by Marie Hall
“What, so it isn’t true? Because the great Royal Navy doesn’t know of it, it’s a lie, a tall tale?”
“I didn’t say that,” Devin said, trying to refrain from taking her remarks personally. Something about this was deeply personal to her. “I only asked how you knew.”
“How I know? Do you really think secrets can be kept among sailors?” She gave him such a look he felt his face heat. “Men talk and when their exploits are enough they can gain some credibility with a boast or two they will.”
“So someone said it.”
“Not some one, some many. The crews who sailed those ships dispersed. They took up working at different ports and sailing on different ships. They bragged and boasted and gave themselves away.”
“And you think maybe one or more of those men are aboard the ship?” He still couldn’t see why Mia would need to speak with them. All of them would be tried for this act of piracy and hanged. It was justice all the same. “Mia, why do you need to speak with them?”
“Because one of them may know who ordered the attack. They didn’t do it on their own. All those captured have said they were gathered together and paid to strike the port. They were given the ships and the arms and sent to Hermosa Alma for the sole purpose of destroying everything there. Someone was in command, and I want to know who.”
“All of them told who?” She wasn’t going to answer that and Devin knew it had been the commodore who’d gained that information somehow. He’d like to know more as well and perhaps she, like him, would like to know why. Hermosa Alma wasn’t a military port, only merchant vessels used it. The city had only very minimal defenses. The attack was nothing short of a slaughter and capturing those responsible for it… He looked up to see her staring at him with such a strange combination of pleading and rage in her eyes. A crime more than a decade old wasn’t going to garner much attention from any official source, but for Mia it was important she have the chance to learn something, even if she couldn’t do anything. “I’ll arrange to get us to the ship, but Mia,” he said holding up his hand when she tried to make for the clothes he’d taken. “You’ll go over as a lady, and you’ll do as I say. Those men are dangerous and it would take nothing for them to use your presence as an opportunity to rise up.” He watched her considering his words. It took a moment but she gave him a nod in agreement. “I’ll arrange something then. We are nearing Port Royal. I can bring the ship up closer in preparation to escort it in. You’ll have but one chance to learn what you need to, because after that they’ll be handed over to the authorities. I’m not going to delay in that.”
Again, Mia gave one sharp nod, then she turned and left the room. Devin didn’t see her the rest of the day and he ended up forcibly removing her from the deck as she stood there until late in the night watching the captured pirate ship approach.
They took a long boat to the ship the following morning and for the first time in a while Mia made sure that Grim and Mr. Hong were close at hand. Devin arranged to have the captured crew on deck in chains before he allowed Mia to board. And as he watched her first determine basic things like the language they spoke and then which among them was considered the leader, he rather thought it a shame the navy didn’t welcome women in its ranks. Because if there were any others even half as good as his wife, the navy was missing out.
Mia stood before the group of men for a while just listening. Their crude remarks and suggestions about what they would do to her person given the chance didn’t bother her. They were all well bound and Grim would snap them in half if they tried anything. Devin’s order to have rifles trained on them was an unnecessary precaution.
The longer she kept them on deck waiting, the more agitated they became and eventually one of them called out and asked for advice. Mia honed in on the man that gave that advice. When she opened her mouth and spoke in their language, they knew instantly they’d been found out. She knew those responsible and she knew what other things they’d done. Unguarded talk was the very best way to gain information. Men always talked carelessly around women, thinking they didn’t have the mind to make sense of it, speaking even more carelessly if they did it in a language few non-native women would ever speak.
“Grim,” Mia called and jerked her head towards the man she was now most concerned with. Grim moved behind that man and quickly seized him around the neck. “Mr. Hong, if you would.” Mia asked again not letting Devin or his crew know what she was about by not speaking English. “Now,” Mia said as Hong took out a blade and cut away the man’s shirt over his left shoulder. It took everything in her not to puke when the mark came into view.
“Who’s the other devil son of a whoring pig?” Mia asked, stepping up close. “I know there are always more than one of you on any ship. Point him out.”
