Walking out of the tavern with Brockton in tow, we got to the back where Latham and the others were waiting. When Latham saw Brockton I was worried that there was going to be a battle before we even got the information we were looking for. "Easy, Latham. You go deal with the crew, while Brockkton and I have a talk." Latham nodded and walked to the inn giving Brockton a dirty go straight to hell look on the way by. "Alright now Brockton. Tell me what you know about those who attacked my ship."
"I don't know anything about them Captain. They came and ransaked the ship and then left. That's it." Well my, my, can't he tell a bold face lie and look sincere. "I see. Well you do know a fellow named Durnhelm, don't you? Look it Brockton. I know all about about you and Lambert's little deal with Durnhelm. I also know your 'employer' is lookin' for a certain someone special on my ship. Now don't go worrying about Lambert. You and your 'employer' won't be seeing him again. Ever. But I still need more information. Like, what have you told him thus far?" Now, I expected Brockton to do something stupid, seeing as how he was never very smart to begin with. But to attack me out right? He rushed at me with a flimsy boat knife. But side stepping him and a solid slap to the back of the head, laid him out flat. Doesn't really matter. Maybe some time locked in the brig might even loosen his tongue.
When Black came back with a new fellow in irons, I was even less impressed with the newest whelp than I was with the first fool. I figured by now it would only be a matter of time before I had to take the Lady back to England myself. While the Lady rested in my cabin, I followed Black to the brig as he escorted his new friend inside. "Captain Teague this is Mr. Brockton, another of Durnhelms' lackeys. He's going to tell me what this Durnhelm fellow knows." Looking down at the newest whelp, I noted the only thing that separated the first whelp from the new one was this one had more meat on the bones. Still pretty pathetic though.
"I'm not telling you anything! Durnhelm is not a man to be crossed and I ain't no fool!" Well maybe I was wrong. At least this one had some guts. "Durnhelm can't kill you, Brockton, if I just so happen to kill you first. Now what have you told him? Anything?" The chubby flea just huffed and sat against the cell wall. "I don't think he's very impressed with you Black. You may need to step up your interrogation tactics." Naturally, Black looked happy with that idea. "Yeah, maybe that's what I'll do. I just need my cutlass and a boat hook and we'll go from there." Black laughed his way to the upper decks, while I turned to look at the whelp. "Look here whelp, you are not messing with some small time ship captain. Wallace Black is a powerful, mean and nasty pirate in his own right. You best believe if you don't work with Black, you won't live long enough to regret it. You think about it." Leaving the flea to think about that information for awhile, I left and met Black on his way to the brig with a cutlass in one hand, a boat hook in the other and two of my men behind him. "Captain, would you kindly keep Alleycat preoccupied while I conduct business? What? She's sensitive!" He quickly added that last part when I looked at him like he was crazy.
I remember back in the day when I first became a pirate. The sword and pistol were the main instruments of the Pirate Code and the favorite means of interrogation was anything and everything. Admittedly I look back and I am not entirely proud of my behavior but I do enjoy obtaining information. Right now, though, my main concern was making sure that Alice didn't hear any of this. Hopefully the Keeper would take care of her for a bit. Now to have some fun with Brockton.
"Alright Brockton, I'll be nice and let you choose the method of interrogation. The cutlass, the dagger and boat hook, water, simple amputation or Russian roulette? And by the way, that last option will be done pirate style."
Once I got back to my cabin, I looked down at the little Lady asleep at the table. She looked a bit sensitive and I won't deny her delicate features did make her look helpless, but there was a strength in her that a smart man would acknowledge. I could understand Black's need to keep her safe and sheltered. As long as she slept, there would be no need to bother her.
Watching her sleep, I thought back to my Jackie. I remember when he was just a boy, eager to see the world and all the adventures it had to offer. And it warms my heart to see that even though Jackie has gotten older and granted, not much wiser, he still hasn't lost his love of adventure or the sea.
"Captain?" Ah, the maiden awakens. "Has Wally come back yet?" Alright, sensitive. I can do sensitive. How much information is too much? I can do this, no problem. "He's in the brig talking to another crew mate. He'll be back soon enough." Ha! Teague, you sly old sea dog you! "Another crew mate? How many more spies does this Durnhelm need?!" She looked so crestfallen. I didn't know what to do with that. Sensitive. Sensitive. I'm doomed. If she starts crying, I'll just burn down the ship. "Well it pays to have as many spies as possible." I can do this easy. I just can't let on that a man is being tortured on board my ship. Easy. "How is he going to get him to talk?" Easy, huh? "I don't know! Use your imagination!"