Captain Jack and Mr. Gibbs were concealed behind a row of barrels as the Queen Anne's Revenge made port. Slowly, the gangplank was lowered by the crew. Men distractedly walked up and down the dock, each with their own task.

"Stay on the lookout Mister Gibbs, soon as that beast of a man steps on the dock I'll be heading aboard."

"Aye, Captain," Mr. Gibbs nodded. "Though not up the gangplank, I'm assuming?"

"No," Jack smiled, "as always, I've got my own way."

"Dead, Captain." Pintel looked Blackbeard straight in the eye.

The captain looked over the portly man's shoulder. He eyed the waste of a thing with head lulling forward over the ropes. "Pity. Perhaps I should run him through to be certain."

"No, no," Pintel shook his head, "no need to dirty yer sword, sir, you've got more important matters to address. And I was thinkin' I could help ye."

"Help me how?"

"Well, ye see I know the bloke who wrote that note we found, I could describe him to ye, ye know, fer certain compensation…"

Blackbeard laid a hand on his sword as Pintel expected he might.

"Or without fee," he put up his hands, "seein' as yer captain."

As Pintel was whispering to the captain in an aside, Ragetti gave one last look backward. Soon, his limber legs carried him swiftly down the wooden planks and across the dock towards town.

"Issat…?" Joshamee Gibbs squinted as the familiar frame of a lean man passed them by in a flash.

"What," Jack questioned with his back to the barrel, "is he off?"

"No," Mr. Gibbs shook his head, "just thought I saw an old acquaintance of ours, was all."

"Yes, well, I suppose those traitors had to work for somebody while I was sans the Pearl." He took a moment. "Poor choice in captain, though."

"He was a large man; had the strangest red mustache," Pintel continued, "and this tattoo of something like a dolphin on his throat. Or was it a seal? You know those naval defectors," Pintel tossed his arms up in laughter. Blackbeard gave no sign of sharing the joke. "Anyway," Pintel coughed nearly ten minutes after he'd seen Ragetti leave the ship, "I think I've given ye enough to go off of." He turned, "should be easy to spot."

Then, he felt the cold hand on his shoulder. "Seems like you know a lot about this man, perhaps you should show him to me."

"I would, captain," Pintel winced, "but the body- you know, it's really starting to reek and I should bring it ashore."

Blackbeard gave a dark laugh. "Cast it overboard. We're in Tortuga. Do you really think his will be the first body to float near the docks?" He clasped Pintel on the back, winding him of any air he was already struggling to breathe.

"Aye, captain," he wheezed before walking over to Elizabeth's seemingly lifeless body. "I hope ye can swim, Poppet," Pintel whispered when he was out of earshot. His hands worked to untie her from the mast.

"Leave his limbs tied. The rope should add some weight. Mayhap it'll hide our little mistake."

"Aye…" Pintel's stomach turned inside out.

"Thompson, see that you toss this refuse over the stern," Blackbeard ordered. "Pintel has a task with me."

"Aye captain," the man agreed, slinging the slim frame over his shoulder.

Pintel froze, knowing that disobeying now would mean the death of them both. Gods be good, he hoped those ropes were lose enough.

"Let's go," Blackbeard awaited his crewman. Together they descended the gangplank slowly.

"He's at the edge of the docks," Mr. Gibbs turned to his captain, "go, Jack, now!"

Jack nodded as he turned as he heading for the mooring rope at the stern. His hands were swift and his dagger was ready at his hip, though they had seen most of the crew leave the ship. He knew not what he would find aboard the vessel, perhaps only clues to the location of the Pearl, but that would have to be enough. Suddenly, he heard footsteps on deck. He glanced upwards when he saw movement, holding his body close to the shadows of the ship. Woah! He nearly yelled as a delicate body fell past his frame. He wouldn't have looked twice at the poor devil, no, he wouldn't have looked twice if not for that golden hair. The spark of recognition sent him back years ago when he saw that same mane on a pale girl hurtling towards the water from atop a cliff.

"Elizabeth…" he breathed as her fearful eyes opened and saw him.

Once more he had done as he had before. He dove as soon as she'd hit the water, aiming not to make another splash.

"Jack!" she sputtered, attempting to kick the ropes lose from her feet.

He held her head above water, dagger swiftly darting out to saw the ropes at her wrists. As he freed her, he noted the raw skin. She'd been tied up for some time.

"What the devil are you doing here?!" He questioned as the two floated aside another in the Caribbean sea.

"I," she coughed up burning saltwater, "I came to see you."

"Me?" Jack's brow furrowed, his brain stumbling to catch up with his heart.

"Yes, we need to find Will."

Ah. The Whelp. All this, for Will?

"Oh! And I found your ship!"

"the Pearl?" Jack smiled excitedly.

"Yes!" she kicked what remained of the ropes from her feet. "Jack, we don't have much time. I sent Ragetti to meet you and oh, Pintel-"

"Those two?" Jack recoiled, "really? Well, now, that explains your current situation."

"Jack!" she looked at him sternly, "Your ship is on that boat, do you want it or not?"