Chapter 4 - THE BITTERNESS OF THE BROTHEL

Sheila opened her eyes to find herself on a filthy mattress. She sat up and looked around.

She was in a deserted house. The room was in disrepair, with rotten wooden walls and no furniture. A filthy and frail curtain hung across the window.

She rubbed her head, which felt as if she had been hit by a sledgehammer or slammed into the wall.

"Where am I? Miguel, where are you? My children…"

She forced herself to stand up and immediately felt dizzy. The walls spun. Sheila took a step towards the door but was forced to stop by a sharp pain in her ankle. When she looked down, she was horrified to see that she was chained. Her legs were scratched and caked with dried spatters. She noticed blood spots on her blouse.

How did I get them?

She scowled as she felt pain behind her eyes. She knelt and frantically twisted the leather cuff around her ankle, attempting to free herself.

Then she walked towards the wall to which the chain was attached. She yanked on it. However, the chain was securely fastened to the wall.

I can't shift it. What should I do!?

She shook and her eyes darted around as she pulled herself to the window. The chain snapped when she was only two feet away from the window.

I cannot reach it!

Her sobs echoed around the room as she dropped to the floor.

They had Miguel. Ronnel and Nadia were upstairs.

She remembered waking up after the effects of the medicine she had been injected with had worn off. She opened her eyes to find herself in the van. The van's front windows were rolled down. Outside, there were voices; it was Candy and Cyclops talking. Sheila stood up and looked out the window, trying not to be seen. Sheila hastily retreated when Candy turned around and stared at the van. She looked outside again after a few moments. As her kidnappers were bickering about something, she slid the door open as quietly as she could. She stepped out of the van quietly and crept away from it.

"Why are these two fools taking so long?" Candy questioned.

"They most likely stopped in the rum shop for a drink," Cyclops replied.

"No wonder why they can't function properly."

Sheila began to flee from the van. Candy turned around at that precise moment and noticed Sheila trying to escape.

"She's escaping! Get her!" she yelled, sprinting after her.

"You've got nowhere to go!" she exclaimed to Sheila.

Sheila continued to run, desperately looking for a way out.

She stumbled across a root. She fell, but she got to her knees and crawled. Her pursuer had finally caught up with her. She grabbed Sheila's hair and yanked her to her feet.

"What on earth did I ever do to you?" Sheila had inquired, her eyes welling up with tears.

Candy spit out her gum on the sand.

"Pretty much nothing. You, on the other hand, should have left Miguel a long time ago. You and he aren't a good match."

Sheila locked her gaze on Candy before slapping her hard.

"Leave my hubby alone!"

Candy bit her tongue because of the unexpected blow. She detected a metallic taste in her mouth. Candy snarled and spat blood-tinged saliva into Sheila's face before pulling her hair. Sheila grabbed Candy's hair. They started walking in circles.

"While you're gone, making money for us as a prostitute, your children will grow up without you. I will become their new mother."

With a cry, Sheila leapt at Candy, and dug her nails into Candy's neck.

Cyclops crept up behind Sheila and stabbed her with a syringe as they struggled. Sheila's grip loosened, and everything in front of her eyes became blurry.

"Cowards! You won't get away with this," she slurred, as she fell to the ground.

Candice came up to her and kicked her until Cyclops pulled her away. Sheila blacked out completely.

Sheila's attention was drawn back to her current situation. She stared at her leg.

I need to pull myself together. I can't afford to lose my mind. My children need me.

She yanked on the chain again and again, harder and harder. The effort scratched and reddened the skin on her palms.

"Ouch! Come on, let's go! Damn you!" she exclaimed angrily.

She finally gave up and let go of the chain. Thoughts of her family raced through her mind as she quietly stared at it. She reminisced about her wedding day and the births of her children. She recalled herself holding her newborn daughter while Miguel and Ronnel stood nearby, staring.

She heard distant voices as her aching heart worried about her family and her own predicament. She stood up and returned to the window.

The distant roar of waves crashing on the beach caught her ear. Then she heard footsteps. Two dark-skinned, shirtless, muscular men paused outside the door.

The taller man, who was wearing a gold chain around his neck, turned to face his companion.

"Bossman said you had to ship she on James' pirogue tonight. They'll be on the other side, waiting for you. Keep she quiet; the guards will be nearby."

"It's not going to be easy to silence her, Jaiden. She might try to flee as well," said Caleb, nicknamed Toothless due to the gap between his teeth.

Jaiden sucked air through his teeth and stared at him silently.

"Toothless, are you bobolee ? I don't know why I always must tell you what to do. Inject she with a drug. Tie she hands and legs, and tape she mouth. Anyway, where can she run?"

"Oh, yeah! It slipped my mind," said Toothless, hitting his forehead.

"Yuh faddah head! For once, think with your brain, boy!"

They both put stocking masks over their heads as they approached the door. Sheila quickly moved away from the window and continued to struggle with the chain.

The door flew open, and the men entered, armed with weapons.

"Don't even consider it," Jaiden said.

Sheila let go of the chain and stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Let me go! If anything happens to me, my husband will hunt all of you down and kill you, one by one."

Toothless cast a probing glance at Sheila.

"Your husband is a helpless man," he said, his yellowed, gap-toothed teeth showing.

Jaiden approached Sheila and aimed a pistol at her temple.

"Hush, woman. You are not in a position to threaten anyone," he stated.

"Please release me. We'll pay you well," she begged. Her eyes became red and teary.

She was about to say something when she noticed Toothless staring at her blouse. When she looked down, she saw that a portion of her breast was exposed, which alarmed her. Her gaze returned to his, and she drew her blouse closed.

As she tried to move away from him, he walked over to her, licking his lips. He yanked her hands away and ripped her blouse open in an instant.

Sheila took a step back.

"Please, no! Don't you have a sister or mother?"

As Jaiden stood there silently watching, he pinned her to the wall and began kissing her.

"Damn it. She's too hot," he muttered.

"Help!" she screamed as she pushed him away. She looked at Jaiden with pleading eyes.

"Please! Have a heart!"

Jaiden pulled Toothless away and punched him in the face. He stepped back, his mouth swollen with blood.

"You moron! How many times do I have to remind you not to force yourself on women? This time, I'm going to have to report you to the bossman."

Toothless spat up blood.

"What's the difference? As a prostitute, she'll be a puppet for many. Why can't I get a taste of her first?"

Sheila's entire body trembled, and her teeth chattered.

"It's all a dream. It'll pass soon," she said quietly, her eyes closed.

Toothless pressed his finger against her lips.

"Gyal, be quiet. This is just the start of your nightmares!"

