Road to Redemption

by Michelle Dalton

  “Christmas, our place,” she reminded Mina.

  “No!” Lullu’s sharp scream caused them all to spin around.

  Ben had Ray in a headlock with one of the security guards raining down blows on Ray with a baton. Ray struggled and almost broke free.

  “Ben, what the fuck!” Mina shouted as she sprinted toward her daughter, pushing aside Lullu, who’d been in the throes of slapping and kicking her farm manager, trying to free her dad.

  “Let me handle this, Mina. It’s my job,” Ben commanded as he placed a thick black restraint around Ray’s wrists and pulled so tight his fingertips immediately turned blue.

  Ray attempted to pull away. “What is this?” he shouted as the guard punched him in the gut.

  “Enough!” Mina shot a hand toward the guard, connecting her flat palm to his cheek. “I’ll have your job for this.”

  “We found contraband in his room,” Ben explained

  Thomas strode toward them.

  Ray, panting, saliva streaked across his face, fell to his knees and shook his head. “Impo—impossible.”

  “Shurrup, you.” Ben shoved his foot against Ray’s ribs.

  “Touch him again …” Mina took a menacing step forward.

  “It’s okay,” Ray managed as Ben forced him to his feet then shoved him into the clutches of the accompanying guard.

  “It’s not true, lovie,” he called to Lullu.

  Ben back-handed him and Lullu screamed.

  “Ben!” Mina shouted.

  “What, Miss van der Westhuizen? I’m doing what you pay me to do!”

  “I do not pay you to abuse our inmates!” she yelled.

  “Mind I don’t have reason to use those restraints on you, Benjamin.” Thomas took over, gently pushing Mina behind him and into his wife’s arms. “Where are you taking him?”

  “He’ll be confined to his cabin until prison services can collect him.”

  “I’ll sort this out.” Thomas placed a hand on Ray’s shoulder, then looked up to Ben. “I’ll be accompanying you to make sure the inmate makes it to his cabin safely.”

  Thomas walked in to the kitchen to find Mina and Rochelle sitting at the table sipping coffee, which smelled an awful lot like it had some brandy involved, “How is Lullu?”

  “Sleeping. Rochelle …” Mina trembled as she tried to lift her mug to her lips but gave up after spilling half its contents. “… gave her a mild sedative. I’ve asked Vestra if she’d do a sit-down with her tomorrow.”

  Thomas dropped a sealed plastic bag on the table. “This is what Ben found in Ray’s bedroom tucked beneath his mattress.”

  Mina glanced down at the bag. “Dube? And what are those pills?”

  “Khat.”

  “Shit! His drug of choice,” Rochelle spat.

  “Babes. We don’t know for sure. I need you to go down and take a urine and blood sample from him. Something about all this doesn’t sit right with me.” Thomas sat at the table and took his wife’s hand in his.

  “He’s done a backslide is what’s happened.” Rochelle’s bitter voice cut in to Mina.

  “Rochelle, please. I believe Thomas. Something is out of place here. Please help me find out if Ray is in trouble.” Mina said.

  “And if he tests positive?” Rochelle placed her mug on the table.

  “We’ll get him through this.” Mina forced away her angry tears. She would. She’d not leave him to the wolves a second time. But she’d also have to rethink her relationship with him if his drug habit was getting the better of him. Under no circumstances could she ever expose Lullu to it.

  Mina gripped a hand to her stomach. She’d hoped for too much, fallen all over again, and here she sat, reaping the rotten harvest of her impulsive harvest for a second time. But for now, she had to hold on to the glimmer of hope in her centre.

  “The guys know their rooms are searched every day. Why would he hide it under his mattress? There are so many other places. All the inmates who’ve ever had a backslide hid their stash in the warehouses. One even buried it in my garden,” Mina explained.

  Rochelle stood. “Don’t tell Pa— not until we know for sure. I’ll grab my bag and arrange with the path lab for a priority pick-up.” She turned and walked out.

  “Come. He needs us both down there, and your employees need to know you’re in charge, not Ben, or something ugly could go down.” Thomas stood just as Becky strode in.

