875. Chapter 875

After Get a Clue

Episode 6.06

By

UCSBDad

Disclaimer: Does anyone here have a clue about who owns Castle, 'cause I don't. Rating: K Time: See above

Author's note: This is a sequel to chapters 785, 788, 808, 830, 842 and 859.

The two women walked slowly into the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Sacre Couer de Guadalupe. It was obvious from their clothing and manner than they were women of quality. One was a tall, slender brunette, dressed in a fine light blue silk gown, but with a lace mantilla around her face. The other was a younger woman, dressed in a fine pearl grey dress, and also covering her face with a mantilla. However, through the lace one could see that the younger woman's hair was a striking color of red.

The brunette approached the confessional booths at the side of the cathedral and whispered, "Father Ryan? Are you here?" She exchanged glances with the young redhead and then whispered again. "Father Ryan? Where are you?"

"Nowhere that he can reply to you, I fear." Said a feminine voice.

The brunette turned to see a woman standing behind them, a double barreled pistol in each hand. However, her face was shrouded in the darkness of the nighttime cathedral.

The brunette stepped in front of the redhead. "I will surrender peacefully to you if you'll let my step-daughter go. I swear I will do this before God and all that I hold dear."

The other woman laughed. "But do you not need your stepdaughter to navigate your ship, the Revenge, Captain Beckett?

Captain Kate Beckett of the pirate ship Revenge loosened her hold in the hilt of the dagger concealed in the folds of her dress. "And why would you want me to have a navigator for my ship?"

The woman chuckled but kept her pistols pointed at the two women. "We have a mutual friend. That friend would like you to read the copy of the London Gazette that you will find in the hymnal to your right."

Kate reached slowly for the hymnal and indeed found a folded newspaper inside. As she read it, her heart sank. Jordan Shaw, the special investigator for the Crown, had been arrested and charged with treason for being part of a plot to assassinate King George I. Only two months before Kate had seen Shaw leave for London with documents that would prove that Sir William Bracken, the Royal Governor of Jamaica, was a ruthless killer, thief and pirate. He had indeed had Kate's own parents murdered which had led Kate to take up piracy as the only way to avenge her parents.

"Our mutual friend thinks you might wish to go to London to rescue Jordan Shaw. If you should so desire, there is a package of information of the friends of Bracken who have helped him frame Shaw and do many other horrible things. Look under the pew."

Indeed, Kate found a packet of documents wrapped in oilskin. She turned to the woman "Does this mutual friend have a name?"

"Indeed. However, I am not at liberty to disclose it."

"Do you have a name?" Kate enquired.

"But of course. I am called Simone Renoir, at your service, Madame Captain." The woman curtseyed, but kept her pistols levelled at the women.

"And yet you hold us at gunpoint and still talk of mutual friends. Odd, indeed."

Simone nodded. "We live in perilous times, Captain Beckett. I fear that while you have the reputation of being an honorable woman, there are those that would forebear stretching your neck for the chance to sever mine. Accordingly, I must be careful. And now I must bid you adieu." The woman stepped backwards and disappeared into the gloom.

Kate and Alexis hurried back to the Revenge and explained what had happened to Kate's husband, Dr. Rick Castle. Sitting in the great cabin of the Revenge, the three looked over the documents that Simone had provided.

"I don't like this at all." Rick said. "It looks too much like a trap. Even if this so called mutual friend isn't setting you up, Bracken will know that you'll try to rescue Shaw. They'll be waiting for you."

Kate shrugged. "What am I to do? I fight Bracken and the enemies of England, but I have no desire to be a pirate all my life. I wish to settle down and live a normal life with my husband and children."

"We seem to have some powerful enemies in London. Herr Enrnst von Demming is the secretary to the Lord High Justice. Herr Ulrich von Vaughn works for the Treasury, but us actually in charge of hunting down the enemies of the state. Lastly is Rudolf von Sorenson who seems to be a cut throat for hire."

