Page 93 of Paid to the Pirate

“It’s no mean feat to find a discreet buyer for the Crimson Eye,” Maurice cautioned, shaking his head. “If we break it up, we lose the value. It’s going to take some time to sell it.”

“Aye,” Colt agreed. “But once we do, we can split the shares and all of us start a new life. A comfortable one. We’ll keep it to us, for now. Conks, Johnson, you and me. No more.”

My heart fluttered. I wanted that for Conks and Johnson and Miguel -- a new life.

“Robert is already aware,” Maurice said. “And some of the men who were there when you found the trunk may suspect.”

Even from the doorway, I heard Colt’s frustrated sigh. Keeping a secret aboard the close quarters of a ship was never easy. With several men already suspecting, it might be nigh impossible.

“And Charlie,” Maurice said, off-handedly. A cold shock ran down my spine at the mention of my name. “She’s been listening in the doorway this entire time.”

My stomach sank as I heard the scrape of Colt’s chair being roughly pushed back. A second later, he loomed, grabbing me by the scruff of my neck and shoving me within the small room in which the men spoke.

“Have you not an honest bone in your body?” the captain growled.

“Have you not a merciful one?” I returned. “Let me go and you’ll never need to worry about my honesty again. Or lack thereof.”

“I will lash you within an inch of your life if you speak a word of this to the crew,” Colt threatened, ignoring my plea.

“Now, Colt,” Maurice cautioned as if to soothe the captain. But he didn’t wear an expression of calm. He looked as malicious as ever. More so. He drummed his fingers on the table with lazy exaggeration.

“Why don’t you tell the girl what you learned today?”

Colt released me, turning his ire onto Maurice instead. “Dammit, now’s not the time.”

Another chill ran down my spine. I looked back and forth between the two men. Colt rarely took that tone with Maurice, who acted like a father to the captain.

“Tell me what?” I asked.

Colt raked a rough hand through his already-tousled hair. After an elongated pause, he said, “I’ve been making inquiries. About your mother.” The captain ran his tongue along his lips, stalling in an atypical manner. “I found out what really happened to her. I’m sorry, Charlie. But your mother wasn’t killed by pirates. She killed herself. Shortly after you were born and leaving you alone with your father.”

I felt as if I’d absorbed a physical blow to my stomach. Something like a smile spread across my face, but even without looking I knew it was grotesque.

“Liar.”

Colt shook his head. “I’m sorry Charlie. You can ask Estelle the next time we dock. She doesn’t normally sell her secrets, but she took a liking to you and made some inquires on your behalf.”

I scrambled to look for excuses, refusals, or holes in Colt’s declaration. But it was the cruel look on Maurice’s face that made me believe it. It was as if he took pleasure in the knowledge.

My lip quivered and hot tears filled my eyes. Colt looked pitying, but I knew it was fake.

I fled before anyone could see me cry.

#

In my darker moments I might have admitted that my father wasn’t well-equipped to take care of me. But I’d always believed in my mother. How could she have left me alone?

Sometimes, in those dark nights at sea, I hated her.She was weak, like my father.

But I won’t be.

A plan began to form in my mind, involving the Crimson Eye.

#

A few weeks after I’d learned about my mother, Colt summoned me to his cabin. It was too late for a reading lesson.

“I have a gift for you,” he announced, a tinge of nerves touching his voice. The candlelight on his walls played upon his face, softening it.

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