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"Mr London!" Ghost called from below "Don’t cut the rope, if you please It will only mean repairs later"

Jack hesitated but then sheathed Johansen’s stiletto again He had to ive the rope slack, and holding hi at the makeshift noose around his neck Jack had no ti and descended as fast as he could, hand over hand, until he dropped to the deck

Finn freed hi on all fours ten feet away Jack could have run toward Ghost, but he had no faith the captain would protect hi noas uncertain His life would be decided in ain, and this time when Finn saw it, he paused It made no sense Werewolves were incredibly difficult to kill A single stiletto should not have linted in the poor laht

"Hold him," Ghost said

Jack stiffened, afraid that the captain referred to hirabbed Finn The re and TreeEven if he freed himself from the twins, the rest of the creould not let hiht hate Ghost and disapprove of the decisions he’d beenof late, but Finn hadhis punisher, and hope that the time had come to fulfill the laws of the pack

"What the hell is wrong with you, Ghost?" Finn snarled "You heard me I know you did Your ridiculous pet, your ‘first et to the loot"

Ghost began to pace, walking in a circle around Jack and the creho held Finn

"Why would he do that, Finn? Where would he go?"

"He said hiht, surely Mr London may suffer from the weakness inherent in hunity and other foolishness But he is not a fool"

Ghost paused and glanced around at the rest of the crew

"Kelly!" the captain barked "You’d like to see our Mr London dead, I’d wager"

"Wouldn’t hurt

Ghost reached into his pocket and brought out the fistful of dialitter in his open palm

"Someone broke into the stores, went into our treasury below, and took these diamonds They were scattered on the floor as if the thief had been surprised in the act You heard Mr London and Finn, here, arguing about it just now Of the thich is fool enough to try such a thing?"

Tree swore Vukovich beganfuriously Maurilio had co below--and sidled up beside the captain to look greedily upon the precious diamonds

"Finn killed Johansen," Kelly said "He hates you, Captain He’s at the botto to live But I wouldn’t have thought even Finn fool enough to try to steal fro the diaht Maybe Finn walked in on Mr London in the ht him red-handed"

"Maybe," Maurilio said

"Not a chance," Kelly sneered

Jack kept his breathing steady, but his throat had tightened and his one dry He looked back and forth fro he could not speak out of turn It had to be played just right, and he had to choose his words carefully

"Why not?" Ghost asked

"You heard hiht be soft, but he’s sood would it do him? He wanted to fix the lock down there so he could escape If he took the diamonds then, I’d say sure, maybe it’s him But where would he hide ’e to break free of his captors and failing Huginn and Muninn held hiht "I’ll kill you I’ll kill you all!"

"Sounds like a guilty re, and Tree were nodding in agreement

"You can’t let hi expectantly at Ghost "First he killed Johansen, and now this Whatever gao on"

Ghost ignored hi at hi for the truth Jack felt only hate and loathing inside hi it would mask his fear of discovery He had lowered the stiletto, letting the blade dangle at his side Now Ghost took it froht

"Where the hell did he get that?" Vukovich growled