  “Afternoon, madam.” Becky quickly folded her hands behind her back, crumpling a piece of paper in her hand.

  “Hi Becky, I’d like you to fetch cook please? And then you can have the afternoon off.” It wasn’t missed by Mina that she looked a bit jumpy. But, Mina didn’t care.

  She no longer trusted this woman, and until Thomas found evidence confirming that she was innocent or complicit, Mina would not leave her alone with Lullu.

  “Do you think she suspects you no longer trust her?” Rochelle said.

  “I hope not. But if it’s that obvious to you…”

  “It’s only because I am privy to Thomas investigation.” Rochelle reassured her, “Cook is a good woman. Lullu will be safe.”

  Ray didn’t bother confessing his innocence as he sat at the table while his sister prepared her needle and tubes. Her face spoke volumes, and if she thought he was guilty, well then …

  A commotion from outside distracted them both from their dark silence.

  “You don’t need bloods. They can do that back in prison. We found the evidence, and that’s all that’s needed,” Ben roared.

  Ray bit his tongue. That goddamned prick had framed him. No wonder he didn’t want bloods and urine done here. He’d make sure Ben got his payday. He dreamed of planting a few choice jabs in the motherfucker’s face for upsetting Lullu the way he had. As for Mina? The pain in her eyes? Ray shook his head.

  “Sit still, will you.” Rochelle gripped his arm and slid the needle in. “I’m still pissed at you. But the fact that that man’s arguing so hard to get you gone …” She removed the needle and shoved a cotton ball on the area she’d just pierced. “Hold this down.” She inserted the needle into a tube and injected his withdrawn blood into it. “I hope to fuck you’re innocent, ’cause if you’ve hurt that little girl and Pa …”

  “I am.” He pushed down on the wad, not looking up at her.

  Rochelle packed the clean kidney dish, sterile needles, tubes and other tools she needed back in to her medical bag. She proceeded to label the tubes as Thomas and Mina stepped inside. The urge to kneel at Mina’s feet and plead his innocence burned his insides as he looked into her dark, sad eyes.

  “You’ll be safe in here. I have one of my most trusted men outside,” she explained as Thomas and Rochelle left them alone.

  “I swear, baby …”

  “Whatever the outcome, I won’t let you do this on your own, okay?” Her words were sincere but the fact that she didn’t come closer, wrap herself around him, cut deep and put the fear of the almighty in him.

  “Lullu?” It was all he could muster.

  “She’s okay for now,” Mina replied softly, “Look, keep your head down. As soon as we get the results, we can clear this all up.”

  “You believe me?” Hope’s flame re-ignited.

  Mina nodded, but her eyes still entertained doubt.

  “I’ll come down before dinner,” she promised and slipped out.

  Ray’s skin puckered at the sound of the lock snapping shut.

  Here he was, once again in a prison, and this time it wasn’t of his own making.

  He slumped onto his bed. Why now? Life had finally been looking up, and he’d been moving forward. Was this his fate? To always be the bad man? The down-on-his-luck man? The useless father?

  His craving resurfaced and Ray groaned as he leaned forward, harnessing all his coping skills to fight it. He broke out in a cold sweat and his skin began to crawl. No! He wasn’t going to give in. Besides, there was nothing in his room to get high on in any case.

  A thou
ght struck. He stumbled over to his desk, opened it, and pulled out his writing pad and pen.

  Writing had been like opening a floodgate; the words simply flowed. Perhaps sorting his thoughts out on paper might prove to be the elixir for his dilemma.

  Bossy, loud, demanding,

  His pen scribbled across the page.

  Needy, hungry, angry

  The devil seeks his due,

  No longer will a bargain make do

  Bridges built he yearns to burn,

  One snort, one draw, one needles sanction …

  The lock of his cabin door clicked, and the door swung open.

  In the entrance stood Ben, wearing a smirk so wide Ray ached to wipe it off his face with the sole of his shoe.

  “Here. I know this is all you need.” He chucked the baggy onto the floor and slammed the door shut. So much for Mina’s trusted employee.

  Ray sat on his bed, eyeing the baggy as though it were a large spider about to pounce.

  Writing forgotten, his hunger grew.

