Ben saw both women were staring into his eyes. He felt terribly uncomfortable with the desperate need in their stares. “Please answer the Chief Inspector’s questions. He’s here to protect you… as I will,” he said and felt the two women relax. It seems this was what they were waiting to hear.
The blonde spoke first. Ben got the impression that of the two she was more dominant. “I am Sharmuta and this is Zebala,” she said with a quiet, soft voice.
Favreau froze and looked at the two women. Ben wondered at his reaction to their names. He thought they just sounded exotic.
Favreau collected himself. “Do you remember the names you originally had before you began to live with Mr. Shakir?”
Sharmuta shook her head but Zebala nodded after a moment. “My name was Penny and hers was Karen.” The blonde stared wide eyed at the brunette and began to cry. This triggered the other to cry as well. They reached across Ben to hold hands.
Ben made his calming sounds again and the two women settled in tighter against his sides. He began to worry how he was going to extract himself from this situation.
“May I use your original names?” Favreau asked and the ladies nodded.
“Do you know where Mr. Shakir is now?” he asked.
They shook their heads.
“Do you know where he might be?”
Karen looked over at Penny. They seemed to confer. “The ship?” Karen finally said.
“Mr. Shakir has a boat?” the Chief Inspector said quickly. He received nods.
“What kind of boat?” Favreau asked.
“A white one,” Karen said and the Inspector looked like his wits were fraying.
“Was there a name printed on the back of the boat?” Ben asked.
“Wings of Change” Penny said quickly. “We live there.”
“A private yacht!” Favreau beamed.
“Then why were you locked in the room of that house?” Ben asked confused.
“The ship is being fixed,” Karen replied.
“To carry more people,” Penny offered.
The Chief Inspector gave Ben an ominous look. Ben realized these ‘people’ wouldn’t likely be getting a cabin to stay in. Most likely it would be a small, hidden smuggling compartment.
Favreau went to the door and spoke to an officer outside. Then he sat once more and proceeded to ask a long series of questions regarding the places Mr. Shakir took the women, restaurants, clubs, hotels, and different cities.
Ben found himself growing sleepy pressed between the warm softness of the two women and after the stressful day before he began to nod off.
“MR. SHEPHERD!”
Ben’s head snapped up and he blinked the sleep from his eyes. He looked across at the Chief inspector. “Sorry, what?” he asked and saw the two women looking angrily at Favreau.
“You fell asleep and they stopped talking so as not to wake you,” the man growled.
“Sorry, it was a really busy day yesterday that didn’t end for me until six this morning. I’m a little wiped. Did you get the information you needed?” Ben asked as he yawned.
“Most but I still have more questions.”
Ben yawned again. He really was exhausted.
“That’s enough for today. He’s tired and needs to rest!” Karen said emboldened by Ben’s presence.
Ben looked at Karen with a little surprised smile on his lips. She looked at him and seemed to bloom under his admiring look. He smiled at Penny and she also beamed a smile at him.
“They’re right. I’m fried. If you have any critical questions that might help you catch the sick bastard sooner please ask them now. If not, I’d like to go back to my hotel,” Ben said and immediately felt the two women cling to him tighter. “Uh, where are the ladies going to be staying?”
“They are important witnesses so we will keep them under police protection in a secure location,” Favreau said tersely.
The ladies began to whimper and looked to Ben desperately. He felt trapped. He looked to the Chief Inspector. “Could you put them up at the hotel I’m staying at? Put guards on them there?”
“What kind of budget do you think we have, Mr. Shepherd?” Favreau growled.
Ben took a deep breath as his temper was flaring as much as the exhausted officer’s was. “I’ll put them up in my room if you place guards on it. It won’t cost you anything. My room is a suite which has a comfortable couch for me as well. Does that work for you?”
The man glared at Ben then seemed to realize his exhaustion was getting the best of him. He relaxed and nodded. “Yes, that would actually be helpful. Thank you.”
He looked at the two ladies. “Is that ok with you?”
They both nodded happily.
The Chief Inspector left to make the arrangements.
Ben looked at the coveralls the two women were wearing. Supplied by the police to cover the lack of clothes they came in with. “Do you have any clothes?” he asked then realized it was a stupid question as everything they had was likely still on the ship. They shook their heads sadly. “I’ll get something for you at the hotel.” That earned him some smiles. He yawned once more.
Ben felt himself slipping back into his sleepy state. He gently untangled himself from the ladies who were feeling a little more at ease as they knew they were going with him to the hotel. He stood up and stretched which caused him to wince as his new injury made its presence known.
He walked over to the mirrored window and lifted his shirt to look at the bandage which was showing some spots of blood. Nothing major.
Karen was next to him in an instant. “Were you shot?”
“It’s just a flesh wound,” he tried one last time and they erupted into giggles. Ben felt absurdly pleased and blushed.