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<div style="border:1px #ccc solid; background-image:url('/images/ray.gif'); font-family:arial; width:200px; padding:5px;"><center><div style="font-size:20px;"><a href="/story/rreneeb/616">Chapter 1 of Jacqueline Pearl</a></div><table><tr><td width="50"><div style="color:#2CC362; font-size:15px; padding-top:4px; background-image:url('/images/profratebg.gif'); background-repeat:no-repeat; width:44px; height:26px; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; vertical-align:middle; padding-top:8px; padding-left:1px; " valign="top">7</div></td><td><div style="height:100px;width:100px; padding-top:9px; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url(/images/storyCover.png);"><a href="/story/rreneeb/616"><div style="margin-left:9px; __padding:0px; height:90px; width:70px; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-image:url('http://www.testriffic.com/storyfiles/616.jpg');"></div></a></div></td></tr></table></center></div>

+ 7	Don't get an Avalanche angry in Alaska
+ 7	A Cold Case
+ 5	Chapter 2 of Jacqueline Pearl
+ 7	Chapter 1 of Jacqueline Pearl

Ill News            The turquoise waters washed themselves ashore in warm waves smoothing the white sands. A few feet off the beach lay the green lush jungle of Jamaica, flourishing in every color there was. The birds sang as they woke in the red morning and the rain began to drip from the leaves and palms. Another song was carried over the salty waters, the sound of sailors singing their morning calls about the ocean and the islands.            Amidst the morning glow was Jacqueline Pearl with her ankles decorated with fresh salty froth. The froth wasn’t white, blood dripped from her knuckles and colored the waters, but the blood didn’t bother the ocean. They were like sisters, they understood each other and this was the only place Jacqueline found comfort, sitting before the sea, breathing the salt and listening to the sailor songs.            Jacqueline’s long brown hair fell behind her nearly touching the sand, her eyes fixed on the horizon and her arms wrapped around her knees. The breeze played with her hair curling it behind her and brushing her cut knuckles warmly. Her beige dress was fluttering and rippling like the ocean both sparkling as if set with little diamonds.            The ocean knew the Pearl family since they were made up of pirates and ship builders. James Pearl, Jacqueline’s father was born of a widow whose husband had died at sea. Hannah Pearl was born and then sold into slavery never knowing anything about her mother. Together James and Hannah bore two children, Amos the oldest and Jacqueline the youngest. Amos had left his parents as soon as he could, wanting to disappear from their lives and everyone who knew them. He sailed to Basse-Terre as soon as he could find a ship leaving and there he married and lived for nearly three years. Jacqueline had remained with her parents and even took up the skill of using a blade, pistol or the tools of a carpenter.            But Hannah had disappeared, she had gone to market one day and she never returned from the trip. Jacqueline remembered that day nearly a month beforehand.            “Just a trip to get some spices,” Hannah had told the only daughter.            “Why can’t I come with you?” Jacqueline had replied as her mother reached the door quickly fastening her coat and juggling the basket on her arm.            “I need to go alone,” she had told Jacqueline, firmly, much too firmly for simple spices. “And you need to attend to the house.”            Jacqueline remembered her mother embracing her tightly and kissing her dark hair braided into a single tress behind her head. She remembered for the last time the smell of vanilla and adventure in her mother’s also long and dark hair. Jacqueline had seen there was a cover on the bottom of the basket, covering something as thin as papers.            “Be strong while I’m gone,” she had told her, “don’t do anything foolish.”            Jacqueline hadn’t known how to answer at the time. “Mo—”            “I want you to lock the doors and wait for me,” her mother had said letting her go and looking into her emerald eyes. “If I don’t return—”            “—what?” Jacqueline remembered her sudden fear taking hold of her like a tropical storm ripping over the sandy beaches.            Hannah held onto Jacqueline’s shoulders firmly and forced her to look directly into her brown eyes. “Listen to me.” She had demanded and Jacqueline had immediately listened, intently, “If I do not return I want you to go to Captain Linel and you will be living with him.”            “I don’t under—”            “You will,” she had promised opening the door and climbing into the carriage quickly, “Be strong, be smart…look to the South.”            Jacqueline grabbed a fistful of sand and threw it into the waves the wind blowing some of it onto her dress. Her knuckles broke open anew. Now after a month of living with a man who was full of himself, Jacqueline wished she had followed her mother. If only she had stole into the Jamaican afternoon and traced all that her mother was doing, maybe she wouldn’t be gone.            