A Malevolent Manner (Patrick Pierce #1)

by William Scott

  *

  “Bit late for a swim isn’t it?” Pierce asked as the carriage rattled along the harbour front.

  “Aye it is your Grace,” MacDuff responded sarcastically. Both he and Sean were sitting on the backward facing bench in the carriage, shivering slightly under a pair of blankets. “However we also managed to cut the numbers down in our favour. Some of the men from The Courted Anne will be in no shape to fight later, let alone get on board.”

  “Your handy work then?” Jane observed, pointing to a burning building on the other side of the port.

  “Indirectly.”

  “What about Bufford then?” Jane inquired as she turned to face Pierce beside her. “What happened when you left? I was a nervous wreck the whole time you were gone.”

  “Well I can definitely say they plan on using the Anne. Plus I also reduced the numbers in our favour. Ivan is dead,” Pierce stated more casually than he felt. He continued to explain the incident outside the second floor office and then his foray into the basement. “So their primary escape route was closed, did you see them leave by the front?”

  “We didn’t see anything, but Liam had to park the carriage down the street,” Sean offered as he dried his hair.

  “I don’t understand, why go to the trouble of stealing the ownership for the Anne and killing the owner?” Jane asked aloud.

  “He needed a ship bound for America to move his cargo, but the captain wouldn’t let him load it,” began Pierce, explaining what he had figured out after discovering the safe in Lafayette’s office. “So he killed the captain, hoping the expedition is taken over by someone more inclined to deal with him. Like the first mate.”

  “But there’s no guarantee the first mate will be named captain,” MacDuff continued, seeing where Pierce’s reasoning was leading.

  “Exactly, Bufford needs to get the first mate appointed captain. Something only the owner can do. So he set the meeting for a night the ship owner, who’s also the hotel owner, has planned a ball.”

  “Smart, lot’s of people and distractions to offer an inconspicuous opportunity,” MacDuff nodded appreciatively. “He built an escape route in case things go south during the negotiations with the owner.”

  “I’d wager that was also the plan based on the Colonel’s record,” Sean interjected coldly. “The owner was never going to leave that office alive.”

  “Very likely. He probably died seconds after signing the ship over to Bufford,” Pierce concluded sympathetically. “But this doesn’t affect our plan. Did Liam get a boat?”

  “It’s the only reason we’re not swimming in the sea right now,” Sean shuddered from the memory rather than the dampness.

  “Aye, the current’s swift tonight and heading out to sea,” MacDuff agreed thoughtfully. “That means our chance of hitting the Anne as it leaves port will likely be harder. She’ll be moving rather quickly.”

  The carriage halted abruptly in a more derelict part of the port. The majority of the docks were empty, save for the odd barge tied alongside.

  “Welcome to McGillicuddy’s tours of Marseille,” Liam announced as he opened the door of the carriage. “Please refrain from any flash photography as it will scare the locals. This way to your luxurious cruise vessel.”

  They all descended from the carriage and followed Liam along the decrepit and rotting dock. Despite the resurgence of the port of Marseille, this was clearly the last section to be overhauled. Thus it was completely empty of any notable ships or their crews. Liam stopped at the end of the jetty, calmly looking out at the harbour and the ships within it.

  “So where’s our boat?” Pierce demanded as they all crowded together.

  “Down there,” Liam replied, pointing down a rickety gangplank to a large rowboat haphazardly tied to the jetty fifteen feet below them.

  “We’re supposed to intercept a sea going schooner in that thing?!” Pierce demanded incredulously.

  “It worked well enough the last time I took her out, isn’t that right MacDuff?”

  “Aye, I suppose we made it back in one piece,” MacDuff agreed reluctantly, the uncomfortable memories still fresh in his mind.

  “Exactly. I can’t work miracles with such a short time frame,” Liam concluded, shifting the blame for their sub-par vessel.

  “Fine, let’s get on board and get in position,” Pierce ordered as he led the way down the gangplank.

  The vessel was a fourteen foot launch with two banks of oars on each side with a rudder at the stern. A small amount of water sloshed around the bottom of the boat as they all made their way onboard.

