Aces and Moonshine

            Muttered curses were the only sound to be heard as the well-known criminal, Jack
Sparrow, made his way through the ventilation system of the supposedly secure prison he had
been living in for the past three days. It had been an okay vacation, but now it was time to go
back to work. And a jumpsuit did not make him look very professional.

            Sparrow was known far and wide for his private juice-joint, ‘The Black Pearl’. It was
where everybody who was anybody went for their moonshine. Prime stuff. Of course, it was also
the place certain people came to when they wanted their business discussions to be kept out of
the cops hearing range.

            Easy, now... just a little further, and I’ll be out of these back vents quicker than Annie
loses her jive. Home free. Ah, the sweet feeling of succ-

            He heard the creaking of metal a little too late. The vent cover broke out from under him,
and he found himself in another inmate’s cell. He hit the floor like a cat, and scrambled to check
for who might notice. The only one who’d awoke from the sound was another inmate, one he’d
never seen before. Dark curls, tied back loosely in a pony-tail. Chestnut eyes staring right into his
soul. Lithe body, thinner than the average joe. He was a kid, probably barely over twenty.

            Jack was instantly struck by the boy’s incredible look of innocence. He wondered just
what a dumb-luck kid like him was doing in a place like that. But, then, who judged everything
by looks? Even the ‘tastiest tomatoes’ had a kick. Look at Annie! Though she wasn’t exactly the
ripest tomato on the vine, she still had some hard-boiled joes coming at her on the regular. And
he was sure this guy would be a regular cake-eater if he got out.

            Which looks like it’s gonna be the case... The boy was already on his feet. A silent
agreement passed between them, Jack only having a little trouble looking him in the eye. He
hated doing that. Never did. But those chocolate depths were hard to avoid. The deal stood: He’d
be quiet if Jack took him with.

            With a silent nod, He stepped aside, and let the boy brush past him, climbing into the
shaft only after he was certain the guard had not been awakened.

                                                                           ***

            Will Turner was feeling more excited than he’d ever felt. Three days in the slammer, and
this guy he didn’t even know was busting him out. Not of his own free will, of course, but still...
He was out, and he was going clean. No more poker, no more dice, no more bets. Wait, scratch
that, no more gambling at all. It was illegal. And he didn’t want to go back to jail.

            Oh, come on, Turner! Ya’ve made a livin’ off your poker face! You’re not gonna cut cold
turkey! You know it’s the truth!

            And it was. Gambling, not to mention the knack he had for counterfeiting, had carved
him a niche in Chicago’s highest society. Known all over the city as Will ‘Straight-Faced Joker’
Turner, he’d been sought out for his extreme skill in the games of chance by everybody who was
anybody. Of course, they’d always been a little shocked by the age of their new associate, but
he’d prove himself by the end of the first hand.

            As they snuck past the rest of the guards in this supposedly ‘tightly secure’ prison, they
found themselves in front of a chain-link fence, barbed wire lining it. Looking over at his fellow
inmate, to see what his plans were next, he was surprised to see him pull out a small pair of
clippers. He looked up to meet the man’s eyes. He grinned.

            “Swiped them from the guard, kiddo, let’s mooch!” the man hissed. Will grabbed the
clippers, climbed the fence, and snipped off an expanse of wire as quick as he could. He then
pushed it off and jumped the fence, the older man close behind.

            He took a moment to study the guy. Older than him, most definitely. The man almost had
a sinful look about him, as though just staring at him too long could earn you eternal damnation.
His hair was long, most definitely out of fashion, but then again, so was Will’s. But his was
definitely longer. Dark brown hair and even darker eyes. Mustache, too. And a catlike body that
looked tastier than a four-course meal.

            As soon as the man was off the fence, they made a run for it. By the time they stopped,
they were on the outskirts of Chicago.

            “Hey, kiddo...” Will looked up to see the man catching his breath and smiling at him.            “Yeah?” he asked, a little hesitant. He didn’t know this guy.

            “Where ya headed for?” he asked.

            “We gotta stick together. That way, we can keep it tight, and nobody will catch us.” Will
answered, slightly annoyed that his fellow criminal didn’t know there was safety in numbers.

            The man sighed, and leaned against a tree. “Fine, kiddo, but don’t get in the way.” he
said. “And keep that pretty trap shut, got it?”

            Will nodded. “Who are ya, anyway?” he asked, finally realizing he’d never gotten a
name.

            “Ya mean ya haven’t hear of me?!” The man sent him a toothy grin. “I’m Jack Sparrow!
The one and only!”

            Jack Sparrow?!

            THE Jack Sparrow?! He couldn’t believe it! Wasn’t he supposed to be uncatchable?! He
felt like laughing out loud! This was great! Him and the Famous Jack Sparrow, on the run,
together. Wasn’t this just wonderful?! And he was sure they’d give them extra special nooses
when they were caught together!

            “And you, kiddo? Who the hell are ya, and wat’cha doin’ in the slammer so young?”

            “Will. Brown.” First rule of thumb, when you’re notorious, don’t EVER give out your
real name.

                                                                           ***

            “Hmm... so, what were ya doin’ there, ‘Will Brown’?” Jack knew the kid was lying. He
was too cool. But, Jack knew a good liar when he saw one, so he let it go. He’d get it out of him
later.

            “Got caught with some bootleg.” He said, once again, far too calmly.

            “That so? What’cha wanna get ossified for? You’re not old enough ta have a broken heart
yet.” he tried, hoping the kid would slip up.

            Before the kid could speak, a car pulled up the dirt road, Annie at the wheel. She pounded
the horn at Jack, a signal to get in.

            “That’s my ticket. You coming, ‘Will Brown’?” he asked, nodding toward the car. Will
nodded, silently.

            As they both got in the car, Annie raised an eyebrow at the new passenger.

            “Annie, doll-baby, this is ‘Will Brown’. He’ll be hangin’ around, least ‘til the heat’s off.”

            “M’kay. To the Swann?” She asked, sweetly.

            “Don’t be fooled, she’s a bearcat.” he warned Will. “Sure thing, Annie.”

            With that, Annie floored it. The car zoomed far away from the prison, and deep into the
heart of Chicago.