Road to Redemption - Michelle Dalton Page 0,48

on the back seat.

“It’s fine. I just hope you guys get them before they pounce again.” Mina opened her arms when Rochelle walked towards her, and wrapped her arms around her.

“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