Another chapter for you wonderful reviewers. Oh, and Dortha, thanks for catching my mistake in Chapter 21- I have it corrected now! Enjoy all! Oh, PS- fair warning, Sunni utters the F word, so i apologize to anyone who may be offended- but what can I say? She's a pirate!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS
Elizabeth and Will returned the next day and they began loading up the ship. The crew started filing in, one by one, day by day. Everyone knew what needed to be done, and everyone was also eager to get back on the sea.
"Are ye ready fer this, luv?" Jack asked as they pulled things into their lavish cabin on the Pearl.
"Jack, I am so sick of land, ye wouldn't even believe it. To be in this cabin makes it easier ta breathe. I can't wait ta get back on th' sea."
"That's music ta me ears, luv."
"I've come ta luv th' ocean."
Jack smiled. "Are you an' Liz still plannin' one last shoppin' trip today?"
Sunni nodded. "I think she's ready to leave."
"My feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my back hurts," Sunni moaned, hours later, as she and Elizabeth plopped down on a bench on the streets of Liverpool. They were making their way back to the Pearl after shopping all day long.
"We're just about there," Liz said, hoisting another shopping back up. "I can't believe we've boughten all of this."
"Well, we couldn't have very well nicked it. Whales can't run very fast," Sunni commented.
The two women laughed, but fell silent upon seeing another woman approaching them. She looked quite upset.
"Ye all right, lass?" Sunni asked.
"I have just come from the docks," she humphed.
Liz and Sunni each raised an eyebrow. "And?" Sunni prompted, knowing that it had to have something to do with Jack.
"Jack Sparrow is the most intolerable jerk," she cried, dramatically falling down on the bench next to the women.
Sunni smirked. "Cap'n Jack Sparrow?"
"Yes, he is the one. I met him years ago, on his last voyage to my country. But now, he would not even respond to my advances. I've never been so insulted. He just ignored me like-like a bug!" she cried. "Tis such a pity, too. I've heard he is the most excellent lover."
"Yes, I've heard that, too," Liz cast a knowing look toward Sunni. "But haven't you heard? He's married, now. They are expecting their first child."
"What does that matter?" the English maiden waved her hand and shrugged.
Sunni laughed. "Well, doll, it matters because you're talkin' ta his pregnant wife."
The woman jumped up and shouted. "It's her! It's her! This is Jack Sparrow's wife!" she called out. Immediately, three or four uniformed men attacked them from no where.
"We were set up," Sunni hissed as the men seized her. "Liz, get Jack!" she cried out as she was dragged away.
Elizabeth took off for the coast. None of the police followed her, it was Sunni they were after.
"Jack!"Elizabeth gasped, as she ran up the gangplank and stopped before him. Will was next to him and they seemed to be discussing something.
"I thought ye were shopping with Sunni," Jack said, handing Will his map.
"The English police took her!"
Gibbs appeared at the Captain's side. "I thought you didn't have enemies in England?"
"Authorities are always enemies, mate," Jack said over his shoulder as he followed Liz off the ship. "Now what do you mean, 'they took her'?"
"A woman appeared," Liz gasped, "and said she knew you, and then," she gasped again, "she jumped up and the police came and got her."
Jack and Elizabeth took off for town. Will showed up at their side as they ran toward town. "Why would they take Sunni?"
"Ta get ta me, off course," Jack muttered.
"Well, they're going to put your wife in the big house just to get to you," Will pointed to the town jail where Sunni was being led.
The three stopped short to avoid being seen. The ducked behind a bookstore and peaked out. They studied the scene, each trying to formulate a plan of attack.
"What are we going to do?" Liz whispered.
Jack was distractedly watching them handle his wife, filling with rage. He started towards them, but Will grabbed his arm. "No, Jack, that's what they want! You said it, they're using her to get to you. If you get caught, where's Sunni going to be?"
Jack clenched his jaw, knowing Will was right, but not wanting to let Sunni go. Soon, she was inside, and the steel door was slammed shut.
"Okay, think," Jack was muttering to himself. "Why would they want ta get ta me? What do they know? What did I do? How do I get her out?"
"Jack, I think you need to go back to the Pearl and let Gibbs and I handle this," Will said.
"What?" Jack exclaimed. "No way, I'm gettin' my wife out-"
"Jack, they want YOU," Liz pointed out. "You are not going to help her by getting involved. Now listen, I have a plan. Jack, you need to go to the Pearl and move it before the authorities find it. I will go inside and talk to whomever is in charge. While I do that, Will can sneak inside and find Sunni. He can check out her cell and see if he can bust her out, like he did you."
"An' if he can't?" Jack demanded.
"Then we'll get another plan," she hissed. "Now go!"
Jack tried to object, but finally turned and stomped away.
Inside the jail, Elizabeth stopped at the front desk. "Sir," she said in a tone that typically scared young children. "I need to discuss with you the reasons of my sister's arrest."
