Broken Faith

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone except the roadblock in the relationship of Jack and Elizabeth (aka Henri d'Alphonse, odious villain)
OC/E, J/E, W/E, N/E

A/N: Sorry about the length (or lack thereof) of the chapter. Originally, 8 and 9 were going to be the same chapter, but after I got to this point, I decided to make the chapter break. 9 will be longer, I promise. I'll probably get that up tomorrow.

Chapter 8: Inquiries

Theodore Groves sat at his desk and sighed. Four years he had been captain and essentially James Norrington's successor, and he had yet to get used to the paperwork that the position entailed. For a job that seemed to be all about the sea and ships, he had seen little of the sea and more of the sea of paperwork. Groves went through his daily ritual, separating letters from official documents and logs from inventory lists. About half way through the pile, he found an envelope addressed to him in a curious, slopping hand. Pushing the remainder of the pile aside, he opened the letter.

Captain Groves,

I cannot divulge my identity at the moment. I'm afraid you would have a compulsion to come and arrest me, something that would do me no good. As such, I shall have you deliver your reply to this letter to the Lady Fair. She stands in the harbor and is set to sail in two days time.

I write you regarding the death of Norrington. I know that he was killed near four years ago, but I find that the facts surrounding his death are troublesomely hazy. Perhaps you can enlighten me? In particular, I wish to know who it was who killed him. If you have no name, a description will do just as well.

Remember, deliver your reply to the Lady Fair. Do not bother sending troops to capture me. I will not be there. Deliver the letter yourself. It will find it's way to me.

Groves stared at the letter. He did not recognize the handwriting, nor the tone. It struck him as odd that someone would be contacting him, anonymously no less, about a case that had been considered closed for near four years. His first thought was that of shock, his second of anger. It seemed to him that this probing was done by someone with only themselves in mind. Still, they might be able to discover James's killer, and Groves would be more then happy to see the bastard swing from the gallows. James had always told him that revenge helped no one, but Groves found that this was one time where he disagreed. Picking up a clean piece of paper, Groves dipped his quill and began to form his response.

Sir,

I find this inquiry slightly shocking. Commodore Norrington's death has been considered a closed case for nearly four years. However, I shall share with you the few details that I remember.

We were attacked by a frigate, the Boston. She appeared to be undermanned, so we thought a small boarding party more then capable of taking her. We were, however, mistaken. Most of the men in the party were killed. Among them was William Turner, the leader of the party. He engaged the captain of the ship in a duel. When he was killed, the Commodore jumped into the fray. He was mortally wounded by the captain, who then jumped overboard. We were eventually able to get away and lick our wounds, but by this time it was too late to save the Commodore.


As to who this man was who captained the Boston, I do not know a name. I do know that he was a Frenchman, shorter then the Commodore by several inches. He was a sort of wirey man, and he wore no wig. His hair was tied back at his neck, not unlike the style that is favored by merchants in Port Royal. He was an extremely good swordsman, or he would not have been able to best both Turner and the Commodore. He had an air about him that reminded me of another French privateer, whose name escapes me at this time. It could not have been him though: he had had his letter of marque revoked by the king of France a few months earlier.

That is all that I recall at this time, sir. It was a rather trying time, you understand, and though my memory is sharp with certain recollections, I am sure that they are of no use in your inquiry.

Sincerely,

Captain Theodore Groves