Disclaimer: I own a lot of shoes, but no pirates.

AN: Right then... I have nothing legitimate to say about this chapter, so go ahead and read. Thanks to my reviewers!

Chapter Ten: Identity

"Green eyes, you're the one that I wanted to find"(Coldplay)

Jack and Will stared at Elizabeth. Jack was clueless, he had never heard of Catherine Powell. But Will's mouth opened in shock. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to think, and finally spoke.

"Alexander's wife?" he managed to say.

"Yes, of course Alexander's wife," Elizabeth returned, rather annoyed with his stupidity. "Who else?"

"But, Liz, that was a pirate. She came here with Jack. She has a ship. Did you see her clothes?" Will stammered.

"Catherine Powell in pirate's clothes is Catherine Powell none the less Will. You know, I've had lunches with her several times."

"Wait a minute," Jack broke in. "You've lost me."

Elizabeth sighed. "Why are you two being so difficult? That woman, who just left

this room, was Catherine Powell, Alexander Powell's wife. Who did you think she was?"

"That woman," Jack said, pointing unnecessarily at the door from which Cat had

made her swift exit. "Is Cat Flynn. I know her well, I've known her for ten years! I think I would know if her name was Catherine Powell."

Will was still looking at the doorway. He sounded rather distant when he spoke

again. "That was Catherine Powell, Jack. I remember now, I've seen her in Port Royal before. Not that way, but.."

He faded off, not seeming to know how to finish. Jack looked annoyed, and Elizabeth confused.

"I still don't believe either of you," Jack said stubbornly.

"It's Catherine Powell!" Elizabeth burst out. "Why don't you think so?"

"Because I've known her for ten years!"

"And where has she been all that time?" Elizabeth snapped.

"I-I-don't know where," Jack admitted. "But that girl is a pirate, not a lady."

Jack looked at the door with the other two, and sunk into thought. Maybe it could

have been what they said. He remembered telling her himself that she looked the part of a lady. But, she couldn't have been gone all those years, married to a rich man. That was ludicrous.

"Prove it to me," Jack said finally.

Will looked clueless, and even Elizabeth was temporarily silenced by his question.

But she was more resourceful than her husband, and answered after a moment's thought. She walked toward the door, then turned.

"Follow me," she said. "And I'll show you Catherine Powell."

Elizabeth led the way out the door, and through a maze of streets in Port Royal. They left the neighborhood where Elizabeth and Will lived, passed the harbor and the fort, and finally arrived in an area of prosperous businesses. The streets seemed deserted here, it was a Saturday and hardly any of the offices were open. One of the largest buildings in the area was a tall structure made of new looking brick. A sign above the door identified it as Powell Shipping and Merchants Ltd. None of the windows that overlooked the harbor were open, and Will was surprised to find the door unlocked when he tried to open it.

The three entered a large and empty lobby with a single desk in the corner. The

building was obviously closed for the weekend, and it was slightly unnerving. There was a pervading sense of eerie silence about their footsteps as they ventured across the polished wood floors.

A long hallway branched off from the lobby, and the group walked to the very end. A lone door was to their left, and they turned to face it. There was an uncertain pause, none of them really wanted to open it. Jack finally stepped forward and pulled the door back. He peered into the room, made sure no one was there, and entered. Elizabeth and Will followed.

"This is Alexander Powell's office," Elizabeth explained.

It looked quite normal. There was a highly polished desk made of dark wood, covered with papers in neat stacks. A bookshelf covered one wall, and a little used fireplace dominated the opposite side of the room. When they walked in, Jack and Will had turned so that their backs were to the fireplace, but Elizabeth looked in that direction.

"There's your proof Jack," she said.

Jack turned to her. "What was that?"

"Look at the fireplace," Elizabeth explained, and pointed to the wall just above the mantle.

A large painting of a couple was hanging on the wall. The man was Alexander Powell, looking neat and happy in his tailored clothes. The woman beside him was obviously his wife. She looked several years younger, but seemed more distinguished than Alexander. Her elegantly styled dark hair matched the expensive black silk of her dress. She was half-smiling, but her green eyes looked bored. The calm poise of her posture seemed unnaturally perfect.

It took a moment to sink in, but once it did there was no denying it. The clothes made no difference. There was no doubt about it. Cat Flynn was Catherine Powell.

Jack stepped away from the picture as though it offended him somehow. Will was still looking at the painting, half transfixed. Elizabeth seemed somewhat smug, having proved her point. Turning away from the painting, Jack walked over the office's expensive carpet toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Will said, snapping back to normal.

"I'm going back to the harbor," Jack said, and his voice seemed distracted. "I

need to find out about this."

He left silently, shutting the door behind him. Elizabeth and Will remained a

moment longer in the office, then followed Jack out. They were several feet behind him, and he was walking quickly, but they could still make out what he was saying.

"Bloody hell," he muttered to himself. "It was Cat."

AN: I can't help myself with the cliffhangers. Apologies.