The young man gulped and turned to get a superior. Will raced by, into the holding cells to find Sunni. He disappeared just as a superior officer appeared.
"Hello, ma'am-"
"I am here to discuss my sister. You arrested her, I want to know why, and how I can get her out," she said in a clipped voice.
"And your sister is?"
"Caitlyn Swann."
The man laughed. "That's impossible, darling. That would make you Governor Swann's daughter. The only woman we arrested was a wife of a pirate."
"That's my sister you're speaking of!" Liz pretended to be offended.
"I'm sorry, lady, you're out of your element-"
Liz slammed her fist down on the desk. "I'm not leaving here without my sister!" she thundered.
While this was taking place, Will snuck around the dingy cells, looking for his sister-in-law. He could not find her in any of the cells. Finally, he heard shouting. It was a woman's voice and she was using words that would make a sailor blush. It had to be Sunni.
He stealthily moved down the hall until he reached a steel door with a tiny window at the top. He stood on his tiptoes to see a dark room with only one lamp lit. Sunni was sitting at a desk with two men hovering around the room, asking her questions.
"Where is your husband?" one man asked, probably for the fifth time.
"He's back at Port Royal, his name is James Norrington. Arrest him."
"Stop lying!" one barked.
"Fuck you," she replied.
He raised an arm to backhand her, but she help up a finger. "It's illegal to strike a pregnant woman," she reminded him.
He held his hand in a fist before lowering it. "Listen," he said in a low, controlled tone, "we know you are Jack Sparrow's wife. The deal is, you tell us where he is, with his ship, and we will release you and free you from all charges."
"Now, see, that would be impossible, because I don't even know who Jack Sparrow is!" Sunni exclaimed with a shrug.
Will sighed. There was no way he could get her out, now, nor any way to find out where she would be held for the night. No doubt, questioning would go on for hours. Sunni was the most stubborn woman he had ever met.
Will and Liz met Jack back on the deck of the Pearl, where he was pacing. "Well?" he demanded upon seeing them.
"She's being held for marrying a pirate, which then makes her guilty of all sins of a pirate," Elizabeth explained.
"And she was being questioned when I found her, so there was no way to get her out," Will supplied.
"How did she look? Was she okay?"
"She told a royal official, and I quote, 'Fuck you'," Will told him.
"William!" Elizabeth exclaimed, giving him an eye.
Will shrugged. "Your sister said it."
Jack's mouth held the gleam of a proud smile. "Well, she's still in high spirits. What I want to know is, who was that blasted woman who set you two up, and how did they find out about us bein' here in the first place?"
Elizabeth looked from Will to Jack until finally voicing her opinion. "If I were you, I would speak with Walt, first."
A gleam of rage lit Jack's eye and he immediately knew Liz was right. He started for the plank.
"Jack, Jack," Will grabbed his arm. "If Walter did this, he will be expecting you. He'll have back up. We need to go into this with a plan. Wait for the opportune moment."
Jack sighed and knew the whelp was right. "What are ye suggesting?"
Will glanced at the sky. "The sun will set in about two hours. I say, about two hours after that, we pay old Walt a call."
Jack and Will advanced toward Walt's cabin by the docks in the dead of night. Already, the crew of the Pearl was skulking around, taking out look-out by look-out. Walter was not home quite yet, it was poker night at the lodge, so the duo helped themselves in.
They didn't have to wait long for the large man to return. He staggered through the door not more than fifteen minutes after Will and Jack.
As soon as Walt struck a match to light a lantern, Jack spoke. "Walter, Walter, Walter," he drawled. "I'm disappointed. You lied to me."
Walter dropped his match upon hearing the menacing voice. Luckily, it went out.
"Aw, that's too bad, mate," Jack said, upon seeing the match. "Now ye can't see my face, an' th' rage etched in me eyes."
"I never lied to ye, Cap'n Sparrow," Walted stuttered. "Not once. I don't know what you're talkin' about."
"Oh, I think ye do," Jack said.
"Is this about your wife? I heard she was arrested today."
"Ooh," Will's voice cut in, "Bad mistake. Ye didn't want to bring that subject up, it makes Jack a little touchy."
"I'm talkin' about ye tellin' me that business was good- no, wonderful, I believe ye said," Jack continued. "Now, tell me somethin'. If business was WONDERFUL, why would ye sell out information on my whereabouts?"
"I didn't sell nothin' ta nobody!"
"Now, Walter, you must know. Even though you thought I would die a bachelor, I'm still extremely protective of my wife, savvy? I will do just about anythin' ta find th' answers I want. Catch my drift?"
"You can't lay a hand on me, Sparrow," the man yelped. "I got guards all around these parts!"
"Oh, ye mean th' men I just ordered mine ta take care of?"
Walter's adam's apple moved up and down as he gulped. "Now, listen, Sparrow. I gotta keep British authorities off my arse, too, ye know? Housin' criminals such as yourself. I was being pressed for a little information from a guy I know. I had no choice, I had ta tell him-"
Jack's blade was pressed to his throat, "What did ye tell 'im, mate?"
