She was slumped between rocks at the edge of the beach where I’d first met her. The incoming tide had soaked the hem of her gown. Her head lolled and a trail of drool glistened on her chin. I shook her shoulder. “Hey, wake up.” She snored louder. “Come on, Queenie, I need to talk to you.” She groaned and rolled away from me. This time I shook both her shoulders. “I want to talk to you about pirates.” “Pirates?” She opened one bleary eye. “Don’t know nuffin’ about pirates.” “Cut the crap. I know you were involved with Captain Dick Finch.” Her lower lip trembled. Tears flooded her eyes. “Dickie,” she mumbled. “I loved that man. I was loyal to ’im till the day he died. Even when that smart lieutenant—Royal Navy, you know—offered me a king’s ransom to betray me Dickie.