Jaiden tapped him on the shoulder. "Leave she alone!"

Toothless turned around, holding a handgun to Jaiden's head.

"I don't need a nanny here. Get the hell out of my way!" he yelled.

"Cool down, boy. I'm trying to keep you out of trouble. If you do something stupid bossman will have you killed!"

Toothless slipped the gun into his pocket. Sheila thrust her leg forward and kneed him in the groin. He yelled in agony, then doubled over, gripping himself.

Jaiden burst out laughing. "She is too rough for you!"

Toothless stood up and grabbed her hand. He twisted it and made her scream.

"Stop right now!" Jaiden demanded.

Toothless noticed a ring on her finger. He slipped it from her finger and examined the ring.

It was a 5-karat-gold diamond ring. As he turned it around, he saw writing engraved on the inside of it. He brought it close to his eyes and read it.

M+S=L.

With a sneer, he put it in his pocket. "You won't need this anymore."

Sheila threw a spitball in his face. "You are a sick man."

Toothless snatched her neck and started choking her. Sheila, her eyes wide, struggled against his hands, attempting to break his grip. Her face turned pale.

Jaiden drew Toothless' gun from his pocket and pointed it at his head.

"Let go she neck," he ordered.

Toothless obeyed his orders with a snarl.

"Now get away from she! If you ever touch she again, I'll shoot you."

"Why do you care about her? We could have a good time with her, but you're too soft."

"Look, go outside!" Jaiden said, still pointing a gun at his friend.

Toothless stared at Sheila.

"Today is your lucky day," he said as he walked out the door, followed by Jaiden.

I'll take care of her later.

Sheila sat on the floor, trembling.

The street in front of Miguel's house was clogged with police cars at 8.30 a.m. A few neighbors stood in their own yards, stunned by what was happening.

Policeman Clyde, a short, stout man, used magnetic force to evenly distribute powder on the front door handle. He went through the same motions with the door, his gloved hands moving quickly and efficiently.

Police Officer Dale smeared powder on the kitchen window. He examined the powdered piece of glass with his face close to it. Fingerprints were caught in his eyes.

"Inspector Miguel, I've found something!" he exclaimed, peering through the kitchen window at Miguel.

He then approached the kitchen counter and opened his briefcase.

Miguel and his partner, Sameer, were standing outside, talking about what had happened. He limped into the kitchen as soon as he heard his name.

"What did you discover?"

"Fingerprints on the glass."

"Hopefully, we'll catch these jerks soon," Miguel said.

He approached the window, hoping to see the prints. Dale joined him, pulling a camera from his briefcase.

"Don't worry. We'll get your wife back."

He photographed the prints before putting the camera back in his briefcase. He then returned to the window with some rubber tape with an adhesive surface.

Miguel lowered his gaze to the bloody splotches on the tile.

"Did you take any blood samples?" he inquired.

"Yes, I did."

Dale applied the rubber tape to the fingerprints and slowly peeled them off the surface. Then he placed the tape in a plastic container.

"We should have some answers by the evening," he predicted.

Just then, Father Piero entered the kitchen. On his face was a mix of pain, shock, and sympathy.

"Is there anything I can do, Miguel?" he inquired.

"No, Father. Thank you. Please excuse my intrusion, but I must request that you leave this area. We don't want anyone tampering with the evidence."

"Miguel, you know where to find me if you need me. Don't give up hope. You'll find her soon enough. The Lord is with you!"

In the kitchen doorway, another police officer appeared.

"Father Piero, may I speak with you?"

"Sure. How can I assist you?"

"Would you mind describing the vehicle you saw?"

"It was gloomy and drizzly. I'm not certain. Perhaps it was a black or grey van."

"Did you happen to see anyone?"

"I saw people's silhouettes through the shutters. But I'm not sure if they were men or women."

"Kavish, please let Father go. He's done enough for today," Miguel opined.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of assistance. I'll come to the station if I think of anything else."

"I appreciate it," said Miguel.

Father had left Miguel's house.

As the pirogue sailed through the night, glittering stars covered the sky. Sheila was unconscious and sprawled under a canvas inside the boat.

Toothless sat next to her on a bench, unable to take his gaze away from Sheila's exposed legs. As his desire for her grew stronger, he bit his lower lip.

He had caught his father watching porn and having sex with other women many times when he was thirteen. He would stand at his father's closed door and peer through a hole in the lock on those occasions. Eventually he himself looked at porn while his papa was at work. His desire for women grew, as did his rage—both at them and at his uncle, who had molested him. At times, it was difficult to tell what made him angry.

The pirogue was rocked from side to side by the waves. Sheila opened her eyes and stared uncomfortably into complete darkness. She became nauseous from the smell of the sea and the rocking.

"Where am I?"

She lifted her hands to remove the canvas from her face, only to discover that they were tied together.

Toothless drew the canvas away from her when he noticed her movements. As her eyes met the sight of the many stars in the sky, she blinked in surprise.

Sheila raised her head and looked around, trying to spot her kidnapper. When she saw Toothless, she let out a small scream and retreated to the pirogue's edge, breathing erratically. She sat up quickly, her eyes darting around, looking for a way out. However, it soon became clear to her that she was alone with a monster and had nowhere to go.

Toothless snarled and drew his pistol from the bench, aiming it at her.

"With one bullet, you're dead. Lay back and stay still," he said.

She retreated to the deck, trembling, her gaze fixed on his every move.

He leaned over her and slid the pistol over her body, and the coldness of the gun made her teeth chatter. She closed her eyes and felt a tightening in her throat.

"You're a bad girl. It makes me horny."

"You are sick," she said, her head turned to the side.

"Hush, woman, or you'll never see your family again!" he yelled.

He yanked her arms over her head. Her sobs were lost in the sea as he caressed her face, and tears fell on the deck.

"You have lovely blue eyes and soft skin. This is a very unusual color for a Caribbean woman."

He stretched out beside her, taking a deep breath and looking into her eyes.

"I once loved a woman who was as obstinate as you. But a few months before our wedding, she caught me in the act with other gyal. She became enraged and tried to cut me up with a cutlass. Then she dashed out of the house. The next day, police discovered she walking around in a distressed state and saying nonsense."

He abruptly got up and pointed the gun at her once more. The outburst of rage in his eyes made her cower.

"She hooked up with the next man a few months later. You remind me of she."

"You don't have to do this. Please free me!" she pleaded, her teeth chattering. Her heart felt as if it were about to burst from her chest.

He sat down on the bench and smoked a cigarette. He looked at her silently as he exhaled the smoke.

