Chapter 8 – The Noose

Sparrow was still sleeping when I slipped out of the smithy, wearing my borrowed dress. No matter how ticked off he'd been, he still had the decency to fill up a wash-basin for me and bring a hair brush. For a pirate, Sparrow was a pretty decent guy. As I closed the door, quietly, a finger tapping my shoulder nearly made me scream. I spun around.

Elizabeth Turner smiled at me. "I'm pleased to see the dress fits you."

We both looked down at the light blue flowered cotton dress. The fabric was thinner than the one I'd been wearing the day before, which meant I wouldn't be sweating as much. I had no idea how women managed before shorts and Spandex.

"Not as pleased as I am," I told her. "I was afraid it wouldn't and I was going to have to walk around in what was left of the one I was wearing yesterday."

She looked over her shoulder and then back at me. "I thought perhaps we could do some more surveillance today."

"Your husband –"

"Won't know about it, as long as we're careful."

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"I brought you the leftover chocolate cake," she countered, holding up a napkin-wrapped parcel. "We can eat it on the way."

It was the best bribe I'd had in a long time. "I really shouldn't..."

"Townsfolk are more likely to answer the governor's daughter than a complete stranger," Elizabeth said, pressing the leftover cake into my hands. "We really should get going before Jack wakes or Will arrives. The urgent errand I distracted him with will only delay him so much."

"If anything happens –"

"It won't."

"It'll be my neck in the noose," I warned her. We started walking down the street. "Is it true they call him 'Hang 'em High Norrington'?"

Elizabeth's lips twitched and her eyes sparkled. "I've not heard James called that before, though I have heard him called Commodore Noose-ington."

I gulped. "You're kidding, right?"

"On the contrary, it is one of the few nicknames that I am most proud of," came Norrington's voice in my ear.

"James," Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Noose," I squeaked.

Norrington smiled down at both of us. "Ladies. A lovely morning for a stroll, isn't it?"

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Busted. Elizabeth and I exchanged looks as Norrington came closer. Despite the fact that the sun wasn't even completely up yet, he looked well- rested and his uniform was crisp, despite the hot, sticky morning. Not a hair of his wig was out of place. His eyes swept over me, paused at the napkin-wrapped cake in my hands and then lingered on Elizabeth.

"For two ladies who hadn't met before last evening, you appear to have developed a close friendship," he commented. He fixed me with a piercing stare. "Or perhaps I misunderstood your explanation, Miss Plum?"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, James," Elizabeth scolded, diverting his attention. "Captain Sparrow sent her to see me when she arrived in Port Royal. She was protecting him."

It would have been a great explanation, if I hadn't told Norrington that little fib about Sparrow wanting me gone.

Norrington's eyebrow rose in inquiry as he turned to me again. "It seems I misunderstood a great deal during our previous conversations."

I thought fast. "Well, you did have that strange...episode...during our initial meeting. Are you sure you're remembering everything correctly?"

Norrington went pale for a second and then his composure came back. "Perhaps, Miss Plum, we should speak again."

"Good idea. How about lunch," I suggested.

He grabbed my arm. "Now."

I surprised myself by pulling out of his grasp. "Later. I have work to do."

A small gasp reminded us that Elizabeth was still there.

Norrington seized my arm again. "Go home, Mrs. Turner. You do not want to be involved in this."

"He's right," I agreed, remembering Sparrow's comment about her husband wanting to thrash me.

"Very well," she sighed. "Do treat my friend well, James. I expect to see her at my table this evening for supper."

"Indeed I shall, Mrs. Turner. Indeed I shall."

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We walked back to his office in silence and I thanked my lucky stars that most of Port Royal was still asleep. Norrington pushed me through the door and then turned to bolt it closed. On his desk lay the remains of the digital timer and a few bits of red wire.

"One of my men found that amid the rubble," Norrington commented, slipping past me and seating himself behind his desk. "I was quite certain that you would have an explanation."

"Me?"

"Ka-blooey," he reminded me, folding his hands and resting them on top of the desk. "Given your previous colorful explanations, I find myself quite looking forward to hearing this one."

Once again, I had to think fast. "What makes you think I know anything about it?"

Norrington flashed me a faint smile that made my blood run cold. "One, you claim to be hunting this Ring person. Two, you were there. Three, call it a...gut feeling."

Oh boy. Maybe honesty would help. "What if I can't tell you?"

"Interesting choice of words. You cannot tell me. Why can you not?"

Somehow, I didn't think Diesel's smirking explanation of 'it's classified' would work. "I can't tell you that, either."

"Indeed?" The eyebrow climbed again. "What can you tell me, then?"

I looked down at the charred bits of plastic and wire on his desk. "Those are parts of a very sophisticated explosive device. And before you ask, no, I don't know how to make one."

Norrington smiled again and this time, there was a hint of warmth in it. When he wasn't scaring the crap out me, I realized that Norrington was actually kind of hot. "What else can you tell me?"

"Just that Ring is very, very dangerous."

He picked up the remains of the timer. "I would tend to believe you, if this is an example of his work. I have a proposal, Miss Plum, and I recommend that you listen very carefully."

"Okay."

Norrington leaned forward. "I am going to assist you in capturing this Ring person. In exchange, I want your full cooperation. Do we have an accord, Miss Plum?"

"There might be some things I can't tell you."

"Can't," he repeated, his gaze going hard again. "That would not be full cooperation, would it?"

"I guess not," I agreed. "It's nothing personal. It's just...."

"Just what?"

"You know what they say about a little knowledge being dangerous?"

He nodded.

"It's like that."

"Is it Sparrow," he asked, his eyes not leaving mine. Could it be that underneath all that prim and proper military bluster, he was actually concerned about me?

I shook my head. "Look, I wish I could tell you, but I can't. Am I under arrest? Are you going to hang me now?"

Norrington smiled as he reached across the desk and patted my hand. "Worse. Despite my reservations, I am going to help you. You may find yourself longing for the noose before we are done."

I didn't think he was kidding.