“What do you care, English witch. I have no reason to tell you anything,” the man spat back.
“You tell me because it’ll be either you or the other who is turned over to The Blood Man. I care not which. But I also know you know how it goes for those he takes.” She watched the man swallow and the fear rise up in his eyes. “You or the other?” Mia asked again and Grim tightened his hold.
“He’s not on this ship. You can search all of them. They’re not one of us.”
“Where is he?” Mia asked and watched every blink the man made. She saw him smile, then sneer. “Where is he?” she yelled, and stepping up backhanded him. Grim again gripped the man’s throat a little tighter. She saw it then. His eyes went from her to the ship sitting off the port side. The Pied Piper. “Oh God,” she breathed and spinning away headed straight to Devin.
“Mrs. Winthrop?” Lieutenant Coventon asked as she approached.
“Keep him separate from the others,” she said not sure how yet she might keep the crew safe and still be able to gain the advantage against the men responsible for her mother’s murder.
“Mia?” Devin asked stepping up. “Did he know something?”
“Not that he’s willing to tell,” Mia said trying to sound disappointed. This man wasn’t going to know anything. He was too far down the chain, but a man able to get on and hide openly on a personal ship, that man would know things.
“Why do you think he needs to be kept separate?” Devin pushed, damn him. If he’d just let it be with her command. She’d give her eye to be captain right now.
“Port Royal isn’t as secure a harbor as you think. If any others are there, they’ll try and free him. If he’s with the rest, it’ll be chaos and you’ll lose men in trying to hold them. Having them apart… the other Wheel Heads,” she indicated her shoulder where the tattoo would be on the men. “They won’t care about anyone else. Only their man.”
“You’ve no more questions for this man, Mia?” Devin asked and she knew he was suspicious. As hard as she pushed to get the chance, she was giving up too easily. But she shook her head and headed across the deck to look over at the Piper. Several of the passengers and crew watched from the rail the happenings aboard this ship, and Mia cursed not having thought of that ahead. But then again perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing, as the man she sought out gave himself away now.
“No, Captain. He’s of no more use to me,” Mia said and ground her teeth. The man she wanted wasn’t on this ship he was on that one and she needed to get there, and get there before they made port.
“Take them back to the brig,” Devin ordered. “Keep them in chains, in case. And keep him,” he nodded at the man being choked by Grim, “Away from everyone else. Any attempt to break him free, shoot him.”
“Aye, Captain,” the group said. Mia let him escort her back to the ladder and then waited as everyone settled in to row back.
“Mia, what did he say to you?” Devin asked then glared at her. “The truth in whole, Mrs. Winthrop.”
“He said only that he was betrayed by someone to be put in the path of a navy ship. That they’d been had.” It wasn’t a lie. The others were grumbling those sentiments while Mia listened. “He didn’t know
who or he’d give them up to hang beside him.” The last was a full and deliberate lie, but it satisfied her husband and Mia would confess only after she had the man she was after.
“Are they turning on their own then?” Devin asked but she wasn’t sure he was really asking, or thinking out loud. So she only shrugged and tried to figure out how to get over to the Piper before they made port in two days. As it was, Devin hosted a meal for the ladies and gentlemen of the Piper on board the Iron Rose and the very man she wanted joined them.
As Captain Jones made his greeting, took his seat at the table and ate, Mia plotted out how she’d kill him slowly and still make sure he named the man who’d hired him. When she got her chance she never considered her husband would be the one to spill the wind from her sails and she never thought she’d know such a hurt as his actions caused.
Chapter 29
Devin bid his farewells to the visiting party with distraction. Something about Mia’s behavior tonight was making him nervous. He wanted to chalk it up to the way Lady Rose Filmore was clinging all over him, but he wasn’t sure and as he again pried the woman’s hand from his arm, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
It all happened quite fast as Mia stepped up to Captain Jones and with a simple swing of her arm cut a line across him from mid-chest to his left arm. It wasn’t deep, though a red line of blood quickly appeared as his garments slipped off. Grim had the man by the neck and the struggle was ensuing before Devin caught sight of the tattoo on the man’s shoulder.