"After she, I met ah dougla. I fell in love with she, but when I discovered she horned me with a white man, I strangled she with my bare hands and buried she ass in the forest. So far, the police have been unable to locate she body."

Sheila froze in fear as he ranted, gesticulating wildly with his gun hand. She was convinced he was going to shoot her by accident.

"Perhaps I should do the same to you and throw you into the sea."

Toothless inadvertently pulled the trigger. The sound of gunfire went through Sheila's head as a bullet flew over her.

"Oh, my God, you nearly killed me. Help me, please!" she exclaimed, even though she knew it was pointless. "I beg you! Show mercy!"

Her sobbing irritated his ears.

"Shut up, woman! Between the sea and the sky, no one will hear you."

Sheila scrambled to her feet and attempted to jump overboard as he turned away to pick up his bag. He jumped to his feet, grabbed Sheila by the blouse, and wrestled her back to a prone position. He scowled at her and reached into his black bag. He pulled out a syringe and a vial after a quick search. He used his teeth to break off the end of the vial, spat it out, and began to draw the liquid into the syringe.

"What are you going to do?" she asked quietly.

"Ah want yuh to shut yuh damn mouth, and if yuh say a single word ah go murda yuh."

He sat down next to her, and she froze. Her hair was standing on end.

"Good gyal."

With his left hand, he pinned her hands to her belly and injected the drug into her right arm.

"What did you inject me with?" she inquired, her lips quivering.

"Something to help you feel relaxed."

He leaned back on the bench and cracked open a beer. He drank with a lecherous grin on his face, staring at her over the top of the bottle.

Sheila curled up into a fetal position, her body warm. Her dizziness took over. She kept an eye on Toothless out of the corner of her eye, but he seemed to be surrounded by a dark fog. She gave up and sank into darkness, unable to keep her eyes open.

Toothless stood up and approached Sheila. He gently flipped her onto her back and untied her hands. She moaned as she felt her hands being moved.

What's going on?

Sheila tried to move, but her muscles refused to cooperate. She passed out once more.

Toothless' ears were filled with the sound of a running engine. He covered her with a canvas and stood up. Toothless peered into the darkness, and then took up his pistol, ready to fire.

A Coast Guard patrol boat was on its way. Toothless turned off the pirogue's engine and stared intently as it approached.

The patrol boat came to a complete stop directly in front of him. Toothless looked suspiciously at the two men who were hailing him.

"Hey, Toothless, is that you?" one of them inquired. He was dressed in a black cap, jacket, and pants. He held a long rifle in his hand.

"Yes, Emiliano, it's me."

The other stranger, a tall, broad-shouldered man, was puffing on a cheap cigarette. He spat into the sea and spoke in broken English.

"Did you bring what we've asked?"

"Yes, Alejandro, I did," Toothless answered.

"Where is the woman?" asked Emiliano.

"Under the canvas." Toothless pointed to the inert mound at his feet.

He uncovered Sheila and pulled her up, making her stand at the edge of the boat. Emiliano leaned over the edge of the boat and grasped Sheila under her arms. He pulled her up and, hugging her, dragged her to the cabin.

Inside, two ladies sat on a bench. They were two sisters who were going to a Caribbean Island to escape poverty and hunger.

"Hey, senoras, please go outside. The boat came for you," said Emiliano.

After a glance at Sheila and then at each other, they edged toward the door, frowned at Emiliano, and left the cabin.

As they stood at the edge of the boat patiently waiting to get off, Toothless picked up two huge garbage bags from his pirogue and passed them to Alejandro. Emiliano joined them.

"Check the contents," Emiliano said.

Alejandro searched the bags. They were filled with toilet paper, diapers, medicine, and soaps.

Then Toothless tried to lift a burlap bag.

"Hey, I need help with this one," he said.

Alejandro crossed over, and both lifted the bag by the ends. They dropped it onto the deck of the Coast Guard boat. Alejandro inspected this bag also; he found rice, pasta, potatoes, and flour in it.

"Did you bring gasoline?" Emiliano asked.

Toothless lifted two canisters and walked to the edge of the boat. Emiliano took them from him, then turned toward the sisters.

"Okay, senoras. Time to cross to the next boat," he said.

The women were greeted with a friendly smile from Toothless.

"Ladies, good evening. My name is Caleb, and I'm going to take you to a Catholic center of hope. Come on board."

He extended his hand to assist them. They took his hand in theirs and walked over to his boat.

"Please take a seat," he requested.

He turned and spoke to the coast guards.

"Make sure that the package arrives at its destination undamaged..."

"Don't be concerned. It will be delivered today."

The Coast Guard boat sped away as Emiliano started the engine.

The ladies exchanged glances as they sat down on the bench.

"No me siento bien con este hombre. ¿Y a dónde se llevan a esta mujer ?"a said Mia.

Toothless, who understood Spanish, listened in on their conversation.

"Senoras, you look concerned. Is there anything wrong?"

The younger sister spoke. "Mister, who was that woman?"

"She is a cancer patient who is nearing the end of her life. She asked me to return her to her home so she could die on her own land," he said without blinking.

The sisters exchanged glances.

"Oh, she's a poor thing," Mia remarked.

"Do you have any more questions?" he inquired.

"Not at all," she said.

Toothless fired up the engine, and the boat took off.

24th December

Miguel sat at his desk in the police station. As he spoke on the phone, his bandaged leg rested on the table.

"Is there any good news from the tattoo parlors, Evans?"

"I've been to seven of them, and no one has ever had a snake tattooed on their hand," Evans responded.

Miguel stood up and walked over to the window.

"Someone must be aware of something. Keep looking," he said. His lower eyelid twitched.

"But what about the blood and fingerprints?" he wondered.

"The fingerprints belong to your wife, and the blood is AB positive. We may need to dig deeper to find the answers."

"Many thanks, Evans. Continue in this manner. You're doing a fantastic job."

After hanging up the phone, he sank into his chair. He sighed as he lit a cigarette.

Sheila, where are you being held?

His phone started to ring. When he saw the number on the phone's screen, he ignored it at first. However, the phone continued to ring.

What is it that she desires right now? I told her I wouldn't be able to see her until I found Sheila!

He took up the phone.

"Yes, Candice? What exactly is going on?"

"There isn't much. You've avoided me ever since your wife has gone. I was concerned and called to check on you."

"I'm not doing so well. They kidnapped my children's mother, and I have no idea where she is!"

Miguel leaned back in his chair and rested his legs on the desk once more.

"I feel your anguish and wish I could alleviate it. Why don't you stop by tonight? I will help you to relax."