  They’ve already taken your bloods. Who’s gonna know? Just one hit, boet. You need something to get you through this.”

  The voices of old made themselves known one by one.

  Bile etched its way up his gullet and sat in the back of his throat, burning, boiling, gnawing.

  After an eternity, Ray jumped off his bed toward the parcel which screamed at him to pick it up and enjoy what it had to offer.

  he slid across the floor in his socks, Ben having removed his shoes, belt, and anything else they deemed he could possibly use to self-harm.

  Kneeling, he picked up the bag of drugs and utensils. His hand shook violently as he peeled open the bag, dipped his head and inhaled.

  Lullu and Mina’s faces danced across his conscience.

  Clutching the baggie in his fist he leaned back, then with all his might, threw it at the opposite wall. The pipe shattered and the packet dropped onto the bed where Cyril usually slept until Ben had moved him out.

  “I will not give in!” Ray screamed, hoping Ben was listening.

  Ray summarily dropped to the floor and began doing push-ups, then sit-ups, then shadow boxing … Anything and everything he could to rid his mind and body of the evil threatening to take hold.

  The sun was setting outside, throwing the room in dark shadows which moved and bobbed. Ray paced the width of the small cabin.

  The cabin was hot, the burglar-proofed window open, but no breeze drifted in. There’d been no lunch, and there was no water. He’d banged against his door, demanding he be fed and given something to drink. Ben had answered, smacked him, grabbed the smashed baggy, and walked back out.

  Shit. His only hope was Mina. But even she’d not come down, and judging by the low-hanging sun, it was well after seven and dinnertime. What the fuck was going on?

  Ray slumped against the wall, and began to sob. This was it—his last chance blown to smithereens. He was done for—Ben would make sure of it.

  “I’ll take care of the of the idiot down here and wait on the strand.” A voice Ray recognised as his ex-roomie’s drifted through the window. “What you lot getting up to, huh?”

  “Piet’s watching that bitch and her brat. We’ll be ready for pick-up at midnight. We need to grab the remaining abalone tonight,” a female voice ordered.

  “I’ll have a skiff ready,” Cyril replied.

  “Make sure there are no eyewitnesses. What about the guards and other inmates?” Was that Becky’s voice?

  “Leave it to me. You just do your job, and I’ll do mine.”

  Becky was involved, and something was very wrong up at the farmhouse. Adrenaline surged through his limbs and Ray’s mind shifted in to get-out-and-save-my-family mode.

  Ray ran to his door and pounded on it again. “Hey, asshole. Want another piece of me?” he yelled, hoping Ben might open up and give him a chance to break out. He wouldn’t be able to explain as the fucking oaf was either involved or too full of shit to listen. Either way, it was up to Ray to get out and get up to the house, now!

  “Goddammit!” Ray yelled.

  It’d been more than half an hour and his shoulders throbbed from all the thumping he’d been giving them against the door. Was Ben truly going to ignore him?

  He banged again, and the door unlocked.

  Ray stepped back and readied himself to tackle whoever stood in his way.

  About to rage like a bull, Ray froze when Thomas slipped inside and closed the door behind him.

  “What the fuck Thomas? There’s big shi—”

  Thomas held up his hand, silencing Ray. “I know. I managed to get out. The idiots think I’m in town. But they’ve got Mina and Lullu.” Thomas put a hand over Ray’s mouth when he began to protest. “Shh, dammit. For now, they’re unharmed. You, me, and Ben need to get up there, pronto.”

  “Where’s Rochelle?”

  “She managed to get away with my phone to call for backup.” Thomas said.

  “Can’t you call the police?”

  “Someone in authority is involved. I’m not sure if it’s the local police or conservation, so until Rochelle can make the call to my people, we’re fucked.” Thomas walked over to the door. “We don’t have time to waste. Come on.”

  “Why not use Ben’s office phone?”

  “All phone lines are cut and they’re using jammers, so no cell phones either.”

  Ray followed Thomas and they made their way to Ben’s office.

  “Hey, can we trust that asshole?” Ray whispered harshly.

  Thomas nodded as they came up to the door.

