"Yes," Nathan agreed.

"I'm not going to let anyone near her," Caine announced then. "But I'm not convinced they're certain

she has the letters. Either one of you could have hidden them before you were taken. It must be making them crazed, though, waiting for the letters to surface again. They're getting desperate, 1 would imagine."

"So what do we do?" Colin asked.

"First things first," Caine said. He turned to look at Jade. "Do you remember what you asked of me

when you came into the tavern that night?"

She slowly nodded. "I asked you to kill me."

"You what?" Nathan roared his question.

"She asked me to kill her," Caine repeated, though he never took his gaze off Jade.

"But he declined my request," Jade explained. "I knew he would, of course. And just what does that

have to do with your plan?"

The dimple was back in evidence when he grinned at her. "It's really very simple, love. I've changed my mind. I've decided to accommodate you."

"Pagan has to die," Caine said, his voice low, emphatic. "It's the only way." He stared at Nathan when

he made that statement. Jade's brother was quick to nod agreement.

Jade bounded out of her chair. "I don't want to die," she cried out. "I won't have it, Caine."

"Now, Jade…" Nathan began.

"He's talking about the pirate," Colin explained. "He isn't really going to kill you, love."

Jade glared at Colin. "I know exactly what he's talking about," she snapped. "And I still won't have it.

Do you have any idea how many years it's taken to build my reputation? When I think…"

The men were ignoring her now. Nathan and Colin were actually smiling. Jade gave up. She sat down again and turned to frown at Caine. "If you hadn't started your hunt to capture Pagan, none of this

would be necessary now. This is all your fault, Caine."

"Jade, it's the only way," Nathan argued. "If Pagan dies, or rather, if the world believes the pirate is

dead, then Caine would have to give up his hunt, wouldn't he? The Tribunal knows he fully believes Pagan is responsible for killing his brother, remember?"

She reluctantly nodded. "Then they'd leave Caine alone, wouldn't they? He'd be safe again?"

Nathan smiled. He turned to Caine. "This plan of yours solves more than one problem," he remarked

with a telling glance in his sister's direction.

Caine nodded. "Jade, you're going to have to change a few of your ways. When Pagan dies, you aren't going to be able to…"

"It's my work," she cried out. "It's what I do best."

Caine closed his eyes. "Exactly what is it that you do so well?"

Nathan answered him. "Harry did the pirating," he explained. "Jade was always on board, but he was

the leader back then. She took care of the land raids. She does have a special talent, Caine. There isn't

a safe she can't open, a latch she can't trick loose."

"In other words, she was an adequate petty thief," Caine drawled out. He was frowning at Jade when

he made that statement.

She took immediate exception to both his manner and his opinion. "I don't care what you think of me, Caine. The deception's over now and you'll never see me again, so it really doesn't matter to me…"

Jade stopped her tirade when Harry's bellow reached her. A woman's shrill scream came next. Jade assumed one of the servants was being terrorized. "If you'll excuse me for a moment?" she asked.

She didn't bother to wait for permission, but rushed out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, Caine turned to Nathan. "She'll figure it all out very soon," he announced. "But hopefully by then

we will have staged Pagan's death and it will be too late."

Colin nodded. "Yes, she's bound to realize they know she's with you and that killing Pagan isn't going

to make any difference now. You're both still in danger. Odd, but Jade's usually much quicker," he added. "How long do you think it will take for her to sort it all out?"

It was Nathan who answered. "She already has, Colin. Didn't you see the look of relief in her eyes. It

was fleeting, but there all the same. Deep down, I think she wants it to be over."

"Wouldn't you?" Caine asked Colin. "How could any of you want to go back on the ocean again? Jade isn't capable of being very logical right now. She thinks she has to resume her former… duties," he whispered. "It's a way of proving herself, perhaps. Still, it doesn't matter what her motives are now.

She needs someone to take the possibility away from her, to demand she quit."

"And that's you, Caine?" Colin asked.

"Yes."

Jade walked back into the salon then. Nathan turned to her. "Jade? I don't think you should leave with Jimbo and Matthew just yet. Wait until we've settled this problem."

"Do you mean wait until you've found the Tribunal?" She sounded appalled. "I can't stay here, not

after…"

Caine glared her into forgetting her protest. Jade walked over to the side of his chair and stood there.

Her hands were folded in front of her.

"What about Harry?" Caine asked Nathan. "Will he give us any problems?"

"Why would he?" Colin asked with another yawn. "He's retired now. Surely you've noticed there

haven't been any ships pirated in a long while."

"I noticed," Caine returned. "Still, he might take exception to having his ship burned."

"No!"

Jade was so appalled by that suggestion, she had to sit down. She moved back to the chair and collapsed.

Nathan was sympathetic. "The Emerald has been home for Jade," he said. "Perhaps we could find another ship, paint it to look like the Emerald, and set fire to it. Harry would keep the real one safely hidden."

Caine nodded. "Can he see to this chore? There have to be witnesses to the ship's sinking, witnesses who'll testify they saw Pagan die."

"If it's all spelled out for him, yes," Nathan agreed.

"If he's wearing his spectacles," Colin interjected with a grin.

"I'll go and speak to him now," Caine announced.

Nathan stood up before Caine did. "It's time for you to get some rest, Colin."

Before Caine or his brother realized Nathan's intent, he'd lifted Colin into his arms. Nathan staggered under the weight, righted himself, and then started out of the room. Colin immediately started protesting.