Wrong Place, Right Time 4

Marlene had to admit that their captors’ cruelties had some method in it: she was no mother, but she did care for Silvana, and therefore, she did as she was told, though it was just a series of escalating embarrassment.

Putting some of the cooling cream on Silvana’s soles had not been hard, and Marlene had caressed the girl’s feet, trying to show her that now, she was acting on her own, not doing what she had been forced to do. The only thing that concerned her was that maybe, these mean women would make Silvana do the same to her own ticklish soles.

However, she had then been ordered to cream the girl’s sore buttocks, too, forcing Marlene to push her fingers into Silvana’s panties. The blonde had sharply inhaled, but held still as Marlene had put some of the ointment onto her rear, then groaned as the relieving effect came to work.

Marlene then wanted to withdraw, but Judith had reminded her that there was another part of her »daughter’s« body she had to take care of. Deliberately, she had plucked the clothespins from Silvana’s nipples, but it had felt more then strange to then cream the tips of the other’s breasts, and to feel Silvana’s hardened nipples.

Now, she was standing beside her friend, both girls blushing slightly from embarrassment, when Abina approached.

»Now, Lisa sure appreciates what you did to her – that you showed strictness and tenderness, like a good mother should do! Now, we will take care that you won’t try anything silly and maybe hurt yourselves once we have withdrawn, to let you two have some mother-daughter bonding time!«

Judith went into the storage room, and Marlene expected her to fetch another straightjacket. However, she returned with some black leather sheath that had a few straps dangling from it. The nurse stepped behind her whilst Nabia positioned herself on her front. Then, Judith turned Marlene’s hands palm to palm and pulled the sheath up her arms. Marlene’s fingers soon found themselves in a tight single mitten where they were pressed together, and the leather also forced her arms closer together. She noticed how Nabia watched her thrust out her boobs, but she got distracted as two straps fixed to the sheath’s top were pulled over her shoulders, crossed between her breasts and then buckled to the sheath, so it wouldn’t slide down. Another strap was fastened around her waist, pulling her arms to her upper body. Marlene noticed that another strap was dangling from the tips of her sheathed fingers, and she could imagine with horror where this would go.

However, this was delayed as now, Judith brought a pair of upholstered leather cuffs she tied around Marlene’s ankles, then connected them with a short chain. Then, the two women changed their position, and Marlene felt that Nabia had put her booted foot between her feet, stepping on the chain to fix her. Judith meanwhile put her hands on Marlene’s shoulders, her green eyes sparkling with glee. She was some two inches taller than 5’4’’ Marlene, allowing her to look down on her ample boobs.

Nabia now began to tighten the laces of the arm sheath, as if she was binding a laced boot. She started at Marlene’s wrists and worked upwards, pulling the cords tight. Marlene felt that her arms were pulled closer and closer together, and she groaned. Judith smiled and seemed to enjoy as Marlene’s chest started to heave.

»Nnngggg! Mmmhhmmm!«

Her elbows met, then, the joints were pressed together. Nabia managed to even get her upper arms a bit closer together before she tied the laces off. Then, she looked at her work and tightened the shoulder and waist straps until Marlene’s arms were immovable and welded to her torso. The position was straining her shoulders, and her boobs now looked as if they were not just big, but enormously big.

With her foot still on her foot chain, Nabia now placed her hands on Marlene’s shoulders from behind whilst Judith groped her breasts. Then, the Black’s fingers wandered down, brushing over her armpits and then down her sides. Marlene mewed and writhed, unable to control her reflexes. Nabia’s wingers slowly brushed down to her hips, then, on the way up, her fingers moved as if she was playing a piano, making the tickling even harder to bear. Marlene felt how Judith’s hands now clawed into her breasts, but she couldn’t help panting and spluttering.

»I wonder if you are as ticklish as her!«, Judith purred, cocking her head, and Marlene felt that her right side was left alone as Nabia held her middle finger under her comrade’s nose. Then, Marlene’s ordeal was over and Nabia made her sit on the floor, in front of Silvana who was still in her uncomfortable position, with most of her weight on her knees.

»Now, as you may notice, Lisa is in pain, longing for some relief. This could come from someone who is physically strong, like Nabia!«

The Black stepped behind Silvana, and a moment later, her hand appeared between the girl’s legs from behind. She not only cupped Silvana’s pubic mound, but lifted her from the ground, whilst her other hand stabilized the girl’s upper body. There was a slack in the rope tying the spreader bar to her harness gag, and Silvana, who had first mewed with alarm at the intimate touch, now groaned with relief as her knees were o longer carrying most of her weight and she could move her head and her aching neck.

