Chapter Thirty-Two: Secret Packages

Jack was in the study for quite a few hours after Jill had left, going over the papers that were strewn all over Will's desk. Alaina had gone up to her room, leaving him still sitting in the chair with her diary.

Finally deciding that all the numbers and letters were another language and junk, Jack went over to the large shelves on both sides of the fireplace. Every shelf was filled with books and objects of some sort.

"Very interesting," he said to himself out loud, seeing a few books about the pirate code.

"I was wondering when you'd show up," Alaina said, leaning on the doorframe.

Jack quickly shoved her book into his pocket to read later and turned to her.

"Were you?" he asked with a frown. He hoped he wasn't becoming predictable.

"Oh, please, Captain Sparrow," Alaina said with a shake of her head. "I knew you couldn't resist coming here now that we're stuck and Norrington is officially done with you."

Jack shrugged and walked toward her. "That's good to know."

"So how are you?" she asked, giving him a small hug.

Jack was a little taken aback by her actions, but returned the bit of affection.

"Doing all right. How about yourself now that Carrick has moved in?"

Alaina pulled back and detected a bit of a glint in his eye. "You haven't been reading my journal, now have you?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"No," Jack lied. "I saw him run out after your crazy brothers." It was always best to mix a little truth in with a lie.

Alaina snorted. "You're one to call someone crazy."

"It takes an insane one to know one, love," he told her with a grin.

"Really now?" she asked, looking behind him to see the desk's papers all disordered. "And you're going through personal family business," she told him, going over to the desk and trying to straighten it out.

"Hey, I couldn't read any of that," he defended. "And I might as well be considered family. Sure as hell have saved all your arses more than enough times."

Alaina looked at him amused.

"If I remember the story right, we're equal now," she corrected, turning to him and leaning slightly on the desk.

"Yes, well, the story's wrong. It's all wrong! You thought I'd look like a wild-eyed madman!"

"You did read it!" she cried, her face getting a little red. "Give it," she said, extending her hand.

"I didn't read much," Jack assured, wanting to know what else she had in there.

"Give it back!" she demanded, standing to her full height, which was almost as tall as his.

"I don't remember where I put it," he lied, waving his arms around the room.

Alaina stood there giving him a look.

"I don't!"

"You're hopeless," she muttered, shaking her head.

"I'm what now?" he wanted to know.

"Nothing," Alaina sighed, shaking her head. "But if I find out you do have it, there'll be hell to pay."

Jack almost laughed, but managed to keep a semi-straight face. "If I see it, I'll let you know," he told her with a grin.

Alaina was about to say something when the front door opened and she heard voices.

"Is she upstairs?" she heard her brother James ask. He stared up the stairs, straining to see if her bedroom door was closed or not.

"She's probably still out with Jill," Carrick told them, motioning for them to hurry to the parlor.

"Can you take this?" James asked Carrick as the box almost slid out of his small hands. Carrick complied with his request and they quickly walked down the hall.

"Well, I wonder what that was," Alaina thought aloud, looking curiously at the box Carrick was carrying.

"No time to figure out like the present," Jack told her, starting to go after them.

Alaina stopped him. "We won't find out anything until they want us to."

***