"Just that," he swallowed. "Just that an old friend from th' Caribbean had paid me a visit. That's all, Jack, I swears it."
"An' who was this bloke?"
"His name's Officer Blake Shiretown. He's hopin' fer a promotion soon ta move up in th' ranks."
"Ye told Blake Shiretown I was here?" Jack roared. "Are ye insane or stupid, mate, cause really, either way, I'd have no problems puttin' ye outta yer misery."
"No, wait, Jack, I can tell ye other things, too. They're expectin' her ta tell where yer ship is. Ye need ta move it from wherever it is now, 'cause they'll find it. They also think she'll give away your location as well. Ye need ta keep a low profile-"
Jack's blade pressing harder against Walt's throat stopped the man. "Obviously, you know nothing about my wife. She's th' most stubborn wench ye'll ever meet; she ain't givin' away nothin'."
"Ye can't try an' bust her out, neither," Walt continued. "They're expectin' that and plan ta nab ye when ye try."
"So what do ye propose we do, then?" Jack asked, slowing moving the blade over the skin of the man's throat.
This time, Walt didn't even swallow, he knew that if he moved an inch, the blade would pierce flesh. "All right, listen. They can't hold yer wife in the town jail for more'n a week without a trial an' right now, they got no evidence fer a trial. They don't want her in a courtroom, anyway. They just want a deal ta get you. So, if she don't crack in a week, they'll have ta change venues, savvy? They'll need ta transport her. That's when they'll be the weakest and ye can go in and rescue her."
"A week? You expect me to wait a week?" Jack pulled his sword back, but punched the guy square in the jaw. "I will wait a week, but if anythin' happens ta my wife or my child," he said as he came menacingly close to Walt's face as he lie on the ground, "I will come back for yer blood. Savvy?"
Again, he gulped, but nodded.
"All right, Mrs. Sparrow. Mrs. Sparrow? Mrs. Sparrow! MRS. SPARROW!"
Sunni suddenly snapped her attention to the man before her. "Oh, are ye talkin' ta me? I'm not Mrs. Sparrow," she informed him sweetly.
"Oh, so you're saying you're not married to Jack Sparrow?" the new interrogator asked.
"That would be impossible. I'm married to God."
This one threw the man for a loop. "Excuse me."
"I'm married to God."
"Are you saying you're a nun?"
"Ah, sister, actually. Nuns do not leave the compound, sisters work in the community," Sunni replied.
"And then how do explain your condition?"
"I don't have asthma."
Again, the interrogator paused. "Asthma?"
"I assume that's the condition you are speaking of?"
"No, I meant you being pregnant! A woman of God cannot be pregnant! How do you explain that one!"
"Immaculate conception."
Another day, another interrogator, Sunni thought to herself as she watched another man enter. She had already made it through four days and four interrogators. Apparently, they found her. . . frustrating? Maybe exasperating, or maddening? Who knew which it was.
"I understand you have a personality dysfunction," he began. "It seems you cannot stop lying."
"You're absolutely right," she said. "Everything I say is a lie."
The man frowned.
"Oh, I see what you mean," she said, "you're wondering if what I just said was a lie, because then that would make what I said obsolete and your theory could be wrong, but again, I lied in the first place. Very confusing, mate."
"Okay," he sighed. "I'm going to ask you a direct question. Where is Jack Sparrow?"
Sunni leaned forward and looked the man straight in the eyes. "Katmandu."
The interrogator froze, stunned. "Katmandu? Are you serious?"
Sunni shrugged. "Depends on if you think I'm lying or not."
Another day, another interrogator. This would make day six, if she wasn't mistaken. Sunni looked this man up and down, seizing him up. He seemed a little different from the others. She might have to look out for this one.
"Mrs. Sparrow," he began. "I understand that you pointed out to an officer earlier that it is illegal to strike a pregnant woman. Well, I want to start things off on the right foot, to make sure we understand each other." He raised a hand and smacked her across the face. "I'm above the law," he growled.
'Oh yeah, this one was different,' Sunni thought, rubbing her jaw.
"Nothing to say?" he growled. "I will make a deal with you. You tell me where your husband is, and I won't kill you, how about that, then?"
"I don't know who you are talking about."
The man nodded. "Fine, then. You will be coming with me to the St. George prison. We will continue methods I have already shown you until you tell me exactly what I want."
"You mean the physical abusive methods?"
"Those would be the ones."
"Oh."
Sunni refused to say a word while they loaded her up in a secure carriage to transport her. She looked around when she was finally outside for the first time in a week. There was no one around. She almost expected Jack to be waiting around somewhere, but she shook her head. He couldn't be here, they would nab him. Plus, if he were here, he would be hiding, and there would be no way she could see him. But he was coming for her. She knew it.