Miguel stood up again and shut the blinds in his room.

"Gyal, don't you understand? We can't see each other until I find she."

"Okay! Don't get on like a bad john . I only wanted to help you. Are there any leads that can help you find Sheila?"

Miguel leaned back in his chair and unbuttoned his shirt's top button.

"Yes. One of the kidnappers, who shot me, was a woman with a snake tattoo on her hand. We're looking into all tattoo parlors. We might be able to find her soon."

Miguel's words pierced Candice's mind, sending shivers down her spine. Her legs had become so weak that she thought she would collapse.

"I have to leave right now," she mumbled.

His brow furrowed.

"Did I say anything wrong?"

"No, I just remembered I had something important to do. Ciao."

She hung up the phone and stared at her laptop blankly. She had gotten a tattoo on her hand only a week before and had been excited to show it to Miguel, but now she had to hide it from him.

Why wasn't I more cautious? I should've sported long sleeves.

She turned on her laptop and searched the Internet for ways to cover up tattoos. There were numerous outcomes.

Not bad at all, she thought after reading a few tips. Makeup will conceal it.

She stood up and walked over to her sofa, an old brown piece of furniture she'd found in a charity shop. She sat down on it and looked around her small living room.

I don't deserve to live in this run-down neighborhood.

She was living in an old wooden house with only two rooms. One served as a bedroom, while the other as a living room. When it rained, the pink-painted bedroom was anything but cheerful. She was forced to use buckets to prevent leaks from dripping onto her carpet at the time. Flooding had damaged her appliances several times.

She looked up at the plywood ceiling in her room. It had gone bad and had been devoured by termites. Termite-caused wood dust kept falling on the floor. The floor itself was made of grey concrete. Her sofa and table set appeared to be old, as if they had been in use for a long time.

I need to get out of this neighborhood and away from poverty. Miguel is the key to a better life for me. I can't let anything go wrong.

Her phone vibrated. She sat on the sofa, reading messages on her phone and responding to some of them. She then spent some time reading posts on her social media accounts.

Miguel kept thinking about Candice after his conversation with her ended, along with the mystery of Sheila's whereabouts. He had intended to inform Sheila of his decision to leave her for Candice after Christmas, but recent events had put a halt to his plans. He still loved his wife, but the spark and attraction that they once shared had faded.

He felt younger and more alive when he was with Candice. His feelings for her had grown stronger and more intense as he spent more time with her. When she was around, his heart raced and he felt warm all over.

Oh, Sheila. I am deeply sorry for everything that has occurred. I was about to leave you before you were kidnapped. It's almost as if God is chastising me. I'm not even sure if you're still alive.

A knock on the door jolted him out of his reverie. It was his friend Sameer, the assistant superintendent.

"Hey, Miguel. I haven't seen you all day," Sameer said.

"I've been making phone calls, looking for a lead. She's out there somewhere, waiting for me to save her."

He smacked his hand on the desk. "Damn it, I'm so powerless!"

Sameer sat in a chair near Miguel's desk.

"Boy, please take it easy. You must not let your emotions take over."

Miguel stood up and went to the window. He looked out the window. People were passing by as a few police cars were parked near the building. A typical day for everyone else.

"I'm trying hard not to lose my cool, but I'm so angry right now that I swear if I meet my wife's kidnappers, I'm going to beat the crap out of them."

He made a fist with his hand.

"I understand it. However, being tense will not help you solve this case."

Miguel took a seat and lit another cigarette.

"What's the most recent news on the hospital and clinics?" he inquired.

"Nothing. There was no one with wounds looking for medical attention."

"This damn thing is grating on my nerves. I need to find my wife before they kill her," Miguel said angrily.

His friend rose to his feet.

"Boy, take it easy on yourself. For the sake of your children, you must be strong. How are they dealing with all of this, by the way?"

Miguel leaned his head back as he exhaled smoke.

"Not so good. They keep mentioning Sheila. Ronnel is plagued by nightmares. He wakes up wet and screaming in the middle of the night. They won't return home because they're afraid of staying there."

"Wow, this must be difficult for you. If you need anything, I'm here for you."

While Miguel was looking at his watch, his office phone rang.

"Miguel Seegobin is here. What is the location?" Miguel inquired as Sameer approached the door.

He removed the receiver from his ear.

"Wait, Sameer!"

He then continued to listen while writing on a piece of paper.

"Thank you," Miguel said as he hung up the phone. "All right, let's go."

"Where?" Sameer inquired.

"We got a search warrant for Mickey's. We might find a lead there."

"He always knows what's going on in the gangsters' inner circles," Sameer said.

The cops left Miguel's office. They stopped in a small room. Both took bullet-proof vests and MP5 pistols from a locked cabinet. They then went to the lobby.

Four police officers sat in front of a long receptionist desk, and three men sat in the waiting area. Miguel approached Dana, a pregnant officer.

"How is your day treating you, Dana?"

"It's frantic, with all sorts of calls and complaints." Her smile enhanced the beauty of her features.

"Something different about you today."

Miguel looked at her, and his gaze was drawn to her stomach.

"Your skin is radiant. By the way, how's the little one?"

She averted her gaze and blinked frequently.

"Oh, thank you. You always have good things to say. He's kicking. His dad says he might become a footballer."

Dana smiled once more and turned to face Sameer.

"I heard you had a minor incident while playing cricket. How is your hand doing?"

"It's still hurting, but muscle rub works like a charm."

"I believe you have an envelope for us," Miguel interjected.

Dana rummaged through the mail and chose a sealed envelope. She handed it to him. He took a warrant from the envelope and placed it in his pocket.

"I almost forgot to tell you. On Perdowani Junction, there was an accident. Edwin and Ian are on their way there. They'll meet you later at Mickey's. Please be cautious."

"Thanks. See you later," Sameer said and they exited the building. The cops got into one of the police cars, with Miguel driving.

When they got onto the highway, they encountered heavy traffic.

"This isn't a good time for traffic," Miguel said.

"How about turning on the siren and driving on the shoulder?"

"How come I didn't think of that!"

Miguel turned on the siren and moved onto the shoulder. The ride was smooth and without any hiccups. When the police car's tires collided with the Perdowani intersection, Miguel was forced to join the slow-moving traffic.

As is customary, the drivers drove slowly to catch a glimpse of the two cars that had collided. A Nissan was parked on the left shoulder of the road, and a pickup truck was parked on the right side of the road. Two police cars and a tow truck were parked nearby. Edwin and Ian stood outside their vehicle, conversing with the tow truck driver. Sameer could hear an ambulance. It was leaving the accident site, forcing drivers to take the right lane.

