip on her feet a little. Eleanor tightened her gripped and sighed.
"Let's get our stuff and get you home." Eleanor pulled her towards the impromptu coat check that had been set up.
"Can you guys hurry the fuck up? This van is freaking me out." Max's worried voice came into Eleanor's ear.
"I'm trying! But someone had a little too much." Eleanor teased in Abigails direction, who was too tipsy to pay it any mind. "How long you been listening?"
"Long enough." Max replied curtly. "Well, I'm going to have to explain the whole Rogers thing."
Eleanor shrugged her long trench coat over her short cocktail dress and struggle helping Abigail into her woolen one. Then she pulled her towards the door, and with a little help from the door-man got her out and down the front stairs. "Okay Max, can you pull up front? I can't walk all the way back with her."
"Yeah, okay, I'm coming." Max sounded annoyed. Like Eleanor could help the fact that the young girls tolerance was low and her ambitions high. "Hey, the van... it's got some weird bumper sticker ." Max noted as Eleanor could hear it coming down the street.
"Oh yeah?" Eleanor hummed in response, holding tightly onto Abigail who swayed even while standing still.
The familiar steel gray Jeep Wrangler pulled up to a stop in front of Eleanor. She opened the back door and as gently as she could, pushed Abigail into the back seats. "Oof!" She fell with a thud. Eleanor closed the back door and slid into the passenger seat and turned to face Max, who immediately threw her arms around Eleanor when she was close enough. Eleanor awkwardly hugged her back through the uncomfortable position.
Eleanor turned to look at Max, "Hey, it's okay I'm fine."
Max nodded at her. "I know."
Eleanor looked in the rear view mirror at the black van parked on the shadows. "Did it move at all? Anyone get out?"
Max shook her head. "No, nobody in or out. Other than it pulling up to park there it hasn't moved in the whole hour."
Eleanor frowned and then laughed. "Probably just some teenagers out for a fuck. Let's go get wasted, I desperately need it."
Max grinned and started the car. "So, tell me about Woodes."
"Ugh, can it not wait?" Eleanor rolled her eyes.
2:45am
It was pretty late by the time they pulled up to their spot. But the house still seemed lively. Dozens of expensive cars parked around the property.
They weren't sure exactly why they were here, Captain refused to divulge his secrets until he was sure.
"Bring us closer, Red." He grunted in the general direction of a woman in the drivers seat.
"Fuck no. And risk being seen? You haven't even told us what's the big deal?" She rasped back, impatiently.
"Darling, I'm sure Captain has a reason for dragging us out in the middle of the night with no prep or instructions." A second person called out from the passengers seats.
"Calico's right. I'm not ready to share my secrets yet." He responded absentmindedly. His eyes flickered to the front door opening and a taller blonde woman appeared slightly dragging a younger brunette woman. With the help of some man they made it down to the street and she stood there on the curb, holding onto the young girl. She looked familiar... the Guthrie heiress? He remembered seeing her in newspaper articles a few years ago when she was photographed at a bar, midpunch into some mans jaw. He scoffed to himself, "who the fuck was she?"
"Captain?" The male passenger up front called out as he watched the two women get in a car.
"Hm?" He vocalized back in his direction.
"Just wondering on your orders." Calico responded to him hesitantly. He knew better than to drag him out of thought.
"Let's fucking go Red," Captain looked over at their driver. "I need a drink."
She smirked and turned on the car. Captain leaned back into his seat and fidgeted with the coin in his pocket.
Well, there it is. I've been thinking a lot about this while at work in my spare time.
Heavily inspired by LexyRomanova's story SAIL about the whole reincarnation thing. Which I think is brilliant given the fact of how much fun it is to write the characters modern.
Hope this is cool? or whatever... I am obviously late to the Black Sails fandom, but I just finished the show.
I hope to continue this story. Feel free to chip in ideas.
My computer is a piece of garbage, so everything is typed up either on my phone or ipad... also, the only free time I have available to write is between the hours of 2-7am after I am finished with work consisting of at least 11 hour shifts! I am not saying this is garner sympathy but as a reason why my spelling, grammar, and pre/past tense may be off. I will do my absolute best at proof reading when my brain has had the time to rest. I hope it is still legible and enjoyable.
XO, Vee.