Ansuya saw the subtle deflection of the man trying to dictate what would happen. Ansuya had worked too hard over the last ninety minutes to not be near Commander Simmons when he questioned the captain who was standing on the other side of her.

  “My friend could probably show you a lot better than me.” Ansuya pointed to Charles who had joined them on the small helo pad. “Charles knows this boat a lot better than I do. I’d probably just get lost, haha.”

  “That’s no problem, Sir,” Charles interrupted and offered his hand to the Commander.

  The Commander took the tall man’s hand, “And you are?”

  “I’m Charles, Sir, Charles Mabena. I got some part time work on the vessel as part of the deal for these kind gentlemen taking us back to America. Our boat capsized and sank. It was stupid as hell. I mean, I was wasted when it happened, almost drowned. I would have too if it wasn’t for me rolling off and hitting my head on a table, stupid thing, hurt like hell.”

  The Commander made to interrupt the tall man with a wave of his hands.

  Charles smiled and continued, “So, yeah, I could show your guys to the galley. Just have them follow me.” He waited to escort the medics down to the galley.

  Commander Simmons rubbed his chin and nodded to the three guys carrying large medical bags to follow him. The three men fell in line and hurried after their guide as he led them down the steep stairway into the bowels of the ship.

  Commander Simmons turned back to Ansuya, “Is there someplace we could talk?”

  Ansuya, the Captain, the rest of Aceso’s pack, and the conscious crew members spent the next six hours in a hasty interrogation set up by Commander Simmons. After he had placed the port pilot that they had brought with them in charge of the bridge he set up a temporary headquarters in the captain’s own cabin.

  One by one he called in each and every one of them. Ansuya managed to stay close to the captain and the other crew members for as long as possible. Her influence would hold over them for a few days. She hoped that they were back on solid ground in America by then. Once they were there the Shape shifters could disappear off the radar.

  Simmons kept the Chinese captain in the room for the longest time by far. It was probably a combination of language barrier and the fact that being the captain of the vessel he would have the most information to share.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Ansuya spent a decent amount of time with the Commander as well. She studied his quirks and mannerisms. She pushed pheromones towards him, not that she really hoped to affect him in any extreme way, but she knew that he would readily accept what she said with a bit of help. That and she totally kept up her impression of an idiot. And, like, it was much easier for a guy to just like go with what you were saying if you really didn’t act all that smart and junk. It was a tool for survival, nothing more. The reed that bent with the wind survived many more storms than the reed that stood rigid in defiance. Besides, she could smell his confidence and his control. He was one of those guys that liked being in charge. She was just playing up to that aspect of his personality, and his ego. She didn’t detect even a small hint of suspicion from him. Men could be really dumb when a pretty face was involved.

  After her time with Commander Simmons, she was escorted back down below decks to the galley. Aceso’s pack was there as well as a few of the injured crewman, the cook, and the captain of the vessel. She smiled warmly at the group and winked at William and the rest of the Shape shifters. This got her a smile and nod from Charles. Nicolas and Katherine were subdued and quiet. The effects of the drug had worn off a little while ago but there was something that lingered with both of them. Katherine was absently brushing her wavy brown hair with her fingers, not really looking at anything.

  Ansuya sat down next to the young woman and looking up at their escorts, smiled, and shrugged her shoulders. The two men who had brought her down here silently moved outside the galley and closed the hatch.

  “How did it go?” William asked.

  Ansuya shook her head, “about as well as can be expected. Nothing I couldn’t handle though.” She nodded towards Aceso, “How are you, Aceso?”

  The black furred wolf looked up from her place on the floor and whipped her tail against the floor and snorted harshly in the Elder’s direction.

  Ansuya pursed her lips, “I see.” She remained quiet for several minutes calmly regarding the wolf on the floor. Ansuya knew what the pack Alpha was going through. She was the only wolf born in the group. She was pack Alpha and yet couldn’t take any responsibility or actions for her pack. She couldn’t dictate what was going on. Ansuya, as an Elder, had the right to direct the pack as she saw fit, but it was a serious insult to the wolf that she could not direct and be her pack’s Alpha. Ansuya quietly forgave the wolf for her rude behavior.

  For the next few hours, they sat and talked idly about their trip and vacation to China and Singapore. Ansuya had given them instructions on where they had gone and what they had seen. The pack members talked about amusing things that they dreamt up on the spot, and their fantasy vacation took on a very real life of its own. It was all for the benefit of their captors. Ansuya was well versed in human psychology and how cops would deal with this situation. They were looking for holes in their story. If they talked about their crazy vacation, it would only strengthen their story. They were careful not to mention hotels they supposedly stayed at or any other thing that Commander Simmons could check and verify.

  After a time, a few men came and got the group. They were led up through the ship and down a gang plank toward solid land. It was many hours past when they had first seen the Coast Guard helicopter. Night had fallen, and they were all feeling a bit hungry. They were corralled into a holding tent and told to sit in chairs as they waited.