  “Sir, may I suggest that Sean and MacDuff take the first set of oars and that you and Miss Jane take the second set?” Liam offered as they all boarded.

  “Leaving you to steer and thus get out of having to row?” Pierce quickly countered.

  “Well I suppose that’s true,” Liam allowed innocently. “But I do have the most experience traveling on this body of water, plus the pairings work out rather well. Strength wise.”

  Jane let out a quick snigger, cutting off Pierce’s reply. The fact that the damned Irishman was probably right also led to Pierce biting his tongue and sitting down next to Jane on the second set on benches.

  “Everyone ready?” Liam asked as the group got settled on their seats. After gripping the large sets of oars, they all nodded assent to Liam one by one. “Altogether then, stroke! Stroke!”

  The boat slowly floated away from the jetty and moved into the large harbour beyond. Liam expertly steered against the current, keeping them between the docks and the more open part of the harbour. A few minutes of easy rowing led them close to the entrance to the port, where they soon found themselves rowing against the current to keep from going out to sea.

  “You have our weapons?” Pierce asked Liam, getting everyone ready for their task at hand. Liam nodded silently tapping a large duffle bag sitting beside him. “Sean, get your crossbow ready for when the Anne passes by.”

  Sean slowly moved from his seat and delved into the duffle, finally removing some pieces that he quickly assembled into a crossbow. He then pulled out a coil of rope and some menacing bolts. The rope was tied to one of the bolts, which was then loaded onto the cocked crossbow. Sean then moved to the bow of the boat, ready to grapple on to the Anne as it passed out to sea.

  While Sean was busy with his task, McDuff removed a collection of rifles and pistols from the bag. They all received one of each, along with pouches filled with powder and bullets. Swords and cutlasses were then removed and handed out, so that eventually they all appeared like cutthroat pirates on their small rowboat.

  “I want you to stay on the boat,” Pierce ordered Jane as they sat waiting while the others busied themselves loading their weapons.

  “Why? You don’t think I can help?”

  “I know you can help,” Pierce lied, worried for her safety. “You’re going to be our ace in the hole if things go bad. After we get on board I want you to let the boat drift backwards and remain towed behind. If any of us fall overboard, we’re going to need you to be ready to fish us out of the water.”

  Jane nodded with determination, realizing that it was a necessary task and she wasn’t being left behind merely because she was a girl. Despite this she was inwardly glad to be staying in the boat. She’d wielded weapons before and well enough to have yielded results beyond getting herself hurt. However she’d never jumped into the chaos that she assumed waited for her comrades once onboard.

  “Here it comes! Patrick and Jane, keep rowing!” Liam ordered as the bow of ship emerged from the gloom of the harbour. The vast rigging on the tall masts made the ship appear more imposing from the water level than from the docks and the phosphorescent waves licking off the sleek bow displayed its growing speed. Quickly Liam realized that they were positioned too close and risked discovery if they didn’t move. This meant rowing away from the ship in a large loop in order to get the bow pointed back towards the ship as it passed. Sean needed a
clear shot at the Anne and it had to be from the right angle or their rowboat would capsize once connected.

  MacDuff shifted to Sean’s vacant seat in order to provide more power to the outside set of oars, thereby turning them faster. Liam had the tiller pushed as far as it would go, desperately turning their boat as the schooner started to pass them. Despite having only set minimal sails, the Anne was still moving swiftly out to sea, riding the tidal current perfectly.

  “It’s going to be close,” Sean muttered as the other ship came into his sights. He pulled the trigger lightly as he held his breath, the slight twing sound emanating from the string as the crossbow fired. The rope swiftly followed the bolt across the expanse between the two vessels, ending with a quiet thump as it reached its destination. Without hesitating, Sean quickly and expertly tied the other end of the rope to a solid metal ring on the bow of their boat.

  They all sat in quiet relief as the schooner passed, waiting to be covertly towed behind. Despite having positioned their boat well, it still shuddered ferociously as the rope became taut, violently wrenching the rowboat from its placid stillness. Unprepared for this reaction, they were all thrown to the floor in a pile of bodies and weapons as the Courted Anne dragged them out into the dark rolling sea beyond the safety of the harbour..

  Chapter 31