Captain Jones put up a fight and only because the women on board got in the way did he manage to fight his way out of Grim’s hold and grab Lady Rose. He put the blade to her neck as she screamed for help. “Now stand away,” Jones ordered, backing toward the boards that crossed the decks.
“Let the lady go Captain. We can come to some accord, but let her go,” Devin said and watched as Mr. Quiggly climbed to the helm. They were anchored, but if he could push the ship just a little the boards would drop and Jones would be trapped.
“The only accord will come after he tells me who hired him to attack Hermosa Alma,” Mia yelled, stepping up with a pistol pointed at the man.
“Better you back away, little girl,” Jones warned Mia as he pressed the knife harder against Lady Rose. “I’ll kill her.”
The distinct sound of the hammer being pulled back carried. “Your mistake was to choose the only woman who’s been trying to steal my husband. Kill her and save me the trouble.”
“Mia,” Devin said horrified, but not as much as he thought he should be. That was his wife. That was who he was wed to, a pirate. A pirate who used pirate ways to get what she wanted. He never thought for a second he’d be able to end those traits, but he’d hoped he’d at least curbed them, dulled them to a less fine edge.
The sudden shift of the ship sent everyone tripping and as the planks hit the water Jones was left knowing he was trapped, knowing he’d picked an unpopular person as hostage and knowing he could do nothing about either situation. With a growl he shoved away Lady Rose and dropping the knife, put up his hands. Grim was on him faster than Devin could have believed and Mia and Hong were on him next.
“Who hired you? Tell me the name of the son of the devil who sent you into that harbor,” Mia screamed at Jones. “Tell me and it’ll be a quick death.”
“Captain?” Lord Huffington called, and Devin realized he was being less responsive than he needed to be.
“Mia,” he called as she started pounding at the man, sending her knee up into his groin hard.
“Tell me. I know you know,” she screamed and jabbed her finger into the tattoo. “This says you know.”
“Mia,” Devin yelled grabbing hold and pulling her back as two of his crew stepped up to hold the man.
“Let me go, Captain, let me go. He’ll tell me who it was.” Mia squirmed free and rushed the man again. Her interference now was putting his crew and everyone else in danger. “Tell me,” she screamed sounding more and more like a mad woman.
Devin reached for her again just as Jones spit in her face. “Mia.” Devin hauled her up and back then struggled to hold on as she kicked and fought to get back to the dog.
“Lose someone there, love? Someone maybe I was able to personally help down to hell? So many sweet souls at that port. Was one of them someone to you?” Jones asked. His tender tone, cruel, only made Mia more frantic in her fight to get away.
“Claps him in irons and see him to the brig,” Devin ordered.
“No, no. He has to tell me. I need to make him tell me. I have to know,” Mia screeched, kicking and pounding at Devin. He lifted her off her feet and against his side.
“Tell you what?”
“Who killed my mother,” Mia yelled, a catch in her voice. “I’ll know who sent them to fire on us. He knows. He knows.” She continued to struggle. Her questions turned to curses as Jones was chained and headed below decks. “No. No, you can’t have him until I’m done. You can’t take this from me. You can’t, Captain. He’s mine. He’s mine.”
“Captain, Mia no happy now,” Mr. Hong said, stepping up.
“Thank you, Mr. Hong, for your astute observation,” Devin snapped. Who didn’t know his wife was nearing hysterics over the matter? “Mr. Asher, a hand if you would.”
Asher stepped up and grabbed Mia’s kicking legs and between them they started towards Devin’s quarters. “Mr. Brinks form a squad, and get over to the Piper, see who else might be part of this conspiracy.” He nodded his head at the lords and ladies standing on deck gaping at the events that unfolded. “Get them back to their ship. Make ready and raise sails. We head to port now.”
