And now we find out what is going on here.
Helena Eaton had woken in the night to the sound of an explosion and worse, men's voices in the tailor's shop that was her family's business and life. She sat up quickly and, upon determining that she was not in any immediate danger where she was, eased out of bed, knowing that the creak of the boards in her room would give away her location. She opened her door cautiously, intending to warn her parents. She made her way to their room, but the sight that met her eyes when she opened the door was one of horror. Matthew and Ella Eaton were beyond caring what went on in the shop; indeed, they were beyond caring about this world. Helena stood, frozen to the spot; she came back to her senses only when a hand reached out to seize her wrists, twisting them behind her back. She let out a cry, at once pained and startled. "The last one," the man behind her said in a satisfied tone of voice. He cocked his pistol; she felt cold metal against her head. She closed her eyes… and opened them again when another explosion rocked the building. The man loosened his grip on her wrists for a split second, all the distraction Helena needed. She jerked free, jabbing him viciously with her elbow even as she stomped hard on his foot and then ran down the stairs.
"Charles, she's getting away!" The tall form of Charles Buffington (and she knew him now) loomed before her out of the shadows, blocking the doorway before her. She looked around desperately and seized on an iron poker lying by the fireplace; she bashed Charles in the shins with it and ran even as he howled in pain. Behind her Frederick Buffington cursed; she did not hear the jangle of soldiers arriving as she ran for the street. She had not yet dropped the poker when she ran into Jack and James quite by chance just outside the house. The guard arrived at the shop at the same time that Frederick Buffington took two steps down the alley, intending to go after his quarry.
"My Lord Buffington – what –?" The captain of the guard asked in confusion. "We heard screams and gunshots – and Commodore Norrington has escaped the fortress – " Buffington turned back, pasting a saddened expression on his face.
"My brother and I also heard the cries – we came just in time to prevent Norrington murdering the girl as well. There are two dead bodies in the house." The captain looked even more confused.
"Why would Commodore Norrington want to kill – "
"What reason had he to murder my father?" Buffington flared, cutting him off. "Now after them! He took the girl and went that way!" he pointed in the direction of the harbor, " and you! Clean up the mess inside and help my brother!" The soldiers scurried to obey.
"So, let me get this straight," James said as they ran. "You knew that it wasn't me who killed Buffington when they arrested me?"
Helena did not hear him at first. In her mind, she was replaying Buffington's words. The last one. The last Eaton. They were dead. She could still see her mother lying on the bed, looking for all the world as though she were sleeping, except for all the blood…
"Care to answer the man's question, luv?" Jack asked. She shook her head and met the pirate's eyes.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"Ye said you knew who killed Buffington. Care to explain why the good Commodore went to gaol for it if you knew?" She grimaced, coming back to herself.
"I interrupted their conversation on the terrace last night by accident… I had gone out toward the beginning of the reception to get some air. I thought nothing of it at the time – it was innocent enough. But after I heard the news -"
"Then for God's sake why didn't you say anything!"
"With all due respect Commodore, I'm not suicidal. I was waiting for the opportune moment." Jack grinned, recognizing the use of one of his favorite phrases.
"And when was that to be? The hanging?" James asked icily.
"Actually, yes. More witnesses, less chance that I would be endangering my life in the process of trying to save yours," Helena answered. "I didn't think they would remember me, or that they would move so fast. I'm sorry." Norrington stared, flabbergasted and more than a little angry; Jack grinned. This might not be so bad after all.
They had reached the harbor by this time and now skirted around it to reach the Black Pearl. Norrington shook his head; he was not sure whether to be glad or extremely depressed at how lax the guards had been to allow the ship to dock in plain sight of the fortress without so much as an eyebrow being raised.
"Who goes there?" came a low call from the ship.
"Who else would it be a day late and in the middle of the night?" Jack asked. "Lower the gangplank and weigh anchor. We 'ave to leave in a hurry." Mr. Gibbs' face could be seen over the side of the ship before the gangplank was lowered and they hurried on board. Norrington realized with a shock that he knew the man from his days in the Navy. How had he ended up here? Gibbs also recognized Norrington it seemed; he raised his eyebrows and looked at Jack for a moment before going about his duties. If Jack wasn't explaining, Gibbs wasn't asking. Annamaria looked at them a bit more skeptically, hoping that the girl would not make too much fuss and the man would not have to be trained in the running of a ship.
"Man the braces! Let down and haul to run free!" Jack ordered, feeling relief wash over him. They had made it. The crew went scurrying even as Jack took the helm. James looked around for a moment and then went where he was most needed, lending a much needed hand to the relatively small crew. Helena stood next to Jack, holding back the urge to weep now that the danger was passed for the moment. Jack seemed to notice, looking closer at the girl's face when they were safely out of the bay. "You look done in. Anna, show her to my cabin – "
"Oh no you don't, Jack Sparrow. She can come with me; there's no need for her to spend the night with you," Annamaria said with a pointed look at Jack. He grinned roguishly; Annamaria shook her head and turned to Helena, who had raised her eyebrows at the mention of Jack's name; she, after all, had only seen him as "Lord Thackeray."
"Come with me then, Miss – ?"
"Helena Eaton." Annamaria nodded silently and moved away over the deck with Helena behind her. Jack grinned after them and then turned to Gibbs.
"Take the helm for a bit? I have to get out of this frippery," he said, gesturing to his wedding finery. Gibbs nodded and Jack retreated to his cabin.