Chapter XVII
"I was forced to!" Evelyn whimpered, as she stared the Prime Minister in the eyes. "I had no choice, I'm pregnant".
"You joined the German Navy to save your life and your child's? What of the father?" Churchill appeared to be calm, but he was still saddened to see what had become of one of his fine agents.
"They promised he would not be harmed, either". Evelyn hung her head, letting her hands slip from the cool bars of her cell. "I do not know where he is".
"But if he is dead, than you have wasted your life for nothing". Churchill sighed, running a hand across the top of his head in frustration. "I am sorry. You are a citizen of Germany, and by law we are to murder those who are proven loyal to Hitler".
"But I'm not loyal to him! I never was. I never will be. I am loyal to you, I am loyal to the crown, and I am loyal to…"
"Prime Minister!" Came a voice, bellowing so loudly many of those in cells had retreated to the wall to cower.
Evelyn pressed her head against the bars, trying to see who the voice belonged to. The Prime Minister appeared shaken.
"Can I help you?" He asked, turning to face the newcomer. Or newcomers, rather. Two men had entered the prison, one holding a rolled up piece of parchment.
"I would like you to set my wife free". The one holding the parchment ordered.
Evelyn blinked. "Hold on just a minute… who are you to say…" She saw his face. Tears filled her eyes. "James!" She cried. "Oh, James…"
"Your wife?" The Prime Minister repeated, a baffled expression on his face. "And who are you? Who let you in? Do you have any proof?"
"My name is James… Howard… this is my brother – Jack. We were let in as I had displayed this, notifying my wife is a citizen of England and not of Germany". James stepped forward and held out his hand, giving the parchment to the Prime Minister.
Evelyn, whose mouth was slightly open in confusion, remained silent.
The Prime Minister snatched the parchment from James, glanced at him darkly, and unravelled it. "Here on this day, 5th September, 1939, the union of Evelyn Ava Townsend and James William…"
Jack couldn't help but snicker at his brother's middle name. James shot him a dark sneer. Jack shut up.
"…Howard, was witnessed in the presence of…" Churchill glanced down at the marriage celebrant. "…Daniel Thompson".
Evelyn was filled with a love that she never thought possible. Although the certificate was obviously a forgery, she knew that James had gone to a lot of trouble to save her life. She felt her mother would be proud of his actions. But would it work? James only shared her glance briefly out of the corner of his eye.
Churchill checked over the document several times. He glanced from Evelyn to James, completely leaving Jack out of the picture. He shook his head.
"The certificate is four months too late. I'm sorry".
James snapped, throwing open his jacket and drawing his revolver, pointing it directly at the Prime Minister's temple.
"James, don't!" Evelyn protested, clasping her hands on the cool bars once more.
"I have not come this far for you to tell me that my wife and child are to die". He shrugged off Jack's hand sharply. "What would you do if you were in this position, Prime Minister?"
"I have the right to arrest you for drawing a weapon on me, sir". Churchill sneered, but still dared not to move. James cocked the revolver in protest of the Prime Minister's answer. "If Evelyn were to be released, she could never return to our service or seek any grants from the Government". Churchill looked at the woman he had imprisoned. A single tear fell down her cheek.
"Does it look like she is interested to have anything further to do with your Government?" James growled, his hand still poised. He could shoot anytime he wanted, and out of the corner of his eye he noticed Jack had moved his hand to his back – where his own pistol was located.
"However, if she were to leave England…" Churchill suddenly smiled. "…and say, reside in France, our authorities could never find you".
"Are you suggesting I escape, sir?" Evelyn asked. James appeared a little more relaxed, even Jack moved his hand back to his front.
"Yes. Right now. You will have a few hours to leave for Paris, our authorities will have nothing to do with them". Churchill stepped forward to the cell, James followed.
"James, please. Go with it". Evelyn pleaded.
Jack whispered something intelligible to James. James lowered his hand, and re holstered his pistol as Churchill unlocked the cell. Evelyn dove forward to embrace James firmly.