"Odd that they would be German." Rick muttered.

"Not so odd, dear Father. Our King George I is German. He was the Elector-Prince of Hanover before Queen Anne died and he ascended to the throne of England. The King has brought many Germans to serve him."

While the father and daughter discussed the information given them, Kate sat deep in thought. Finally she spoke. "The Revenge is a fine ship, but we cannot fight all of England. We must rescue Shaw using stealth and guile, not force."

"We are to sneak into England then?" Rick asked.

"Oh, not sneak, Rick. Not sneak at all."

Two months later, a fine frigate sailed up the English Channel flying a flag never seen before in European waters. A Royal Navy ship was sent out to enquire what the ship was. Soon all of London and then all of England was abuzz at the news that an emissary had come from a powerful and wealthy African Kingdom to establish commercial and diplomatic relations. London merchants were especially pleased to find that Princess L'Anie, the emissary, told them that silks, spices, gems and gold were to be had in her country at very low prices. Princess L'Anie, who had been rescued from slavery by Captain Beckett and her people were happy to take part in the charade. All of the valuables had been taken for free from Governor Bracken's ships.

Also of interest was a lovely, slender blonde woman who had been shipwrecked as a little girl on the coast of Africa and raised by Princess L'Anie. The woman was married to a gentleman explorer who had taught her some English after finding her during his travels. Everyone found them quite interesting and they were invited everywhere.

Eventually Kate, Rick and L'Anie found themselves at the stately home of the Lord High Justice, Sir Percy Petti-Phougger. Princess L'Anie was showing one of the guests, Lady Pamela Rypt-Bodyce her emerald necklace.

"It's magnificent, Your Highness." Said her ladyship.

L'Anie at once took it off and handed it to Lady Pamela. Rick spoke in lieu of L'Anie. "The Princess would like you to have it. In her homeland, such jewels are so common as to be nearly worthless."

Lady Pamela's eye's widened in shock. "I must tell Sir Percy of this."

Soon, Sir Percy came over. As the conversation went on, Rick spoke again for L'Anie. "Princess Lanie has been told you have a traitor in custody who was plotting to kill the king. In her country, the Royal Elephant herd would already have trampled the miscreant."

Sir Percy nodded. "Perhaps soon we can do that, but for now, we must use a jury and a hangman. Would the princess like to see the miserable felon? She's in the prison next door."

They agreed and soon Rick, Kate and L'Anie and her whole entourage were off to the prison with Sir Percy. Unlike in many prisons, Jordan Shaw was not being kept in a dank, underground dungeon, but above ground where she could enjoy the London weather. It was raining.

But as our intrepid heroes approached Shaw's cell, von Demming, von Vaughn and von Sorenson stepped out in front of them.

"Captain Beckett and Dr. Castle. So good of you to come. We've been expecting you. I'm afraid we'll have to ask all of you to join our traitorous agent." Von Demming slapped at his neck. "A mosquito, here? How could….." Before he could finish, he collapsed, as did von Vaughn, von Sorenson and Sir Percy.

Alexis stepped from her hiding place, carrying a long tube. "I find the blowgun quite useful, L'Anie. And the poison should keep them out for several hours.

"Or forever." L'Anie said softly, reaching for a dagger at her waist.

Kate shook her head. "They may kill that way, but I will not. Let us free Jordan Shaw and be off.

And so Princess L'Anie and her entourage disappeared from London and once aboard the Revenge, they headed into the grey Atlantic bound for sunnier climes.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, Kate." Jordan said as they gathered in the great cabin of the Revenge. "But they took and destroyed the documents I had that proved that Governor Bracken is a criminal. And Bracken grows wealthier and more powerful every day. Perhaps you should leave the Caribbean and go elsewhere. Asia perhaps?"

Kate looked at her husband and stepdaughter. The three shared a silent message. Kate slowly shook her head. "No, I shall remain here and do my best to bring Bracken to justice. And somewhere, we have a friend who wishes to help us."