The Nissan's hood and fender were dented, and the front window was broken. Glass shards were strewn across the road. The truck's bumper had come off, and the headlights had been smashed. The hood was flung open.

Miguel slowed down and looked around the accident scene with interest. He rolled down his window.

"Edwin, waz de scene? " shouted Sameer.

When Edwin turned around, he noticed Sameer.

"Two people were injured. One didn't make it."

"Do you need any help?"

"No. Go find Mickey. We'll be there soon."

Sameer took out his phone and took a few pictures.

"Whenever an accident occurs, this highway becomes clogged with traffic," he said.

"It's ridiculous," Miguel exclaimed.

"The majority of car accidents are caused by the stupidity of the drivers. They're either drunk driving or rushing somewhere, putting not only themselves but others in danger," Sameer added.

Cars continued to move slowly as they passed the accident site, but the traffic bottleneck cleared as they moved further down the road. Sugar cane fields, houses, and stores lined both sides of the highway. They passed under a bridge and between the governmental housing, which had appeared so short from a distance.

They arrived in the hilly area of Longtail Village after driving for about an hour and a half. Sameer could see houses crammed together on the hill.

They came to a halt on a narrow street, passing two shirtless men. Miguel pulled over and parked his car two houses away from Mickey's house. They stepped out of the car, guns drawn. Both cast their gazes around the area, keeping a close eye on things. They were aware that this was an area where a stray bullet could easily kill.

A group of young men sat nearby, drinking beer. They walked away as soon as they saw the police officers.

Miguel walked up to Mickey's weathered wooden house and rang the doorbell. They heard someone approaching the door.

A woman of African descent opened the door. She was dressed casually in shorts and a tank top.

"What do you want?"

"Police. We have a warrant to search your home," Miguel explained.

Miguel pushed past her as she tried to close the door. The cops entered the hall. The house was filled with loud music and the laughter of a woman. The residents, however, were not within sight of the front door.

"Where is the warrant?"

Miguel took it from his pocket and showed it to her.

In the living room, Mickey was dancing with his girlfriend. He was dressed in a white vest and black shorts. A chain with a large crucifix was wrapped around his neck. In his earlobes, he wore small earrings.

He raised both of his hands, holding a plastic cup of rum in one hand and a cigarette in the other, while his girlfriend wine on him. His jet-black dreadlocks hung down to his waist.

"I'm a law-abiding citizen. I pay all my taxes. Why would you want to search my home?" Mickey's mother stated as she examined the warrant.

Sameer made a motion toward Miguel.

"This man's wife was abducted. We believe your son knows something about it. So, where has he gone?"

"Why? Is it because he's black?" inquired the woman.

She shifted her gaze to the source of the music. Miguel pushed past her and opened the door, his pistol in his hand.

When Mickey's girlfriend saw him, she stopped gyrating on Mickey's pelvic area and moved aside. Mickey attempted to flee through the open window. Miguel ran up to him and grabbed his hand. He drew him in, pressed his hand against his back, and then caught his other hand. He cuffed him and pushed him into an armchair.

Mickey slid down into it. The woman retrieved her blouse from the floor and put it on.

"Get out of here before we arrest you!" Sameer said to Mickey's girlfriend. She looked him in the eyes, a grin on her face, tipsy and swaying slightly.

"You cops have threatened to kill Mickey ever since he got out of jail," she said, her words slurred. "Why can't you leave him alone?"

Mickey started to perspire profusely. His mother stood silently in the room, watching them. Officers Edwin and Ian entered the house at that precise moment.

"Inspector Miguel, what do you want us to do?" Ian inquired.

"Take these women out and search the house."

"Tanty , please come with me," Ian said to Mickey's mother.

Her jaw was clenched as she stared at Ian.

"Why are you troubling my son? He had done nothing wrong. You police search him every time he leaves the house."

"Leave the room, Aunty!" Miguel demanded.

She and Mickey's girlfriend, as well as the two cops, left.

Miguel aimed his handgun at Mickey's temple. "What happened to her?"

Mickey shrank into his chair as his legs trembled.

"I don't know who you're referring to," he admitted. He attempted to stand but was pushed back into his seat.

"Answer me! Who has abducted her?"

Mickey's lower lip twitched.

"I have no information on any kidnapped woman."

"Two days ago, my wife Sheila, the mother of my two children, was taken hostage. I'm going to bust your skull if you don't tell me where she is!"

He pressed the pistol against his temple.

"I swear I have no idea where she is. My hands are spotless!"

Mickey trembled in fear for his life. Miguel had enough of the man in the chair in front of him. He needed to solve the case as soon as possible so he could find Sheila.

He emptied the cartridges from the gun's cylinder, leaving only one bullet. With a flick of his wrist, he slid the cylinder back in and spun the chamber. He leaned over, a grim smile on his face, and calmly pointed the pistol at Mickey's head. "Put it out there! My patience is running out."

"I...I am!"

Miguel's face twisted into a frown. He placed his hand on his ear.

"I didn't hear," he said, still pressing the pistol against Mickey's temple. "You were going to say something to me, weren't you?"

He pulled the trigger, and the pistol made a clicking sound.

"Are you crazy? You could have killed me!" he shrieked.

"If I had shot you, I would have done society a favor."

"Please put that thing away, and I'll tell you everything."

Miguel lowered his hand. "I'm listening."

"There was talk of vengeance. Someone was furious with you for busting a drug deal, which resulted in millions of dollars in losses. The order to kill your children and kidnap your wife was given."

Miguel pressed the pistol against Mickey's private parts, his finger on the trigger tensed.

"Who gave the order?"

Sameer rushed over to Miguel's assistance.

"Miguel, please take it easy. Don't make any stupid decisions," he advised.

"Please put a stop to this madness! I told you everything I knew!" Mickey exclaimed, sweating profusely.

"Give me a name, or you'll lose your testicles," Miguel warned.

" I can't tell you. Dem gonna kill me!"

"If you don't, you'll meet your brother in Hell."

Mickey gulped. "His name is Kingpin," he explained after a brief pause. "He is the glass factory's owner."

While Miguel was questioning Mickey, officers in Mickey's bedroom were opening drawers and emptying the contents onto the floor. Mickey's mother stood apart, observing their every move.

"Why are you throwing everything on the floor?" she asked, biting her nails.

No one paid her any attention. Edwin opened a closet and started going through the clothes. He knelt and rummaged through the shoe shelf beneath them. He took the shoes from the shelf's bottom. He pulled out a wooden plank and noticed a hole beneath it after some prodding.