"Go. No one will check up until eight".
"Thank you". Evelyn smiled. "Thank you very much".
"Let's go". James took another pistol from his jacket and handed it to Evelyn. She loaded it and saluted the Prime Minister.
"Sorry we have to do this…" Jack stepped behind Churchill and thwacked his revolver across the man's head. He fell into a heap on the floor.
The three had vanished before either could see the Prime Minister collapsing.
Evelyn smashed open the window of a nearby car, unlocked it and all three clambered inside. She managed to hotwire it, and soon the engine roared to life. They sped down the main drag, to get to the Black Pearl before Evelyn's 'escape' would be known. The harbour was ten minutes away.
"Can't this thing go any faster?" Complained Jack from the back.
James shot him a look that suggested he remained silent.
"I don't know, only one way to find out…" Evelyn planted her foot down hard on the accelerator as the car sped twice as fast. Something exploded, Evelyn steering to pull the car over to the side of the road. The harbour was a five minute walk, two minute drive.
"What was that?" James asked, concerned.
"A tyre… damn". Evelyn slammed her hand on the steering wheel. "We'll have to run".
All three climbed out and took off as fast as they could. Five minutes past, and Jack let out a pleased sigh at seeing his beloved ship.
James held out his arm. Something felt odd. He drew his pistol, gesturing for the others to do so. Evelyn hung back from the pair. The early morning air was a mixture of dust and dew. Many of the stars seemed to fade as the sun started to rise. Evelyn felt anxious, her child did as well. She gasped as a hand clasped around her mouth and pulled her from Jack and James. A knife was drawn to her throat. Her pistol clattered to the floor, James spinning at the movement.
Claudia held Evelyn tightly, Evelyn's eyes wide open with terror. Her movements were restricted now she was pregnant, so she dared not to do anything rash.
"Well, well, look who we have here". Claudia smiled sardonically as James approached the pair. "One more move and I'll slit her throat". James halted. Jack was no where to be seen.
"Who are you?" James growled. This night was just getting worse.
Claudia smirked darkly as she gripped roughly onto Evelyn's hair, pulling her neck back so she could look closer at her face. "Almost an exact replica of Athena herself…" She thrust Evelyn's head forward as if she were a rag doll. "Take a good look, James Hook. Or should I say…" Claudia snickered. "Howard?"
Evelyn still did not move a muscle. James slowly raised his head to look at the woman that appeared to be around his own age – whatever his age was. But there was something familiar about her. She had Athena's eyes.
"I killed you". James said slowly.
"You killed my sister". Claudia spat, keeping a firm hold on Evelyn. "And in repayment, I will spill the blood of both this little whore and your child".
Evelyn risked a move. She kept calm, and snaked her right arm up powerfully to move Claudia's hand away which held the knife. A movement causing her fist to make contact with Claudia's chin, the woman howling in pain and Evelyn ducking from another attempted grab. Jack was behind Claudia now, his sword drawn and pointed directly at her back.
"Don't try anything funny, savvy. You're surrounded". Jack smirked as the entire crew moved to form a circle around Claudia. Evelyn retreated to James's side.
Claudia rubbed her jaw with an ending scowl. "I'll kill you yet, James Hook". She walked peacefully away from the crowd, blending into the shadows from the remaining darkness of night.
When Claudia was out of sight, James looked down at Evelyn. She was trembling. "Are all your family that insane?" He asked her.
"I never knew she existed". Evelyn replied, and yawned. "I think we should go back to Neverland. We'll be safe there".
The crew of the Black Pearl returned to ready the ship to departure at Jack's flick of his hand.
Evelyn embraced James, Jack making a noise that resembled something like 'ergh'. "We should leave now". Jack interrupted. "Before we have the Royal Navy on our behind again".
The pair before him shared a starry-eyed look, showing tiredness and admiration. All three went on board the Black Pearl.
"What was it like, being on the Bismarck?" James asked Evelyn once the pair had retired for the day. But all he could hear was a gentle breathing, symbolising Evelyn had fallen asleep beside him.