»Of course«, Judith now added, placing her hands on Marlene’s shoulders, »even Nabia can’t lift her forever, and also, we will have to leave you for a while. However, the support your daughter needs can also come from someone who is emotionally strong – someone like a loving mother!«

Nabia lowered Silvana, and though she was careful, the girl whimpered as her knees had to carry her body again, and Marlene felt pity for the poor blonde. Suddenly, Abina said something in a strange language. Obviously, it was the idiom of Nabia, for she nodded and gave a short response in what sounded similar. Then, she loosened the rope from the spreader bar and then pulled Silvana upwards again, forcing her to stand on her feet. The girl shook like a tree in the storm, for though the position was much more tolerable, her legs were wobbly.

Nabia let the rope go a bit, leaving a little slack. It was enough for Silvana to move her head a bit, and it was a relief for her neck. However, if she staggered or collapse, her fall would be stopped by a hard and painful pull on her harness gag, and then, she would dangle from it. She then mewed as Nabia tied the rope’s other hand around her neck, loose enough she could breathe, but also tight enough she felt the hemp touch her throat.

»Ah, now, I understand!«, Judith crowed. Obviously, she had feared that Abina had become weak and would ruin her perfidious plans for the captives. Nabia now reached between Silvana’s splayed legs, grabbed the chain between Marlene’s ankles and pulled, until Marlene could feel the spreader bar under her butt. Then, her legs were bent, and Nabia brought the chain close to the bar and held it there whilst Judith also pushed her hands under Marlene, fumbling for the strap dangling from her fingertips.

The strap was pulled between her legs and buckled to her waist belt. It was tight, but to Marlene’s surprise, it hadn’t been pulled painfully tight. However, the leather belt also connected her butt to Silvana’s spreader bar and had been slung over her foot chain, so Marlene had to remain sitting between Silvana’s legs and could not stretch her own.

Judith now made Marlene sit up, and she protested through her gag as her face came close to Silvana’s crotch. The ice cubes had melted, but the panties were still damp, and the fragrance was overwhelming. Marlene’s shoulders touched Silvana’s upper thighs, and she turned her head to the side, so only her cheek and ear were pressed against the soft pubic mound, bisected by the crotch strap.

»Once I take my hand from your shoulders, Martina«, Judith explained, but for the moment, her hand remained at Marlene’s back, »you will sink back – unless you strain your stomach muscles! Please, try it now!«

She withdrew her hand, and Marlene indeed fought to remain sitting, but after a couple of seconds, she sank onto the floor, panting. Judith didn’t seem angry, she just placed her hand under Marlene’s head, forcing her to look up at Silvana.

»Now, I am not sure if you are good at doing sit-ups. You seem a bit soft around your tummy, but maybe, your love for your daughter will allow you to surprise us all. As you can see, Lisa’s legs are getting weaker and weaker, and if she staggers, she might choke herself. However, if she gets the possibility to relax her aching legs from time to time, I am sure she will persist!«

As on keyword, Silvana let out a mew, and she panted as she slightly moved her legs. Marlene bit down on the sock and the rubber ball in her mouth, and she forced herself to sit up. Her stomach muscles ached, but she persisted and even pushed one shoulder between Silvana’s thighs, allowing her to rest on her shoulders and to release her legs for the few seconds Marlene could keep up that position.

Of course, this position also required that Marlene pressed her face against Silvana’s pubic mound, and she closed her eyes in self-denial as she smelled the blonde’s fragrance and the damp cotton rubbed over her face. She felt how the pressure increased as Silvana relaxed her legs, and with the ear not pressed against the other’s lap, she could hear a groan of relief. Marlene forced herself to keep up a little longer, but then, with her stomach muscles aflame, she had to sink back.

Obviously, she had persisted for some time, for as she was able to look around, she noticed that their captors had gone.

***

Ben was facing a dilemma. Maybe, they had kidnapped the wrong person – and perhaps, the one they had considered to be Martina Hartenstein was also someone else! His client had just told him that there would be two women, mother and daughter; no servants, since the two had planned to go on a holiday that very day. There had been just two women, and they could have been mother and daughter, according to their age, but still, there was the fact that Lisa Hartenstein had not been at her room, but in some guest room – and in addition, the panties she had been wearing didn’t match the ones he had stolen from Lisa’s dirty laundry.

