If it weren't for the fact that I was running the risk of loosing not one but two of my best friends, I would have laughed until I cried. To be in such a state in my life. First to fall down a rabbit hole into a world of madness, twice, then to make my way onto a pirate ship. And for safety no less! I hugged Wally once more and Latham too, before they both left and it was just the Captain and I. "Have a seat Miss. Kingsley and I'll get us both a drink. I think we could use one after they day we've had." Well at least he was charming.
Thomas looked like a rampaging bull when he threw himself through the door of my cabin, of course baring bad news that made me livid! "What do you mean four of my men dead? How could you lose four of my men!?" "I put two men to watch the tavern while I went to find Lambert. I was making my way through the streets trying to find Lambert and the two idiots that I left him with, when there was a loud explosion. I ran back to the tavern, but before I could get there I saw Hover and his idiot brother lying in the middle of the street, shot dead and half on fire! I don't know who or why but somebody blew up the tavern. I'm thinkin' either somebody is playin' games with us or they got somebody helpin' um!" They blew up the tavern? For pity's sake, there was no need to go blowing things up! "Thomas, how did this become so difficult?" I got up and grabbed my pistol and jacket. "Thomas, get every man you can that is available and comb the whole damn port until you find Lambert. And when you do find him, peel him like an onion until he tells you where that girl is. And when you have her in your hands, kill him! He has given me more trouble than he is worth. Meanwhile, I'll take two men with me and we'll search the tavern." Thomas gave me an ugly smirk. "You mean what's left of it." I sigh and roll my eyes. "Yes, what's left of it. Let's go." Stepping off the ship, I could already see what Thomas was talking about. There was smoke and fire everywhere and the people were running about like idiots.
Well, Thomas wasn't joking about the state of things in the port. Gaven and Hanks were laying at the side of the road about to be taken to the undertaker. Everyone else was running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I noticed that Thomas was right about the state the tavern was in too. Or rather the lack of a tavern. Most of it still stood but the entrance was burnt to a crisp. When I finally managed to get past the mess, it was a task to find someone willing to talk. Fortunately there were still a few people left in the tavern and one of the bar maids looked promising. I moved behind her and slipped a pound into her apron pocket and winked when she looked at me. "I'm in need of some information, if you can. give you tell me what happened here tonight?" She snorted, looked at the smoking entrance and then back at me. "It was just a normal night at first, with locals and sailors coming in and out. But some fellow got shot up front by a massive man and the two men who came with the big man, picked up the injured little man and dragged him away. And the huge fellow that did the shooting went over and started talking to Katy over there." She jerked her head to the back of the tavern, where a brutish looking woman stood cleaning tables. "After he talked to her he left and I remember he came back later, stalkin' about the place looking mad as a badger. Then he left and shortly there after there was an explosion and we've been cleaning up ever since." "I'm very sorry to hear about your troubles, but can you tell me if anyone came in AFTER the explosion? Besides myself I mean." She had yet to give me any useful information. "Oh yeah! There was another real tall fellow, what came in here right after the explosion. For a moment there I thought he did it. But he just looked around and then he left." Finally I'm getting somewhere. "Do you remember what he looked like, his name or where he may have gone?" She looked at me like I was the oddest thing, then jerked her head back to the other barmaid. "I remember he was a rather handsome looking man with the reddest hair. And he was a big one two. Ask Katy back there, she took care of him."
With good information to work with, I slipped another pound in her hand, before I walked off to speak with Katy. I slipped a pound across the table she was cleaning, only to have her look at me like I was personally responsible for every hardship she had ever endured. "You got business with me?" Ah, a hard one with no sense of patience, ment more money was called for. How unfortunate. "I'm looking for some information that you might be able to give me." "What kind of information are you looking for? Cause I don't do no eavesdroppin' on my customers." As she tucked away the money that I had given her, I pulled out one more pound and put it in front of her. This may cost me a small fortune for information that may not even be any good. I don't like being forceful with women as gentility had always worked wonders with them. But this one was not going to milk me for everything. If necessary I would let Thomas have a talk with her. "Now about that information. I understand you took care of a man today just before a man got shot and the explosion. Tall, strongly built and he may have been with a young lady. Do you remember?" She sighed and came closer." Look it mister, I don't make it a habit of easedroppin' on my customers. It's bad for business and in some cases extreamly bad for the health. So I don't know anything about what may or may not have been said. But I do remember a fellow what matches that description. He was tall, broad shouldered and real good lookin' from where I was standin'." "Excellent, now we're getting somewhere. Did you notice if he had a young lady with him by any chance?" Before she could answer, shots rang out and one of my men fell down dead beside me.