When at last the Black Pearl reached Tortuga, the crew had rushed towards the pubs and lady houses. But Jack, having at the moment no need for either of those places, remained in his cabin on board until the sun rose.

Anna Maria caught him as he was trying to sneak off the ship, but said nothing. She was shocked that he had not stayed out all night, getting drunk and finding some pleasant company. She shrugged. It wasn't her place to criticize what Jack did on his own time.

Unaware he was caught, Jack stumbled through the streets. He passed several of his shipmates, but pretended to be so drunk that he wouldn't notice. It wasn't by chance that he chose the tavern farthest from the docks. Or that he sobered up when he was sure he wasn't being watched. The portside Tortuga was pleasant for a pirate like him, but the back-alleys were not quite as friendly.

This particular tavern was dark, despite the fact it was almost noon. Jack surveyed the tables but found he couldn't recognize any faces, so he headed to the bar.

"Rum," he told the tender. "Caribbean rum." He rose a finger. "Pint…" but remembering the curse he lowered his hand. "Maybe just a brew." When the tender stalked off, Jack sighed. "Don't much like this curse no more," he said under his breath.

He watched the door, hoping and yet dreading that one particular person would walk in. He didn't have to wait long. The slim figure was far from meek, only the Royal Navy would dare oppose her.

He caught her eye instantaneously, but as was her nature, she acted as though she didn't recognize him, though Jack thought he saw a catch in her step. She strode over to one of the smaller tables and sat down.

When the bar tender returned with his drink, Jack stole the glass from the counter and turned. Slowly and as casually as he could, he sat down at the woman's table.

"Shilo…"

Before he could say another word she smacked him with a fist across the cheek. He was thrown sideways so hard, he almost dropped the glass. Gasping more from shock than pain, he set it down on the table. "Now, I know that…" The second hit was harder this time, sending Jack sprawling on the floor.

Without waiting for him to get up, Shilo rose from her seat, grabbed Jack by the collar with one hand and threateningly sent the other back.

"Wait, Wait, Wait, Wait!" Jack pleaded, waving his hands. The rest of the bar silenced. "Now, I know you have every right to smack me around…" Jack cringed as she tightened her grip on him. "but I would wish that you would hear me out. I have a proposition for you…one that you would profit from."

She narrowed her eyes, thinking, but it took a few moments for her to loosen her grip. Swinging her head to push the few strands of brown hair that escaped her braid away from her face, she sat back down. Relaxing only slightly, Jack also regained his seat.

"Now, I know you don't have the highest opinion of me, but I need a favor."

"I don't do favors Sparrow," she said, scowling at him. "The last time you hired me to find Cortez's gold, I was seeing the hot end of a branding iron and a firing squad."

He tried to smile. "How did that go?"

Running her tongue along the front side of her teeth, she rested her right elbow on the table top and rolled down her sleeve. Sure enough, there was a brand, but instead of "P" for pirate, there was an "H." She let her arm fall when she was sure Jack had gotten a good look at it. "This better be a real sweet deal Sparrow, or you'll be face down in the gutter outside."

He nodded enthusiastically. "It is…" Jack looked at his drink and sighed. Shilo rolled her eyes. "I need help, finding a few…shady individuals…pirates… or red coats…dead ones."

Not at all intrigued, Shilo shook her head. "Just give me a name Sparrow, and if they be on this island, they could be gone tonight, but I'm waiting for something that will convince me not to kill you and take you up on your offer."

"No…" he said tracing the rim of the brew glass casually. "I don't want you to kill anyone, just find them…They're alive…well not exactly…"

"Are you going somewhere with this or is this just part of your run about stories?" Her anger was beginning to shine through her voice, and her eyes were turning icy cold. Jack was getting very nervous.

"They're cursed!" He blurted out a bit louder than he really should have. "The gold was cursed and now I have to find out who took it."

She smiled, but the unpleasantness in her smirk had Jack pushing back in his seat.

"Cursed gold, eh?" She said, chuckling. Her cheery nature was short lived. With a quickness too fast for Jack to see, she reached across the table and grabbed his arm, her smile gone. Hoisting him up and over the table, she dragged him outside. She threw him out the door and up against the tavern outside wall. There was no one else in the alley. Just the fuming temper of a powerful woman. "Listen Jack, I know about the whole deal with Barbosa and your ship, and even though its been eleven years since you left me with the Indian Trading Division and I would want nothing more than to murder you right here and now, I'm giving you one final chance to make it up."

He struggled for her to release him, but gave up soon after trying. "Alright…yes," he stuttered, slowly realizing that no matter what happened, she couldn't really kill him. The thought was comforting. "I am willing to pay a great deal for this…and…I promise you, you can have whatever you want, eh? "

She stared at him harshly. "And if I do take this job…" she started, "you are going to have to tell me everything you know." She stopped him from speaking. "No exceptions. I've played your little games before, but this time it's my rules we're going to follow." She leaned in close, close enough that even Jack wanted to scoot away. "Savvey?" She released her grip on him and stepped back.

Jack smiled, triumphant. "Savvey," he echoed.