Usual disclaimers... Sob!
Apologies for the delay in updating – real life is a pain in the arse at times and keeps getting in the way of my computer time.. sigh!
Chapter 51 - Interrogation
"Commodore, may I present Mistress Bessie Sparrow!" Robert Gillette smiled triumphantly at Theodore Groves as Bessie was escorted through the door.
Theodore Groves and the Commodore looked at the woman in shock. Her face was tear-stained and dirty, her dress little better, evidence of the time that she had spent in the darkness of the brig. She was clearly heavily pregnant, but what shocked him the most was that she was manacled. The heavy metal was cutting into her wrists and thin streaks of blood trickled to her hands, marking her dress as she held them protectively across her stomach. "Commodore," he gasped in disbelief. "I must protest at the treatment of this woman. Even if she really is Sparrow's wife, she has committed no crime!"
James Norrington studied her, his hands bridged beneath his chin. "Sit," he ordered, indicating a nearby chair, masking his anger at her appearance. Even if she was who Robert Gillette claimed, she did not warrant such treatment. She ignored him, standing shakily defiant in the heat.
"The Commodore said sit!" Robert Gillette grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to sit on the chair.
"Enough!" James Norrington shouted angrily, furious at his man. "Unhand her Captain!"
"Sir," he acknowledged, reluctantly removing his hand. White finger marks adorned her shoulder.
"Miss Smith," he began, breathing deeply to control his anger. "I will address you as that until we are more certain of your proper name..." he smiled, having recognised the ring on her finger as quickly as Robert Gillette had. He also remembered a pale haired woman in the darkness the night he had chased the pirate from Port Royal. Perhaps she was the reason that Jack Sparrow had not been seen at the Turner household those months earlier? "I would ask you a number of questions of which I stress you should consider your answers carefully?"
She glanced across at Robert Gillette, wishing she could wipe the smirk off his face. She knew she did not have the strength to fight much longer, but she was determined that she would not speak before her abductor. "I will say nothing with him here!" she spat defiantly, staring at the Commodore and the other Captain. "Not a word!"
He frowned, realising she was serious. "Would you rather go back to the cells?" She did not answer. The silence dragged. "Very well - Gillette, leave us!"
"Commodore!" Robert Gillette protested.
"I said leave us!" the Commodore shouted.
"Yes Sir." He saluted and left.
"Now, I will have some answers from you." His tone was soft, but the command was clear in his voice.
"May I have these removed?" Bessie held up her hands, chinking the links of the manacles. "I can't exactly run from you, can I?"
James Norrington smiled. "If you give me answers..." he tempted. He would not leave the manacles on her long, but if they encouraged her to answer then a few more minutes would not hurt.
"But you said I was innocent!" Bessie protested, looking to the Captain. "I am not a pirate!"
"You associate with pirates though, don't you?" the Commodore prompted.
"I had little choice in the matter!" she argued.
The Commodore looked at her carefully, puzzled by what she meant. "How do you mean?" he said.
"Because you failed to keep me safe from pirates three times in this town!" Her tearful gaze accused him.
"And how was that?" Theodore Groves asked. "Sorry Sir," he apologised for his interruption, stepping backwards as the Commodore glared at him.
"For failing to stop Jack finding me, then failing to stop Hughes attacking me and then again when he abducted me!" she retorted.
"Hughes was here before?" James Norrington frowned. He had not known this. "Perhaps you had better start at the beginning?"
"Hughes forced his way into my home..." she began.
"No! Before that! I want to know everything that happened since you came to Port Royal, including why you came here in the first place," he ordered.
"I came here to hide," she admitted, an inner voice warning her that now would not be a good time to start lying.
"So your real name is Bessie Masters?" He sighed as she nodded, his assertion when he had spoken with Elizabeth months earlier finally proved correct. "And Horace Masters your father?"
"He was... before you hanged him..." she accused.
He smiled apologetically. "That was a little before my time," he conceded. "So I am to understand that you were hiding from the pirates that were searching for your father's treasure... and Sparrow found you?" Again, only a nod. "You were working for the Governor, were you not? But you were forced to leave... was that child Sparrows?" he prompted.
She looked down at her hands, unable to meet his gaze, rubbing his ring on her finger. "I was carrying twin boys," she whispered, the horror of the assault still with her. "When Hughes attacked I fell... and they died..." She started to cry, her shaking hands hugging her stomach as if to protect the child within.
