Steals from pawn shop

But Fitzwilliam wasn't listening. His attention was trained on a pawnshop. A glum-looking shopkeeper sat next to a trash barrel full of silver jewelry, dinnerware, and goblets. Silver was literally cheaper than dirt in New Orleans now. But what attracted Fitzwilliam's attention was the gold jewellery in the window. One pocket watch in particular. His pocket watch. The one that had been stolen from him by a crook on Isla Fortuna during the crew's quest for the Sword of Cortes.

"We must go in here!" Fitzwilliam declared, grabbing Jack's shoulder and pulling him in. He made straight for his lost treasure.

"I love shopping as much as the next tourist," Jack said, "but shouldn't we get back to the others with--" Jack stopped short. Another small gold object in a glass case grabbed his attention. It looked like a round gold pebble or stone. Or gem. "The last stone!" Jack whispered, punching Fitzwilliam excitedly in the shoulder. "The gold one! There it is!"

"Oh, so it is," Fitzwilliam said, without taking his eyes off the watch. He couldn't tell if it had the inscription on the back.... If it did, it would prove it was his.

"Here's what we'll do, mate," Jack said, rubbing his hands together while forming a plan. "You distract the shop owner. I'll get the gem."

"Jack," Fitzwilliam said disapprovingly, "I'll not take part in your illegal little ventures.

"It's not stealing," Jack said. The shop keeper looked over at them, suspicious of their low voices. Jack shot him a quick smile and then pulled Fitzwilliam aside and whispered, "Look, everyone has been claiming that this wretched amulet belongs to them--Madame Minuit, Silverback, Tumen's townsfolk....It can't belong to everyone. Therefore, it must belong to no one. Therefore, I'm not stealing it. Because no one really owns it. Savvy?"

There was something wrong with this logic. Fitzwilliam was sure of it. But he needed that watch. "Good sir," Fitzwilliam said in a grand, loud voice, turning to the shopkeeper. "How much for this here watch?"

"Oh, that's a beaut, ain't it?" the man said, brightening at the prospect of a real customer.

"Nice Dutch craftsmanship. It will set y'all back a pretty penny. Though by the looks of it, y'all can easily afford such a thing." Fitzwilliam was seething. He shouldn't have to pay for the watch--it was his to begin with! "This?" he said, trying to sound indifferent. It was hard. "It looks like golden junk to me. I could be persuaded perhaps to take it off your hands...."

Every word hurt. As soon as he saw the nobleman and the shopkeeper deeply involved with haggling over the watch, Jack set to work. Not that he had a lot of experience taking things locked in glass cases--of course not. He had just picked up useful information here and there on his travels. Like how if you spat on your palms and pressed against the glass...like so... and up...There was a little click as the pane of glass neatly popped out of its frame. Jack delicately lifted the gem from among the other charms, rings, and trinkets. He rolled it in the palm of his hand. The last stone! They would finally unleash the full power of the amulet and maybe even solve the mystery of the City of Gold. The words of Tumen's grandfather came back to him: Wherever the silver lives, the city is. Jack stuffed the gem in his pocket.

***

The City of Gold, Chapter 2