Of course, he could just go into hiding. Schmidt had paid him off already, he had done both the kidnapping and arranging the fake accident, and it was unlikely that Schmidt would find him. However, Ben wanted a job to be done good. Perhaps, there was no honour among thieves, but even a criminal could have some working ethos.

His thoughts wandered to Judith. If he would inform the captors of the two wrong women, he would see the nurse again. Their flirting had been quite superficial, but Ben’s profession came together with a certain loneliness, and he had problems meeting women that did not demand to be paid afterwards. In Judith, he would not only have a sexy girl, but also someone who wouldn’t blame him for being a criminal, for she wasn’t any better.

Ben sighed. He would have to expose himself not only once, but twice: first, he would have to get to the mansion, to look for further evidence that they had indeed abducted the wrong women; then, he would have to inform Schmidt.

»At least, I will see Judith again!«, he scoffed as he got up from his hotel bed.

***

At about the same time, Marcus had a moment of enlightenment. Since he and Silvana were more or less a couple, and definitely were friends, and since they lived at the same hostel, he had a key to her room where he took care of her potted orchid when Silvana was away.

At her room, he had just watered the plant when he had seen a pile of papers and a few books. These were material from Silvana’s seminar paper she had told him about. Pedagogics. And then, it had struck him.

»Of course! Pestalozzi!«

Now, he remembered that Silvana’s paper had been about the famous 19th century pedagogue – and someone who had died almost 200 years ago could definitely be called an »old man«! A quick Google search told him that Pestalozzi had been born on February the 12th, and little later, he knew that there was indeed a Pestalozzi Street in Würzburg.

Marcus put the name in Google Earth and looked at the house located at number 12. The Pestalozzi Street was located in one of the posh districts near the vineyards, dominated by mansions. Number 12 was no exception: Marcus could see a pool and a tennis court in the vast, well-groomed garden.

»I hope Silvie isn’t replacing me with some sugar daddy!«

It was meant as a joke, but on the other hand, Silvana was at that house. Marcus tried to soothe himself with the fact that she had told him, albeit by a riddle, and he was even invited to visit her there – though not before Monday.

»So much about going to bed or working on my thesis!«

A few minutes later, Marcus mounted his bicycle and rode towards the district where the Pestalozzi Street was located.

***

»If the CIA ever needs an interrogation expert, I will recommend my daughter to them!«, Hilmar sighed as he looked over to the bed on the other side of the room where Ella was now sleeping.

After he had told his daughter about him being in love with another woman, Ella had started to ask him about Marlene, and Hilmar had finally allowed her some additional time on her PlayStation, for he had been running out of white lies.

Now, the 10 years old was sleeping soundly, but he didn’t want to risk waking her up, and so, Hilmar sent a WhatsApp to Marlene, asking her whether he should tell Ella about them. Not only could the last few months at school become a bit difficult for Marlene if one of her pupils was the daughter of her boyfriend, but their relationship was also a bit difficult, since he had cheated on her.

It had been in the heat of the moment, and Marlene had forgiven him, but still, she doubted if he would be faithful forever. The problem was that Hilmar couldn’t tell for sure either. He wasn’t searching for adventures, but sometimes, if there was an opportunity for some casual sex, it had happened, even during his marriage to Elisa. He looked over to his sleeping daughter. Even his ex had admitted that he was a good father, just not a good husband, and he hoped that he would be able to at least become a better partner, if Marlene gave him a second chance.

He looked at his phone, telling him she hadn’t read his message yet. Hilmar yawned. In this holiday with his daughter, he lived after an early schedule, and so, he was tired, though it was just shortly after 9 pm. He put the phone on his nightstand and tried to sleep, for Ella would sure wake him up early in the morning.

***

In their predicament, Marlene and Silvana had found a way to some mute conversation, even kind of a routine: whenever their eyes met, a nod from Silvana indicated that she was still able to remain standing, whilst a nod from Marlene indicated that she had recovered from the last strenuous sit-up and could assist Silvana once again.

None of them had tried to get free; Marlene’s hands were trapped inside the sheath, not allowing her to even move her fingers, and in her straightjacket, Silvana could also not use her hands. In addition, there was no chance they could get to the door, let alone out of wherever their prison was located.