In the hole, there was something wrapped in fabric. He lifted it out and removed the covering. It was an Uzi submachine gun with a loaded magazine.

Mickey's mother had been silently watching, rubbing her neck and occasionally nodding. When she saw the weapon, she fainted and collapsed on the floor. Ian and Mickey's girlfriend rushed over to her.

"Aunty, get up!" exclaimed Mickey's girlfriend, lightly slapping her cheeks.

She awoke and sat up slowly. She stood up with their help. She took turtle steps to the bed and sat on it.

"He only got out of jail a few months ago," she mumbled.

"You stay with her," Ian said. The cop exited Mickey's room and went into the other.

"We discovered an Uzi submachine gun. We can arrest him right now."

Miguel yanked on Mickey's shirt, causing him to stand up.

"Hey, why are you roughhousing me? I have rights."

"Shut up and follow them." He turned to face Ian. "Take him to the police station with his mother and girlfriend. We'll be right behind you."

They all went outside and were met by an angry mob. A woman dressed in red shorts and a strapless top yelled, "Whey yuh carrying dem? Yuh should jail dem big boys. Not dis small fish."

"Let them go!" shouted a man with short reddish hair.

"Allyuh police tink allyuh is God. Allyuh could do what allyuh want. You kill we boys and then saying dem tried to kill yuh," said another one.

"Go back to your houses before you get arrested for interfering with police work," Sameer said, gripping his gun tightly.

Mickey, his mother, and girlfriend were taken away by two police officers. Miguel and Sameer walked silently towards their vehicle. They got into the car without incident, and Miguel drove away.

Sameer looked out the window as Miguel drove past the mob.

"I don't understand these people. Instead of making our job easier, they defend criminals and then complain about how bad the country is. It's no surprise that it's in this condition."

"Perhaps it's a wake-up call for us police. People have lost faith in us. Some changes must be made!" Miguel exclaimed as he continued on his way back to the police station.

"I agree with you, but we cannot change the situation in this country by ourselves. Every household must participate in the transformation, and everyone must work together."

Miguel took a brief glance at the trees they were passing by. They were strewn with pink flowers.

Our island is so beautiful, but crime makes it difficult to live here and forces people to leave.

Sheila opened her eyes to find herself in a small room, lying on a bunk bed. She lay motionless for a few moments, her face expressionless. Then her attention was drawn to some yellow spots on the ceiling. Her brows drew together in a frown.

She sat up slowly, her gaze fixed on the barred window. Unable to see anything, she decided to walk to the window. She got off the bunk bed with some difficulty, then looked at the top layer of the bed. On the mattress were a dingy bear and a doll.

She walked to the window with a frown on her face. She grasped an iron bar and yanked it, then peered through the window.

The bottom half of the window was underground. Through the top half, she could see people's legs passing by.

"I've been abducted. Please help me!" she screamed as she smashed the glass. Nobody was able to hear her.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered muscular man entered, accompanied by a fat, short woman. The man dashed to Sheila. He grabbed her hair and began pulling her away from the window.

Sheila's hands gripped his, attempting to pry them away.

"Let go, you fool!" she yelled.

"Ella puede causar algunos problemas. Mantén tus ojos en ella ," warned Victor.

He dragged her to the bunk bed and shoved her into it. She landed in a sitting position on the bed, hitting her head on the top of the bed.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?" she asked.

"Puede que tengas que domarla ," said the woman, laughing.

Sheila's ears were irritated by her laughter.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"You'll find out soon!" Bernadette exclaimed.

"Ella se ve como una mujer de voluntad fuerte. Podríamos tener algún problema con ella ," said Victor.

Sheila listened carefully as they spoke to each other. She was glad that she had learned some Spanish in high school. But she knew she had to keep quiet about knowing the language.

These two idiots speak Spanish. I'm in Venezuela! How am I going to find my way back home?

"Tu ve y déjame encargarme de ella ," said the woman. Victor walked away, leaving the two women behind.

Bernadette turned toward Sheila.

"If you want to keep your family alive, especially Nadia and Ronnel, you must abide by the rules of this house and not attempt to flee," the woman threatened, a grimace on her lips.

She turned and walked away.

"Please wait!" Sheila lifted her hand towards her captor.

Bernadette turned around by the door, a fierce smile on her face, her yellow teeth showing.

"No one is going to come to your aid. Do you understand? Nobody!"

Sheila could hear her climbing the stairs as she left the room. Sheila was overcome by uncontrollable trembling and weakness. She got to her feet and walked around the room.

What should I do? They know where my children are.

She paced around the room, frustrated. After a few minutes, she stopped at the door and tried to turn the handle. It was shut.

She pressed her ear against the door and listened. She could hear a man humming not too far away.

"Hazlo otra vez ," said the man.

"Estoy cansada, por favor, no más ," pleaded a woman's voice.

Sheila shifted her weight away from the door and lied down on the bed. She rolled into a fetal position and placed her hand on her chest, feeling for the chain. Then she remembered Toothless pulling it off.

He also snatched my ring!

She sat up, gazing into space.

What am I going to do? These horrid people are not going to let me leave.

She tried to stand up, but the whole room began spinning, forcing her to lie back.

I should play along, then run away at the first opportunity.

As her thoughts scattered all about, she fell asleep, exhausted.

Miguel finished his workday and drove to his mother's house, where he was staying with his kids. He no longer felt safe in his own home after Sheila's kidnapping.

While his mother, Elisa, was busy cooking in her small yellow kitchen, his son sat in front of the television, playing "Catch the Criminal." Nadia was occupied with a teacup set and two dollies.

The doorbell rang. Nadia threw her toys down and ran to her brother. She gripped his hand tightly.

"They've returned!" she exclaimed, her voice shaking.

"Don't be a knucklehead. That isn't them," he responded.

Elisa hurried to the front door. She peered out, hoping to see whoever was standing by the gate. When she saw her son Kevin, she exclaimed, "I'm coming!"

She entered the living room to retrieve the remote control for the gate, which was on the coffee table.

"The doorbell jolted Nadia. She fears that bad people will take her away, just as Mummy."

"No one is going to come after you, Nadia. It's uncle Kevin," Elisa said calmly. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's go see him."

Nadia took her granny's hand and together they went outside to the gate. Elisa pushed the gate open just wide enough to allow one person to pass through.

"I brought some gifts for everyone, Mummy," Kevin explained.

He ruffled Nadia's hair. "Good day, little one. How are you?"

Nadia replied, "I'm fine, thank you."

"Hey, smarty, you've grown a lot. What has granny been feeding you?"

In a joyful smile, her lips quirked upwards. "Too many vegetables."