“Captain it’s dark,” Mr. Wilshire said.
“So it is, but I’ll not have rubbish like that on my vessel one minute more than need be. Mr. Brinks, the Piper. Mr. Quiggly, get us underway.” Devin called out each order even as he and Asher struggled to hold Mia and carry her below. “Mia, calm down,” Devin ordered as they pushed into the bunk area of his quarters, and Mia’s side hit the frame of the narrow doorway. His request only made her scream and Asher looked at him like he was mad for even asking. “Mia,” he tried again. “Put her down here,” Devin said, indicating a spot by the bulkhead.
“You can’t do this. You can’t take him from me. He has to tell me.” Mia kicked at Devin then made to rush past when he jumped aside. Mr. Asher was quick to block the exit, but Mia turned, lifted a knife from the table and swung at him. He was quick enough to avoid her, or she wasn’t really trying to cut him, but Devin grabbed her up. This time from behind, around the waist. She kicked and flailed sending him backwards to the floor on his ass. Asher knocked the knife from her hand as Devin put all his efforts into stilling her fight.
“Enough Mia,” he ground out as she got in one last bow to his ribs with her elbow. “Enough, haul in your sheets, pirate.”
“Let me have him,” Mia yelled, but this time it was followed by a sob.
“Mia, that isn’t how it’ll be done on this ship, by you,” Devin said, though his resolve to follow the laws of the sea was strained. Mia’s mother died in the attack on Hermosa Alma and the man he held in the brig of his ship was possibly behind it. He couldn’t fault Mia’s want to get information out of him. Her desire to hurt and maybe kill Jones was understandable.
“He knows,” she howled and sobbed again. “He knows.”
“What he knows will be found out when he’s in the custody of the authorities in port,” Devin said with little confidence. The fact Jones had a mark telling of some association didn’t actually convict him of a crime. He wasn’t committing one when they crossed his path and while he gave himself away in his make to flee, Devin knew his actions could be explained away, even bought for the right price.
“No, he has to tell me,” she insisted.
“So you can do what, Mia? There is nothing you can do even if he gives you a name. Let the authorities handle this.”
“No. No. I won’t.”
/> “You will.”
“You want him to get away with it. You want that don’t you?” Mia charged.
“No, Mia.”
“Liar,” she yelled then broke down crying. “Liar. The Navy did nothing then and does nothing still. I hate you. I hate you.”
“Captain?” Asher called. “What do we do with her? She’s not going to let this go.”
“I’ll keep her here until the ship is docked.” How was he going to do that and run three ships as well as try and discern who was a criminal and who wasn’t.
“How?” Asher asked also knowing the next few days were going to be a full-blown storm of happenings.
It was beyond disgusting, nothing he’d ever do under normal circumstances and might well make things between he and Mia worse. “Bring me a length of chain and irons,” he said, and Mr. Asher started while Mia tried again to fight her way free.
An hour later Devin came topside with a bloody lip and guilt heavy enough to sink the ship. Mia was chained to the bulkhead. She’d cursed him, spit at him, and fought him. Then when the last lock clicked in place she’d sunk to the floor in a heap and sobbed. Mr. Hong and Grim sat with her now. But nothing gave her comfort. She’d found a man who might have answers to questions she’d had since she was a child but she’d not hear those answers directly. That broke her heart.
And for Mia, her broken heart was all it took to sink her ship. Devin came in to port with unwanted fanfare, as people gathered to watch a pirate ship and her crew handed over, as well several unsavory characters posing as crew on the Pied Piper. All were turned over to be questioned, tried and if found guilty, hanged. But Mia never roused to the news of justice served. She lay on the floor in her heap not responding to anything until Devin walked in and found her unconscious and feverish. He unchained her, put her to bed and called the surgeon, but the man found nothing at all wrong with her. Devin sat up and waited two more days while a second doctor was fetched to the ship. It wasn’t a doctor who came, though.