A Game of Chance

Omar was playing carrom, a leisurely game popular in the Middle East, with his guest, a short, stocky man from Jordan who was known to almost everyone only as the Sheikh.

It should be a leisurely game, that is. But Omar and the Sheikh inevitably started to place stakes on the contest. That in and of itself was haram, a sinful act. But with great wealth came the tendency to neglect the technical requirements of faith. Soon there was a smattering of expensive car keys and jewelry on the table, but the Sheikh always came out on top. Omar had a thin sheen of sweat building up on his lower lip.

"Fine," he said. "For everything. This time I offer up two of my finest prizes." He whispered to an aide, and a few minutes later Faith and Kendall entered the room. "American woman, from California and South Carolina."

They played again, and Omar was competitive, but still faltered at the end. The Sheikh looked satisfied.

"I will take the two women off your hands. You may keep the rest of your possessions." Kendall took a step forward, unbidden, whispering something urgently into the Sheikh's ear. He listened intently, the edge of his lip quirking. "And she has an ex that you own, a stable boy. He'll accompany us too. Abdul, make sure these girls are well-scrubbed and bring them to the jet."