"Oh, they're good for you," Kevin explained.

"Yuck. They irritate me. They have a bad taste." Her brow furrowed and her nose wrinkled.

"Please, Nadia, go inside now," Elisa said. She had something she wanted to talk to Kevin about, but she didn't want her to overhear their conversation. Nadia walked away slowly.

"I don't see you very often these days," she admitted.

"I haven't had a chance to do anything or go anywhere since Amelia was born. Ria is still suffering with Chikungunya virus. "

"Give she coconut water to drink and spray your house. You don't want those mosquitos to infect your children with Chikungunya or Dengue Fever."

"I've already taken care of that. How is Miguel doing? Whenever I try to talk to him about Sheila, he brushes me off."

"You know, men never show their emotions. He comes home, spends time with the kids, and then retires to his room."

Kevin's phone rang, and he answered it. He paused for a moment to listen. "I'm coming now," he said as he hung up the phone.

"I have to leave. Ria needs me. But I'll return in the morning."

He pulled four gift bags from his pickup truck and handed them to his mother. "I tagged them all."

"See you tomorrow, and thank you," Elisa said.

Kevin drove away, and Elisa returned inside, straight into the living room. She left the room after placing the gifts under the Christmas tree.

Nadia stood there for a while, admiring the gifts. Then she shuffled them around until she found those with her name. Ronnel paused his game and walked over to her.

"You can't touch the presents until tomorrow," he said as he drew her away from the tree.

"Please leave me alone! They aren't yours!"

Miguel drove up to his mother's house. He drove into the yard after opening the gate and not seeing anyone. He exited the car.

Miguel entered the living room, where Nadia was sorting through the gifts. Miguel came up behind her and lifted her into the air.

"Hello there, nosy parker. I had you caught red-handed. There will be no touching of the gifts until tomorrow!"

"Put me down, Daddy! I was just looking."

Miguel let her down and tickled her stomach. Her laughter echoed throughout the room.

"Stop right now!"

He paused and glanced at his son, who was still playing his game.

"What are you playing?"

Ronnel's gaze was fixed on the television screen.

"'Catch the Criminal," he said, his face solemn.

Elisa entered the room. "Turn off the TV and the video game console. Go wash your hands, both of you," she said firmly.

Ronnel turned off everything, and the siblings went into the bathroom. Miguel went into the kitchen and sniffed the air.

"Umm, smells so good. What are you cooking?"

"Callaloo, white rice, plantain, kidney beans, and chicken."

"Did the kids cause you any trouble today?"

"Certainly not. Nadia, on the other hand, has me worried. She still has a lot of fears. Perhaps you should take them to therapy," she suggested as she stirred a large pot of green callaloo.

"I've already made plans for that. The psychologist will visit them here and talk to them."

"What about Sheila?"

"We discovered who might be responsible for her kidnapping. But I can't talk about it with you."

She turned off the fire.

"I understand."

Miguel took a pyrex dish heaped with rice, while Elisa picked up the bowl of callaloo. They exited the kitchen and entered the living room, where they set the food on the table. The kids were already there, sitting patiently.

"Wey you too quick! I didn't expect to see you at the table so soon," Miguel said.

"Ronnel made me hurry," Nadia explained.

Elisa went back to the kitchen a few more times to get the rest of the food and some coconut water.

She poured some for the kids and sat down at the table. They ate in silence.

Miguel looked thoughtfully at his children as they ate.

They appear to be thinner, and they are much quieter. Ronnel used to be outgoing and friendly, but he now refuses to even visit his cousins.

Miguel's phone began to vibrate a few times. He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen. Candice had sent a message.

'I have something important to tell you. Please come as soon as possible."

I told her not to contact me. Why don't women ever listen?

'Why can't you just tell me over the phone?' he typed to her.

'No. It concerns you. I have to tell you face to face.'

'So what? Simply type it out!'

He looked at the phone as he waited for an answer, but she didn't bother to respond. He put his cell away and noticed Elisa staring at him.

"What is it that has you worried? Is that Sheila-related news?"

She glanced at the grandkids. "Never mind," she said.

"Not at all, Mother. It was a text message from a coworker. I have to return to the station."

"But you just got home."

Miguel stood up and took up his plate.

"They want me to be there. I'll be working late, so don't bother waiting for me."

He smiled at his children. "You go to bed early, kids! If Santa sees that you're awake, he won't come."

Nadia's eyes glowed. "Are you sure Santa exists? Vidash's parents said that Santa isn't real."

Miguel smiled at his child.

"Sweetheart, Santa exists, and he might come to see us tomorrow."

"Really?" asked Nadia.

"Yes," said Miguel, getting up.

"I'm leaving now. Don't give your granny any trouble."

Miguel walked out with his plate and cutlery. He drove away to Candice's after washing his plate.

As soon as his car came to a stop in front of her wooden house, he took a small box from the glove compartment and slid it into his pants pocket. Then he got out of the car and rang the doorbell.

She greeted him at the door wearing shorts and a red strapless top. She welcomed him in with a friendly smile.

"What was so important that you had to tell me in person?" he inquired.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a pregnancy test strip, which she handed to him. With a frown on his face, he took it.

"What exactly is it?"

Her face flashed a fleeting smile.

"Please look at it. Do you see the two lines crossing?"

"Yes."

"This demonstrates that I'm pregnant."

With a huge grin on her face, she clutched his hand. "We're going to have a baby!"

The pregnancy strip slipped from his grasp, as he drew away from her.

"Oh, no! Not good at all! You should get rid of dat ," he said.

Sheila took a cigarette from the table. She glared at him silently after lighting it.

"Put that down. You'll hurt the child!" Miguel exclaimed angrily.

"So, what's the point? You don't want it!"

Miguel stepped closer and took away the cigarette, which he put in an ashtray. Then he turned to face Candice and took her hands in his.

"Candice, I would have reacted differently if it hadn't been for my wife's disappearance. I had every intention of abandoning her for you. But my hands are now tied until she is discovered, dead or alive. My children are vulnerable right now, and they require my attention. I had to leave them with their grandmother so I could get to you."

Candice put his hand on her stomach.

"But this is your child. He is the result of our love. Why should he suffer?"

"I'm not sure. It's extremely perplexing. If you want to keep it, go ahead and do so. But we need to be apart for a while. We'll be together as soon as Sheila returns."

A glint of happiness appeared in her eyes. They started kissing and then went to her room.

Candice went to the bathroom, and Miguel spread himself out on the bed after taking off his clothes. Candice washed her hands while Miguel waited. She turned off the water and wrung them out.

