Part 2 of 4
Richard Poole sits stiffly at his desk, fingers tapping a rapid tattoo to match the drumming of a brogue heel beneath his chair. The station had been deserted when he arrived; he'd made a calming mug of tea then pulled the book out and started over at page 1.
As he read, his frown deepened. Humph, your run-of-the-mill pot-boiler. A gallant and brave young man, sole support to a blind ailing mother, an ailing widowed sister, and a young nephew who will go blind very soon if Captain Snow cannot find the means to pay for an operation, which is why he'd accepted the dangerous commission to patrol the Southern Seas to rout out evil-doers. He'd gone to sea with a rough-neck crew and done his duty to the best of his ability. He was due home for a family visit and, hopefully, to catch a glimpse of the young woman he intended to marry (if he could get up the nerve to ask her and if he could also get up the nerve to actually meet her) when disaster struck and he was taken by pirates.
The tea has gone cold. Richard doesn't notice. He quickly flips the page and is back at #11, the fateful meeting of Snow and Fairechild. He already had his suspicions but the pirate queen did indeed sport an untamed riot of dark curls as well as flashing midnight eyes. AND she's French. Richard snorts. Of course she's French! All the bad ones are! Snow is just beginning to faint from lack of oxygen when Richard hears the sound of a footstep (not booted) and the book is flipped expertly into a drawer.
Dwayne saunters in, "I've got that report you wanted, Chief."
Richard nods curtly, "Splendid, give it here." Dwayne drops the papers onto the desktop then heads for his own desk. Richard chutters suddenly, "Say, don't you need to interview that shop keeper about those petty thefts?"
Dwayne looks up, "Well, yeah, but that kin wait. I'm due fer a rest."
Richard frowns, "There's no time like the present, officer, off you go." Grumbling, Dwayne hitches up his trousers and lollygags out the nearest door. Richard just has the book in his hands again when another footstep somersaults the book back into hiding.
Dwayne saunters back in, "Forgot m' hat."
Richard waves a forgiving hand with thinly veiled exasperation as Dwayne adjusts the hat to some obscure exact specification known only to himself before swaggering out once more.
By the time Fidel comes in 20 minutes later, Richard is due for a rest his own self. Watching Fidel organize his desk, Richard takes a calming breath. Whew, this pot-boiler really boils! That first encounter in the Captain's cabin had been interrupted by a knife fight on the orlop deck. By the time Fairechild clapped both crewmen in irons and returns for the ravishment of Snow, another pirate ship hailed them and demanded a parlay. When she got back from that, she found that her second-in-command had removed Snow to the brig. The second-in-command seemed to sense Fairechild's intentions for Snow and was hindering her progress. Unrequited lust? Maybe, but more pages had to be investigated before ulterior motives could be assigned.
"Come on," Richard mutters, the book burning a hole right through his desk drawer as Fidel began downloading files and preparing reports, "how much 'build up' do we need? Cut to the chase already! Snow is obviously a goner and we all know it!" With a frustrated sigh, Richard realizes his quiet time is over. The book must remain unread. For now.
Dwayne returns, giving his boss a snarky look as he writes up the shop keeper's report. Other things happen, people come and go, and the day drags on. The only saving grace is Camille's absence. Richard is sure she'd read him like, well, a book and find out about the paperback calling his name from the drawer. Richard watches the clock, quitting time never seemed so far away. When the clock tower toll six, Richard is up and away with briefcase securely gripped in one hand, "Night, all," he calls as he hustles out the door.
As he strides swiftly home, he laments there isn't a bus to catch so he could read a bit more. He coughs a laugh, with a suitably camouflaging book cover, of course. When he reaches his little house, he throws open all the windows to let out the heat, brews himself another mug of tea (which is destined to go just as cold), whips off his jacket and tie, and snugs himself down into his reading chair to disappear once again onto the high seas.
And what seas they are! Richard is sure Snow meets his doom when Fairechild visits him in the brig the next day and locks the door. Her hands are just invading his last bastion of propriety when a cannon ball smashes through the wall and almost emasculates him. The ship is under attack by a rival pirate queen who has heard of Fairechild's newest green-eyed treasure.
Yes, the terrible Captain Fowel wants to steal Snow. A fierce battle erupts and Snow is abducted then re-abducted then fought over fiercely as he struggles to not get trampled by the dueling women. Just as Fowel gets the upper hand with her sword-tip to Fairechild's throat while standing triumphantly over Snow's prone, partially clad, and once-more trussed up body, Snow lashes out with both boots to kick her out a cannon ball hole and into the briny. As 'The Dark Maria' escapes, Fowel hurls insults and promises revenge.
When questioned by Fairechild as to why he would come to her defense, Snow shrugs and gives some excuse about 'the devil you know' but his blush and smoldering eyes gives him away. He is dragged back to the captain's quarters, the door is once again locked, and he is pressed down onto the bed as…
The book drops down onto a stack of books on a side table as a shadow wavers outside a veranda door. Richard has just enough time to put a bored look on his face as Camille steps into view… unannounced, as usual.
END – part 2