»Uuhhmm!«

A moan from Silvana, accompanied by some trembling of her legs, indicated that she needed some relaxation, and so, Marlene sat up, aching in the progress. Both girls now sweated, and so, it was easier to get her shoulder under Silvana’s crotch. Marlene felt the now almost familiar touch of the panties at her face, and smelled the scent whilst Silvana lowered her body and sat on her shoulder, sighing with relief.

»How cosy!«

The door had sprung open, and Abina, Judith and Nabia entered. Nabia approached Silvana, loosened the rope and allowed her to sit down on the floor. Marlene now noticed that Judith had brought a wheelchair – just one.

Surprisingly gentle, Judith and Nabia freed Silvana’s legs, but left her in the straightjacket. She was sat into the wheelchair and secured with her feet tied to the footrests whilst two straps bound her upper body to the backrest. Then, they came for Marlene. She was freed from her hogtie, but her legs were left cuffed, and the crotch strap was left dangling as they made her stand up. Judith patted her tummy.

»Have you got some muscle aches, Martina?«

The patting turned into a gentle rubbing, and the nurse also playfully poked her finger into Marlene’s belly button. Then, she grinned and added:

»It could be worse – side stitches, for example!«

She poked her fingers into Marlene’s sides, giggling as she reared up and squealed through her gag. Now, Nabia also grabbed Marlene’s sides; not to tickle her, too, but to lift her from the ground. Before Marlene could flail, Judith grabbed the chain of her ankle ties.

»When Lisa was young, she sure spent a lot of time on your lap – now, it will be vice versa!«

They pulled Marlene’s legs over Silvana’s upper body, and Nabia made her sit on the blonde’s lap. She steadied her back, so she wouldn’t fall backwards, but Marlene now felt Judith’s fingers between her legs.

»Uuhmmph! Nnngggg!«

»Mmhhnnmmm! Mph!«, Silvana added as Judith now threaded Marlene’s crotch strap through Silvana’s before fastening it, connecting the two in the most intimate and embarrassing way. Once she was finished, she took the wheelchair’s handles and tipped it towards her. Marlene and Silvana mewed as the brunette teacher now was almost lying on top of the blonde, their breasts pressing against each other.

»As long as we are going up a hill, or I am accelerating, the laws of Physics will be your friend. However, if we go downhill, or if I brake-«

Judith let the handles go, and the wheelchair’s front wheels slammed onto the floor. Marlene felt a sharp tug on her crotch, and only by tightening the grip of her legs around Silvana and the backrest, she could prevent herself from falling backwards.

»You better keep that in mind, for the Doctor thinks that you could need a little fresh air now!«

The wheelchair was pushed onto the corridor and up a concrete ramp that once again made Marlene lean her chest against Silvana’s. Then, they reached a garden, surrounded by a wall. It had become evening, and even though the beauty of nature wasn’t ranking high on the captives’ current agenda, they both noticed that this had once been a nice park with gravel paths, flower beds and trimmed bushes, but now, everything was quite overgrown and there was lots of weed.

Pushing a wheelchair occupied by two over the uneven ground wasn’t easy, and so, Nabia took over. It was a relief, for Judith would have tried some stunts if the underground had allowed it, but it was straining nevertheless as the wheelchair bumped over the gravel, forcing Marlene and Silvana to suffer the consequences.

After some 30 minutes, in which they hadn’t heard any sounds of any civilisation outside the wall, they were brought back into the cellar. Riding down the ramp was a bit of a challenge, but finally, they were both released from the wheelchair and had to sit on a bench in the corridor. Their harness gags were removed, and Judith plucked the sodden socks from their mouths, putting them into her pocket. Abina brought a bag with some provision and held a water bottle to Silvana’s lips whilst Nabia allowed Marlene to quench her thirst.

»Now, Martina, Lisa, if you behave, you may eat a little!«

Neither Marlene nor Silvana had the strength to insist on their real names, and o, they just nodded and now, Nabia and Abina fed a sandwich and a banana to each of them. They were allowed some more water, then, Abina offered a chewing gum to each captive.

»For dental hygiene! We can’t risk to free your wrists yet, and I am sure you don’t wan one of us poking around in your mouth with a toothbrush!«

The gums indeed helped to get a better taste in the mouth, compared to Marlene’s sweaty socks. Once they had spat the chewing gums into a bowl held to their faces, they were regagged. This time, their captors used leather masks that cupped their chins and covered the lower half of their faces. Inside, they had a large nerf ball that expanded once it had been pushed inside their oral cavities. Once the straps were buckled, Nabia led Silvana away. She wanted to protest, but after a few yards, the Black stopped and opened a door. When she had switched on the light, Silvana could see it was a small toilet, consisting of stainless steel. Nabia loosened her crotch strap, pulled Silvana’s panties to her knees and pushed her inside.