"Were they Sparrows?" he pressed, aware she had not answered his question. He wished he did not have to ask her these questions for it upset him to see any woman so distressed, but he needed answers. Sniffing she nodded. "And this child?" He was relieved that things were beginning to make more sense to him.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"What happened afterwards?" he frowned. "After they died?"
"Jack came... the Church would not bury them so he took me onboard so that they would have some ceremony..." she admitted.
"On that boat - the blue bandana!" Theodore gasped, realisation dawning as she nodded. "That is why Sparrow was so determined it reach shore!"
"But then Hughes attacked the town," she said softly. "Jack rescued me... and the other women."
"What happened to Hughes?" the Commodore asked, glaring at Theodore again. The last thing he needed was interruptions when she was talking nicely.
"Dead," Bessie replied flatly. "Jack killed him and sent his ship and crew to the bottom of the sea..."
"Why did you not try to leave?" he puzzled.
"Because it is hard to when you are at sea and cannot swim," she retorted. "I was not allowed off the boat for roughly five months... just a while ago."
"And will other pirates still be searching for you?" he asked, wondering if the town was ready for more attacks like that of Hughes.
Bessie shook her head. "No... if you are referring to my father's treasure then it has already been found and divided up amongst the crew of the Black Pearl..."
"And what were you doing at Môle Saint Nicholas?" he prompted.
"Trying to have a normal life," she explained. "Until your lackey abducted me! He's little better than Hughes - at least he didn't pretend to have manners!"
Theodore's lips twitched, but he wisely held his tongue. He felt sorry for the young woman before him, guessing she could be only eighteen or so. She looked tired and frightened, pretty close to breaking all together, but now and again a spark of anger flared.
James Norrington took a deep breath, building to his final and probably most important question - the answer of which would decide her future. "And Jack Sparrow is your husband, is he not?" he asked.
"I don't believe marriage is yet a crime?" she argued.
"So you admit your name is Sparrow?" he pressed.
"So what if I married Jack! He is the only man that has ever been decent to me!" she countered defiantly.
"And should I be decent to you?" James Norrington smiled, considering his decision, relieved to see that she still had some backbone despite all that had happened, unaware his thoughts were mirroring those of Theodore Groves. He wondered if Robert Gillette would show as much backbone when he spoke with him later - he doubted it.
"I have committed no crime," she insisted.
He sighed, cursing Robert Gillette for presenting him with such a dilemma... but the chance to catch Jack Sparrow was too tempting to pass up. "I will release you," he admitted, "but you will not leave Port Royal. I have no doubt that the man you were with is Black Pearl crew - he will stand as surety that you will not try anything stupid. If you flee or try to warn your husband, he will hang."
Bessie gasped. "No!" she protested.
"Only your cooperation will keep him alive," he cautioned.
"And how am I meant to support myself?" Bessie argued. "I have no money and thanks to my little walk through town none will employ me - even more so when the baby is born!"
James Norrington considered her comments. It was true, none would employ her having seen her manacled and being marched to the fort. He looked up sharply as Theodore Groves coughed. "I would be prepared to employ her Sir," he offered. "Annie is getting older and some of the chores are too much for her... a younger maid would be a great help."
"You would have the wife of a pirate as your maid?" the Commodore exclaimed in shock.
Theodore shrugged. "What would you have her do - starve?" He did not add that it would annoy Robert Gillette and he delighted in the thought.
The Commodore nodded, seeing the logic behind the request and the idea of annoying his fellow Captain. James Norrington liked their competition, he felt it made them better Captains, but he hoped it would not come to blows. He realised Bessie would need to be closely watched at all times, especially when not working for he had no doubt that Jack Sparrow would come for her. "Granted," he said. "Release Mistress Sparrow and take her with you... she is not to leave your house without an escort!"
"Thank you Sir," he smiled, undoing Bessie's manacles and leading her from the room. She rubbed her wrists, trying to get some feeling back in them. Robert Gillette looked up in surprise as they passed. "These are yours," Theodore smiled, handing them to him. "And the Commodore has declared Mistress Sparrow innocent - I trust she will not be bothered by you Robert?"
Robert Gillette snarled angrily, turning sharply and storming from the room.
"You don't like him?" Bessie ventured quietly.
"No," Theodore confirmed. "But we had best get you to my home and cleaned up..."
"I have a home here..." She looked at him hopefully.
"I think it best you remain at my home," he sighed. "Robert is not the type of man to let such disappointment stand in his way..."
She nodded quietly at his warning, walking slowly behind him as they left the fort. If she were not allowed out of the house unescorted then how was she to warn Jack?