  “How do you know? The fucker planted drugs in my room.” Ray pointed to the door angrily.

  “I don’t think he did. I got a message about one of the inmates just before Becky and Piet attacked. But not now—I don’t have time. Ray.” Thomas gripped his shoulder. “I need you to trust me.”

  “Was it Cyril?”

  Thomas paused and glanced back at him. “How did you know?”

  “I heard them plotting outside my window. Cyril’s grabbing the remaining abalone and waiting with a skiff on the beach. I think they’re being collected out at sea.”

  “Okay ... good to know. But first, we need to get the girls free and safe. My people can deal with Cyril and their ride.”

  Ray nodded. He trusted his brother-in-law. But was Thomas right about Ben?

  Thomas let go of Ray’s shoulder, and gripped the door handle and opened it.

  “Shit!” Thomas sprinted forward and came to kneel at the side of Ben, who lay groaning and gripping his skull.

  “Bloody arseholes. Wait till …”

  “Are you okay to sit up? Mind your hand. Let me see,” Thomas instructed with Ray watching the door.

  “Fucker came from behind. I think it’s that Cyril bloke.” Ben grimaced as Thomas inspected his skull.

  “Well, I can’t see any blood, so hopefully nothing’s damaged inside. Can you stand? We need every hand we can get.”

  “Ja …”

  “No time now.” Thomas’s voice cut Ben off. The bully did a double take and stopped his ranting.

  “The poachers are back, and they have Mina and Lullu up at the farmhouse …”

  Ben made a rush to the door.

  “Ben, stop!” Thomas pulled rank.

  The bulky man skidded to a halt. “You’re right. We need to call Abbe.”

  “For fuck’s sake. Shurrup and listen!” Ray held up a hand.

  Ben squinted at him, but something made him take a deep breath and turn to face Thomas.

  “We only get one shot at this,” Thomas said.

  “Stopping the poachers?” Ben asked.

  “No.” Thomas shook his head. “At saving the women we all love.”

  16

  Lullu squirmed against her restraints when Klein Piet kneeled before her where she was sat on the cold dining room floor.

  Mina screamed against her gag for him to leave her alone, but the cloth slipped deeper into her mo
uth, causing her to retch. Her lungs began to burn and sweat dripped down the sides of her face.

  “I’ve always looked young for my age. Reckon it’s in the genes.” Klein Piet wiped a hand across his smooth-as-a-baby’s-bottom cheeks. Cheeks Mina wanted to slap silly before she stomped them with her foot.

  He reached out and with the same hand, stroked Lullu’s hair and face. Her daughter’s eyes widened, glanced at her, then looked back at their captor as she kicked out. Piet jumped out the way, Lullu’s foot narrowly missing his privates. “Gonna get a lot for you, that’s for sure.”

  Mina screamed and fought her bonds. It was getting harder for her to breathe. Black spots clouded her vision. She had to remain conscious!

  “Shurrup, bitch.” Klein Piet shouted. “Think you the bee’s fucking knees with your in-charge attitude. You so loved the timid Klein Piet who needed your strong hand to guide him. Placing me under Baas Ben’s wing while my sister ruled your house without you even knowing.”

  Becky called to him. He spat at Mina, then turned and strode away.

  Mina blinked away her tears and shifted her body until she managed to reach Lullu, who sat dead still and was pale as cream.

  Try as she might, the plastic restraints that worked like tie-downs wouldn’t budge and only cut deeper into her skin the more she fought against them. But she had to do something. They could have all the abalone, burn down the God damned farm too if they pleased, but they’d never get her daughter.

  The sound of a car pulling up outside got Mina’s already throbbing heart beating faster.

  Please, God, let it be Thomas and Rochelle.

  Another thought hit her. What if they’d harmed Thomas and Rochelle?

  Mina fought against her gag, trying her hardest to push it out of her mouth with her tongue, but to no avail. Then she tried screaming through her nose, which only to caused her to gag again as footsteps and voices came closer.

  Mina looked up, and her heart crashed in to her boots.

  Marnus Faldela, their local nature conservationist and a man she had trusted, stood looking down at her. Tucked snugly under his arm and grinning down at them was Becky.