Page 14 of Unchartered Curves

Duane pulled off his t-shirt and put it over my head. They both helped me get my arms through it.

As Steven was talking to the medics, I felt myself relax a little.

“I had a couple of drinks this morning,” I heard him say.

It was only 10:30 in the morning. Steven liked to drink when we were together, but it hadn’t seemed problematic. He’d have more on weekends. But maybe his drinking had increased.

Security stepped in front of me, and I tried to explain what had happened. When I held up my hand that he’d grabbed, I noticed faint bruises.

“He grabbed you?” Duane interrupted. He and Gill glared at Steven, who was now sitting in a chair. Someone had brought him coffee, and he was also answering questions from security while the medics continued to check him out.

“Yes, and he pulled harder. So I shoved him. I didn’t mean for his chair to go back like that. Where-where did he cut his head?” I was crying now.

The men moved closer to me.

“I think he scraped it on the side of the pool. Several others saw him bothering you.”

We looked over at Steven. He wasn’t protesting, thank goodness, just nodding at whatever the medics and security were saying to him.

“Are you finished questioning Anisa?” Gill asked, his arm around my shoulders.

“Yes, he does not want to press charges.” The young investigator consulted his iPad. “I have your contact info if there are further questions.”

“Do you want to press charges?” He asked me.

I jolted a little.

“You could, you know,” Duane said quietly next to me. He also had an arm around my waist. I loved the feel of both of their powerful arms around me.

“No. No, I don’t think so. I just want him to leave me alone. Leave us alone,” I added.

“I don’t think that will be a problem. I’ll let him know that myself. Please let me know if he bothers you again on this trip.” The young officer stood up. “You may want to avoid being alone in the corridors. This is a safe cruise, and we have a lot of surveillance, but we can’t be everywhere all the time.”

He shook Duane’s hand. “Thanks for making that call. How did you know the right codes?”“Gill and I are researching our next book,” he pointed at Gill.

“Really? Do you guys have a pen name?” When Duane said it, the man shook Duane’s hand more enthusiastically. “Fantastic. I love those! Could I get a selfie?”

“Of course,” Gill said.

I ended up taking the picture for them. The man’s enthusiasm for my two author guys made me smile for the first time since I’d come out here this morning.

Chapter eight

Gill

“Did we get everything we needed?” I asked Duane later as the three of us left our interview with the Captain and some of the staff for the ship.

“Yes, I think so,” Duane said. “We could likely call that officer if we need more information, too.”

“Yes, he loved you guys,” Anisa squeezed my hand. “Are you guys up for dinner and trivia?”

“Yes.” I said. “I’m up for anything you suggest.”

“Really,” she said, drawing it out. “What if I wanted to spend another night with you guys, and maybe in the same bed this time?”

I pulled her into my arms for a kiss.

“No! It was Teddy Roosevelt!” Duane called, as the last team opposing us that night named the wrong Roosevelt.

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