»Five minutes!«, she barked and closed the door. Since the toilet offered nothing but the iron toilet bowl, she sat down and followed nature. The question how she should clean up herself without her hands was answered when the five minutes were over as Judith entered, wearing rubber gloves.

To her relief, the nurse just quickly did what had to be done before she led Silvana outside, not bothering to pull up her panties. Silvana had to wait until Marlene had finished and when both stood side by side with their panties at their knees, Judith approached Marlene. With a gleeful grin, she took one of the gag socks, placed it inside her victim’s panties like a pantyliner and then pulled them back up. She pulled the crotch strap tight before fastening it; then, she did the same to Silvana. Both had mixed feelings: the socks protected their soft flesh from the tight straps a bit, but what if Judith decided to use the socks to gag them again?

Obviously, they were meant to sleep in their restrains, as now, they were brought back into their rubber cell. Before she left them, Abina said:

»Now that you got a little adjusted to how things work here, you will for sure also get along with the real educational program starting tomorrow! Now, sleep well – and not too much chitty-chat!«

She playfully waved her index finger and smiled as if the two were having a sleepover. Then, she left, and the girls heard that the door was locked. A few moments later, the light went out, leaving them in total darkness.

***

»Fuck!«

Ben had luckily managed to enter the Hartenstein property unseen, but the first hint that they had been fooled he had found before even entering. Like most mansions, this had an alarm protection, but since this wasn’t a high security area, but just a rich man’s place, they had been no match for him and his henchmen. However, he now saw that the alarm hadn’t even been switched on. It was as if someone had wanted that they entered through the door at the carport.

For a moment, Ben feared that there was a hidden camera, but then, he shrugged. If they had been filmed, it would be too late anyway.

He rummaged the house, and his suspicion hardened. He found a small bedroom, with access to an equally small bathroom, from which his henchmen had obviously grabbed the blonde girl. Here, the bed was in disarray; a white bra hung over the chair’s backrest, a cell phone was lying around, and as he rummaged through a bag, he found a few clothes that had been worn before, including a pair of white cotton panties with blue polka dots on them. Ben put these in his pocket and continued his search, finding another guest room that had been occupied. Here, he found a bra, too. 38 D. A size that would fit the brunette captive. The pair of plain black Lyra panties he collected from here would also fit her. Ben sighed. Now, he would have to face Schmidt.

He sneaked down the stairs and was about to leave when he noticed that someone was at the court. Quickly, he hid beside a window and peeped outside.

***

»What are you doing here?«

The voice made Marcus turn around slowly. Once he had reached Pestalozzi Street, he hadn’t been sure what to do. If he tried to sneak into the garden to have a look inside (maybe, on Silvana just undressing; maybe, on her getting undressed by her sugar daddy), he would maybe trigger an alarm, and so, he had decided to spoil the surprise and just enter the ground in plain sight. If Silvana would be disappointed, he would tell her that she should do harder riddles.

He had just dismounted his bike when he heard the female voice from behind. Its owner was a tallish woman about his age whose red hair was just long enough to be worn in a ponytail. She wore plain clothes, but there was something confident in her attitude that told him she was not just an ordinary passer-by.

»Well, I could ask you the same question«, he replied, and the woman reached for her pocket. Marcus got a glimpse of a shoulder holster, and the badge she showed him had the Bavarian coat of arms on it.

»Kommissarin Gruber, Criminal Police! Now, what’s your name, and your reason for being here?«

Marcus gave her his name, but then, noticing that she had also not giving him a reason for her appearance, he decided to keep the truth to himself and tell her a lie:

»The owners pay me a few Euros if I have a look after the house from the outside when they are not at home!«

Marcus knew that a friend of him had indeed earned some money for doing exactly that, and the Policewoman nodded.

»So, the Kreidlers know you are here?«

»Well – of course!«, Marcus replied. The woman smiled, but it was the smile of someone who enjoyed rubbing a mistake someone had made into the person’s face.