At that time James had been in the Carolinas checking up on his newest trade. When he returned only a week after Hannah’s disappearance he found his house deserted but with a note explaining his wife and child’s desertion. Immediately he left again only stopping by to kiss Jacqueline good-bye and place a few pounds of gold into Linel’s greedy white hands.            Everyday Jacqueline had done something to make Linel mad. At first she started by simply disobeying him, eating when she wanted to and going outside before her chores were done. Soon it escaladed to disappearing all together and showing up just in time for dinner. Finally Linel had moved her to the tallest room with the door locked every night, confining her inside the house even after breakfast and lunch. Today had been her big escape; she had found a way between Linel’s fingers again.            This gave her pleasure and she stroked her bruised and battered knuckles still leaking blood but only slightly. She looked at her fingers with bright crimson blood on them and looked up at the sky, they matched, a bloody sky to match her spilt blood. As she stared into the horizon and the endless ocean she saw something that made her heart beat faster.            Immediately she stood as if she had been stung by a jelly fish. She splashed into the ocean until it met her knees and was rocking her slightly. Shielding her eyes she peered with all her might into the vast waters, toward the South, straight across from the harbor where so many voices drifted now.            “Please…” she whispered her dress floating on the water, “…please…”            She watched it as it drew closer and closer with speed that only one could possess. As soon as she recognized the deep faded ruby sails she lost a breath and started at a quicker pace to the docks. She raced from the waves which had grown and she darted through the jungle toward the town beyond.            She came into the street just dodging a coach marching up the street away from her goal. There were many people in the street, men talking amongst themselves, women shopping and children running after each other. Jacqueline was lost for a second in the commotion she had been kept from for nearly a week straight, that’s how long it took for her to create her plan of escape. Her dress was wet and clung to her, though it wasn’t heavy and more tiny diamonds began to sparkle where it had just been sprayed and drenched by the sea.            Quickly Jacqueline sped down toward the many ships now leaving the dock with men bouncing on their decks. There was a wide dock open for this massive ship. Two smaller ships had vacated as soon as this ship was seen coming over the horizon fiercely.            “Ms. Pearl,” called a familiar voice, Jacqueline turned to see a tall bare-chested bronze man. He smiled his pearly smile and adjusted the large planks of wood on his huge shoulder, “Your ship is coming in today?”            “Yes, Simeon, that it is.” She answered saluting him in a simple way and then returning to her race.            Three more times she saluted men who called to her and asked her things such as before. One rather short man asked, “How did you gain your freedom on this fine morning, Gemstone?”            “I fought for it Mr. David as always.”            “Aye, well I’d be aware that the Captain is lookin’ for you.” he replied as she sped past.            Now she was close to the dock that extended far out over the sapphire waters. She could see the ship, huge like a great beast breathing in the waves. On the front was an angel with wings tattered and spread over the sides of the ship fading into the railing. Her face was pure looking into the skies with her hands held out like she was offering her praises. Her dress faded under the waters but one knee was bent and was seen under her lovely robes.            Every single ship that her father had created had been hosted by an angel, it was a sort of trademark for the Pearls, and no other ships had such an imprint. Jacqueline looked up at the tall ship, the sails being taken in and a plank being secured to the dock. She walked onto the dock and looked up at the railing where a man she recognized stood looking dismally around.            “Commander St. Mary,” she called to him while walking alongside the ship.            His eyes flashed brilliantly open as he saw Jacqueline below him, he stood up straight and flipped his hat back upon his head. “Why. If it isn’t Ms. Jacqueline Pearl, can it be?”            “It is Commander,” she said taking a lighthearted curtsey for him.            “You are quite a sight for sore eyes,” he said now descending the plank Jacqueline had reached.            “Why do you say that Commander?” she asked as he hopped off the plank and landing before her, taller and broader.            “You don’t know?” he asked looking deeply into her eyes.            She looked blankly into his eyes, trying to read them but not being able to. They were weary and tired, distressed and nothing seemed happy about them, something was wrong.            “Ms. Pearl, we sent a letter to Linel to tell you that—”            “—well, if it isn’t Commander St. Mary” burst in Linel grabbing the Commander and embracing him. “You have finally arrived, I am very glad.”            After they pulled from each other Jacqueline stepped beside Linel, “To tell me what?”            The Commander looked at Linel who avoided his eyes but said, “I am her guardian, St. Mary, I decide what she can or cannot hear or do.”            “You believe you have that power?” asked Jacqueline pulling from his hand as he tried to place it upon her shoulder.            “James wanted her to know, Linel.”            “But I don’t want her to know.”            “That is not your choice.”            “It is now,” he answered successfully gripping Jacqueline shoulder and twisting her painfully around so she was facing away from the Commander.            “You cannot bind her from the truth of her family forever Linel and when she finds out what you have blinded her from she will never forget it.”            The threat made Linel stop pushing Jacqueline off the dock, he was in half step and strongly he breathed trying to regain himself. He did this whenever Jacqueline argued with him and he was about to punish her. Linel turned his head to look at the Commander who stood strongly, an expression on his face that Jacqueline couldn’t perceive. “You cannot lock her up forever, she will break free like a beast in a cage and you will feel her fury.”            Now Linel turned fully around keeping Jacqueline in both his hands strongly, “I have raised her when her parents wouldn’t Commander, are you saying I treat her like a beast?”            “I am saying that if you keep the truth from her long enough she will spring upon you and you will greatly regret this very day.”            The words were so strong and forceful Jacqueline felt Linel adjust his hands on her shoulders and awaited an answer. He didn’t give an answer but turned them around and strode off angrily. Away from the answers that Jacqueline desired, glancing back she saw the Commander taking off his hat and being roused by one of his men. He was sad and watched them from the dock as long as he could.            Linel had a secure grip on Jacqueline and she knew that any attempt to escape would be wasteful. She didn’t speak until he had placed her in a stage coach heading straight for the three-story prison. Once he had climbed in and removed his hat from his silver-brown hair she gave him a glare.            “What truth are you hiding from me?” her dress dry by this time.            Linel looked at her surprised, “I have given you the truth whenever you have asked, Ms. Pearl, and I am not keeping any secrets. You know I am not a man to keep secrets.”            “Really?” she challenged leaning toward him and staring directly into his eyes. He didn’t reply but didn’t break his gaze either. “Then tell me Linel, why did my father not return with that ship?”            “He was lost at sea, Ms. Pearl it can happen to any man.” Linel answered calmly.            “How was he lost as sea?”            “Well, he fell into the ocean, he was drowned in a storm,” Linel looked edgy and he broke his gaze.            “Was he now?” she asked, “fell into the ocean? My father drowned?”            “Yes, Ms. Pearl,” Linel tried to keep his eyes focused but her eyes made his water.            “Have you been getting information from Jeremiah Parker lately?” she asked.            “How do you—?”            “I am not an ordinary lady.” Jacqueline said dismissing the unasked question, “When was the latest you got information from Jeremiah Parker?”            Linel shifted, though the ride was very smooth and the roads were gravel. He couldn’t focus on her and she scooted to the edge of her bench looking directly at him prying his thoughts. “I got a letter the other day from Mr. Parker but it is none of your business—”            “—Jeremiah Parker is my father’s secretary—”            “—he never intended for you to read those letters.”            Jacqueline smiled, “Certainly Linel they are all addressed to his beloved daughter, which by all means must be you.”            Linel didn’t speak his lips pursed and he placed his eyes on the sky outside the window. A faint rattling came from his pocket, the rattling of a key ring with a key for everything in the prison painted white.            “I want you to know, Ms. Pearl,” Linel spoke finally as the silence beat in his ears, “that I am inviting the entire Parker and St. Mary family for dinner tonight.” He looked at her and she displayed no weakness, “I want you to be looking your finest and I hope you will flaunt perfect discipline.”            “Flaunt perfect discipline?” she asked as the coach stopped.            “Yes, Ms. Pearl, I do not want you to speak unless I would approve,” Linel said getting from the coach and not bothering to grant her help. She didn’t need help but Linel had always offered her help before, she leapt from the coach and followed him. “I would like you to act like a regular British woman would in the company of the Parkers.”            “I am not a Brit—”            “—I understand that,” he said turning to her before the doors, the sound of his keys resounding. “I want you to be reasonably like my wife, be kind and courteous and by all means please change those filthy clothes.”            Jacqueline glanced down at her dress, sparkling, and then looked at the few servants cleaning up the remains of a smashed piano. Linel turned on his heel and entered the house, Jacqueline behind him. She started to follow him into the sitting room when he turned abruptly and took hold of her upper arm. This effort made the sound of keys in his pocket jingle.            “Get changed, two maids await your arrival already,” he said with clenched teeth.            “By all means, Captain,” she answered a smile upon her face. When he let her go the sound of jingling keys had disappeared completely.            Glancing at the shadows Jacqueline started up the stairs knowing she had much more than an hour before dinner began. She stayed on the second level and unlocked Linel’s door entering his room silently.             She tucked the keys back into a secret pocket and started looking through his desk drawers. Before, Jacqueline had been here and she knew where to look, she knew everything in this desk and had kept good track with everything often coming while he was sleeping and stealing things for the night.            There in the second drawer on the right she found a new item, an envelope already opened but the letter still sat inside. On the back was the word urgent in scrawny writing and quick movements. She took out the letter and opened it; the seal of the Pearls’ had already been broken. Inside was a summary of something that had been written a few days hence.            A summation of the progress of Captain James Pearl:            To his Beloved Daughter Ms. Jacqueline Pearl,            We are nearly to London, making record time with speeds that I have never felt before. Today the clouds were thick over the waters and the winds had completely died. When we were changing shifts they attacked! Three frigates rounding us like wolves around a boar. They circled and shot down a sail, the wood didn’t splinter as a normal man-o-war would and with our men confused we had no choice but to give in without a fight. James Pearl, your father, did not call this but the Commander insisted that it was for our best interests. The crew came aboard and proclaimed them pirates, which made our men uncomfortable all the more. Their captain, Captain Red came aboard and said that he had all their cannons poised and ready to sink us and that he wouldn’t kill us all if we handed over Mr. Pearl. Immediately Commander St. Mary refused but James said it was best if he submitted. Captain Red and his scurvy crew also took all of James’ gold that he had for the King in London. He told us to come straight back to Kingston and so that we are doing now. James said to take care of his family and that he feared the worst if his family had left Kingston at all. I am baffled by this but maybe it will become clearer as I keep track of our journey, now, retreating back to Kingston. Written by Jeremiah Parker personal escritoire of James Pearl              Jacqueline folded the letter and replaced it in the envelope and then the envelope in the drawer. She searched the other drawers but found nothing as new. She closed the drawers and listened as a servant walked past.            After his steps faded Jacqueline slowly closed the door and began rummaging under Linel’s bed where she pulled a long narrow box. Slowly she opened the box kneeling on the floor before it; inside sat a pile of maps, all unrolled. The top map showed Kingston, before Jacqueline removed the map, there came the noise of the door creaking open. Quickly she pushes the open box under the bed along with herself.            “Hmmm,” it was Linel’s voice, “That’s odd.”            Jacqueline didn’t have a good view from under the bed; only two pairs of shoes entered the room. She glanced around and saw the lid of the box lying where she had left it only arms length away.            “What’s that?” asked the second voice, much younger, still growing.            “Oh,” Linel replied, “It’s just I always lock my door before I leave.”            The door creaked closed and Jacqueline extended her hand to the very corner of the box lid. She tried to pull it but the pair of highly polished black shoes began toward the desk. She retracted her arm quickly making the lid move a bit nearer, but not quite near enough.            “Well, Jeremiah you know why I’ve asked you to come so very early?” Linel asked now his shoes turning around toward the dirtier pair.            “Not quite sir.” The younger voice, Jeremiah’s voice answered.            “You see I invited your family and the St. Mary’s over for dinner tonight and I just wanted to inform you of why.”            “Yes sir,”             “Jacqueline is suspicious of why her father didn’t get off his ship this morning and I have no doubt the Commander led her farther than I wanted. I do not want her to know exactly what happened to her father.”            “But sir—”            “—I know James would have wanted her to know but I cannot permit that, she is my only income.” Jeremiah’s feet shifted and Linel turned toward the desk, “I also care about her deeply, like a father I do not want to see her grieve over such a tragedy as a pirate attack.”            “What do you—?”            “—I have told her that James drowned. I want that story to stand with you.”            “What about Commander St. Mary?”            “I will try him next; I hope he will sway as well.” Linel answered “Now, do we have an agreement? Will you tell Ms. Pearl that her father drowned at sea?”            “I-I-I—” Jeremiah hesitated and Linel’s feet turned toward him.            “If you truly do not want to harm Ms. Pearl you will join me, my lad.” Linel took a significant step toward Jeremiah.            “To protect Ms. Pearl?” Jeremiah asked.            “Yes, she will thank you for it if she ever finds out the truth—”            “—why can’t we tell her the truth sir?”            “She cannot cope with this truth, lad. She is a feeble woman, fragile and this sort of tragedy will shatter her.”            After Jeremiah did not answer Linel stood toe to toe with him, Jacqueline made a grab for the lid and successfully pulled it under with her. “Will you protect Ms. Pearl with this truth?”            “Y-y-yes sir only to protect her”            “Good lad,” answered Linel and they began to leave.            They disappeared from the room and Jacqueline crawled from under the bed and replaced the lid of the box. After doing so she started toward the door but stopped as the shadows still darkened under the door. Slowly Jacqueline crept to the door and pressed her ear to the wood.            “You are a good man Jeremiah and I am sure that she will be proud to know you served so closely to her father. I will ask her what she thinks of you Jeremiah but I’m sure as soon as you two are introduced she will have no chance to resist you.”            “Are you sure, Captain?” Jeremiah asked his voice shy and thin.            Linel chuckled, “Of course, my boy.” One shadow left the door and Linel called after Jeremiah, “Please send the Commander in straight away.”            There was a faint reply but Jacqueline quickly made herself scarce as the doorknob twisted. She ran into the closet and pulled the doors closed before her, leaving a slender break so she could peek out. Just as she slides the doors closed Linel stepped into his room and looked around, a glass in his hand full of a light brown liquid, no ice.            Linel went to the desk and sat on the wooden chair looking at his cup. He took a small drink and then was disturbed as the door opened and St. Mary entered a grim look on his face, a look of strength.           “Ah, Commander I am glad you agreed to meet me.” Linel said standing and taking his hand in a firm shake.            “What is this all about Captain?” St. Mary asked, he too had a glass in his hand and it made a chime as the ice tapped the sides of the glass.            “I need your help in protecting Ms. Pearl,” Linel began.            “Protecting her from what?” St. Mary’s face was unbending; he didn’t let Linel penetrate him.            “From the truth,” Linel answered stirring the liquid in his cup and avoiding St. Mary’s eyes.            “I will not hide the truth from—”            “I am not asking you to hide the truth, Commander; I am merely asking that you protect Ms. Pearl. You are a good friend of the family and I would hope you will join me in protecting Ms. Pearl.”            St. Mary didn’t answer.            “Jeremiah has agreed to help me protect Ms. Pearl, I do not see why you will not,” Linel drank from his cup but still St. Mary stood still. “Commander, I would say that you and James were very close.”            “We are,” agreed St. Mary.            “You seem to think he is not yet dead, Commander.” Linel said looking at the Commander cheerfully, “How long do you think he will last in a pirate’s grip?”            “When I see his corpse then and only then will I admit his defeat. Where is your faith?”            Linel waved away the question and resumed the subject at hand, “Commander, will you not protect his only daughter?”            “Captain Linel,” St. Mary said stepping toward him with a chime echoing from his glass, “Jacqueline deserves to know the truth. She has suffered enough.”            “Suffered?” Linel asked, “How has she suffered, pray tell?”            “Yes, Captain, she has had to stay with you has she not? Spending time with you is torture enough, isn’t it?”            Jacqueline stifled her laugh with her hand but St. Mary was not done with his speech. “Not only was she placed under your strict fist but she also had to watch her mother disappear with orders not to go looking for her. She has to take care of her house, a rather hard task seeing how you do not let her out of this house for more than a few seconds. Nevertheless her brother could be considered dead for all the love he shows. She has nothing left, Captain,”            Linel was still this time, staring at his drink, as St. Mary’s voice was so pure and concentrated he was both stunned and eager.            “The only thing she has now is the ocean,”            “The ocean?” asked Linel looking up at him.            “Yes,” St. Mary said, “I believe that is where you can find her most, Linel.”            Linel furrowed his brow, “I just suspected she was waiting for her father’s return is all.”            “No, no,” St. Mary continued smiling, “You see that ocean is the only thing that understands Ms. Pearl,” At this moment he glanced toward Jacqueline and their eyes met briefly, “it is the only thing that will listen when she speaks and the only thing that answers her completely. I do not want to make her rely on the ocean more than she already does, Captain. If she cannot find the truth from anyone but that ocean then that is where she will continue to go until her very death. I will not drive her to remain in the ocean’s care.”            “Commander—” but the Commander had left, leaving behind his glass, Linel in his thoughts and Jacqueline wondering if St. Mary could read minds.

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