»So, that raises the question why you are at the property of the Hartenstein’s!«

»Hartenstein«, Marcus repeated in a drawling voice, feeling foolish about his stupid lie. The Policewoman put her hands on her hips, so he could again see the gun, and said:

»Well, one hour ago, we got a report. Mrs. Hartenstein’s car was found crashed, but with no sign of her or her daughter. And so, the department sent me over, to see if someone here can tell us more, since no one answered our phone calls. And now, I am finding a man who obviously is not who he seems to be!«

Before Marcus could say anything, her expression softened a bit, and she continued:

»Maybe, you have nothing to do with all this. If you are Lisa Hartenstein’s boyfriend – or her mother’s lover –, I don’t care – as long as you have got nothing to do with her mysterious disappearance. So, I think the two of us should talk!«

Now, Markus grinned with disbelief.

»You are arresting me?«

Again, Kommissarin Gruber showed a slightly overweening smile:

»Mr. Bauer, we can go the official way, or you agree in you and me having a coffee somewhere whilst you are telling me your part of the story! Your choice!«

Marcus sighed.

»What about my bicycle?«

The woman pointed at the carport.

»Just leave it here! If someone wants to rob this house, he sure won’t steal an old bike!«

Cursing silently, Marcus did as she had told before he followed her to her car.

***

Ben lit another cigarette. He actually didn’t smoke, but it would make him less suspicious as he was leaning at the railing of the Alte Mainbrücke, Würzburg’s oldest and most beautiful bridge. It had several sculptures on it, and even now, in the midst of the night, there were a few people on it: a couple enjoying the romantic scenery, a group of young men that looked as if they were smoking something else than ordinary tobacco – and him, waiting for a man he hadn’t seen before.

Once the man and the woman had left, Ben had phoned Schmidt had told him what had happened. Of course, the man had been quite upset.

»How could such foolery happen?«

»If you had provided us with photographs, it wouldn’t have happened!«, Ben had countered, and Schmidt obviously was able to admit if he had made a mistake, for in a much calmer tone, he had then continued:

»Anyway, I am grateful you informed me – Ben! So, something I found out a few hours ago now shines in a different light!«

Schmidt had then told him about his suspicions that Emma Dietrichs, Martina Hartenstein’s private secretary, had secretly listened to Ketteler’s negotiations with the Americans, and most likely also to what he and Ketteler had spoken about the feigned accident.

»So, what will you do now, Mr. Schmidt? Call it a day, and do a quick Google search which countries do not extradite criminals to the German Police?«

Ben had been sure that Schmidt wasn’t the man to give up so quickly, and as the man on the other end of the line had laughed, he had been given proof to his assumption:

»If Mrs. Hartenstein would have wanted us arrested, we wouldn’t be talking right now. No, I am sure that she is hiding somewhere – and since her secretary has been involved in this, I would suggest that you are starting at her place!«

»Okay, given the fact I have the real Martina and Lisa – what about the wrong ones, and the secretary?«

Schmidt had thought for a few seconds before he had answered:

»Once you have the two, the original plan will start, with a delay of one or two days. The other three – well, I think that you have the same interest as me that they won’t ever become a problem, neither for me, nor you! And to show you how big my interest is, you will be given 100 Grand extra if the job is done!«

He had hung up, but a few seconds later, he had sent Ben the address of Emma Dietrichs, together with a photo; obviously, Schmidt wanted to avoid further misconceptions.

If the Hartensteins were hiding at Emma’s apartment, it would be easiest – but it would definitely be two or three men job. Ben did not call his previous henchmen, but he had access to something he jokingly called »Dark Net’s Yellow Pages«. Here, he had posted to a certain site what kind of man he needed; plus, the money he could offer.

There had been one answer that had reached him so far, and Ben now could see a man approaching him. He was wearing a baseball cap and a bright red jacket, just as he had told. When he passed a lantern, Ben frowned. The man looked Arabic. Ben wasn’t a racist, but he preferred accomplices that spoke perfect German.

However, when the man asked him for the shortest way to the »Hotel Bavaria«, for he had missed the last bus and couldn’t afford a taxi – the code they had agreed upon –, the man’s German not only was fluent, it didn’t show any accent at all.

»I am afraid the ›Hotel Bavaria‹ doesn’t have a night clerk, so you will have to knock until someone wakes up!«, he said his part of the code, and the man smiled and shook his hand.

»So, how about you are showing me the way to my hotel, in exchange for an invitation to a nice hot coffee, Mr.-«

»Ben. Just Ben!«, Ben answered as usual in such situations. The Arab nodded and bowed slightly before he replied:

»Nice to meet you, Ben! You may have considered otherwise, but my name is Karl!«

***