It was at this point that she noticed her tattoo had become visible once more.

"Oh, shit!" she said.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing," she replied.

I must exercise caution. I can't afford to lose him or to end up in jail.

She quickly opened a small cabinet above the sink and removed her makeup bag. She sat on the toilet bowl cover she had placed down. Candice took some makeup primer from her bag and applied it evenly to the snake.

Why did I get this tattoo?

She then took out a color correcting crayon and drew it over her tattoo. After that, she applied full-coverage foundation to it.

She's no longer on the scene. I can live with him. But he won't marry me until she's found. I should speak to Toothless.

She scowled at the thought. But he never does anything for free. Where will I get money to pay him?

Miguel glanced at his watch.

Why is she taking so long in the restroom? It's Christmas Eve, and I'm supposed to be at home with my kids. Why had I come here in the first place?

He got off the bed and took out his cigarette and a lighter from his pocket. He lit it and sat on the edge of the bed.

Now she carries my child, which make things complicated.

Candice dabbed concealer on top of the foundation, and then she dipped her brush in face powder and brushed it on over the concealer.

She put away her makeup bag and went to the bedroom, where she found Miguel sitting on the bed and smoking.

She lay on the bed and stared at his back. It was covered with bruises and had a few scratches. She sat up and began kissing them.

"Boy, they really beat you up badly."

"I'm lucky to be alive."

Miguel's body flinched at the thought of that unfortunate night. He rose and picked up his shirt and pants.

She stared at his leg. It wasn't bandaged anymore but had a square dressing on it. He put his clothes on.

"What are you doing?"

He zipped up his pants and then gazed around. Candice's lips twitched. Miguel stared at her silently for a while.

"I shouldn't be here today. My children are waiting for me."

He always put children and she before me. If he finds out that I was…He would kill me for sure.

Candice sat up. "What will happen to us if no one finds Sheila?"

Miguel walked to the window. He gazed outside and stared blankly at Candice's muddy pathway.

"I don't know. You, she, and the baby are puzzling me."

"Any clues as to who might took she?"

"We're getting there, and as soon as we find out who has the snake tattoo, we'll crack the case."

Candice's eyes glanced briefly at her tattooed hand.

I might have to have it removed permanently.

"Okay, I'm leaving," said Miguel.

He kissed her forehead and walked towards the door, keeping his hand in his pocket. After a moment, she followed him.

As he opened the door, he stopped and turned around.

"I almost forgot to give you this." He took his hand from the pocket and held out a small gift box.

She stared at the box and then took it, a questioning look on her face.

"This is your Christmas gift," he said.

"Oh, thank you, babe!" she said, kissing him.

She unwrapped her gift and opened the box. To her amazement, there lay a gold bracelet with a few shiny stones set in it. She put it on her wrist.

"Are these diamonds?" she asked.

"Yes, they are. I bought them before Sheila was kidnapped."

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him all over his cheeks and lips.

"I'm so lucky to have a caring man like you."

He removed her arms from his neck.

"I must leave now. Remember, no smoking or drinking for you anymore," he said, gazing at her belly.

"Alright, boss," she said.

"If you be a good gyal, I might come and see you again."

With a smile, he turned and walked to his car.

25th December

At 7 a.m., Nadia rushed into her father's bedroom. He was sleeping at the edge of the bed. She climbed onto it and hopped in excitement.

"Daddy, Daddy, get up! It's Christmas!"

Miguel awoke with the shaking of the bed.

"Which naughty one is jumping on my bed, and so early!" he said jokingly, pulling his daughter in for a hug and a tickle.

"It's me. I want to open my gifts," she said, trying to get away from him. She laughed and said, "Stop it now!"

He moved away from her and took his camera out of the dressing table. Nadia ran out to her granny's bedroom.

Miguel sat up on the bed and turned on the camera. He pressed the "on" button and looked through the pictures--and stopped on one.

In that picture, he was sitting behind Sheila and hugging her. The picture captured their happiness and mutual love.

Oh, Sheila. Where did we go wrong?

His smile was replaced by sadness and guilt. With heaviness in his chest, he left the bedroom.

Elisa and Ronnel were soundly asleep in her bed. Near the bed stood a table with her Bible and spectacles on it. Elisa loved reading it before her bedtime.

Elisa's mother was Muslim and father a Hindu, but she got pulled into Christianity after attending a Christian-based secondary school. She had been recently baptized in the Roman Catholic church, to her Christian uncle's delight.

Nadia rushed to the bed and touched her granny's hand.

"Nana . Wake up. I'm ready to open gifts."

Elisa sat up and reached for her spectacles. She put them on.

"Girl, why are you worrying me at this hour?"

"It's Christmas!"

Elisa stood up, yawning. Ronnel jumped out of the bed and rushed out of the room, trying to reach the living room first.

Elisa and her granddaughter walked to the living room. They found Miguel sitting on a chair not far from their tall Christmas tree, which was decorated with snowflakes, red ribbons, and red and yellow ornaments. The blue lights on the tree made it look more beautiful. There were a lot of gifts under the tree.

Nadia dashed to the Christmas tree and sat on the floor. Ronnel stood in the middle of the room, wondering if he should open his gifts as well. He looked over at his father.

Miguel readied the camera.

"Sit next to your sister and open your gifts."

Ronnel went over to the Christmas tree as Nadia searched the gifts, trying to see her name. Ronnel picked up a box wrapped in red paper and gave it to her. She unwrapped it right away and found a Barbie doll. She lifted it and showed it to her granny.

"Look what Santa gave me."

"That's beautiful," said Elisa, who was now sitting on the floor not far from them.

"Where are my other gifts?" asked Nadia.

Ronnel walked around the tree and gathered all her gifts into one pile.

"These are all your presents," he said.

As he picked up one of his gifts, his eyes caught sight of a present that he had wrapped for his mother just a few days before she was taken away from him. Slowly he began opening his gift, his face solemn. Once Miguel had taken their pictures, Ronnel pushed his gift away.

"Son, what's wrong?" asked Miguel.

Ronnel silently gazed at his present for his mother.

"Why aren't you opening your gifts, boy?"

Ronnel's eyes darted toward the present. He lifted it from the floor with a cry.

Miguel rushed toward him. "What's happened?"

"Mu…mu…Mummy! I made this for Mummy. But she's not coming back. They took her away from us, Daddy."

His cries were as loud as thunder. Nadia stopped opening her gifts. She stared at Ronnel, upset.

Miguel hugged him. Ronnel buried his face in his father's chest.

" Calm down, son. She'll be back in no time."

"No, Daddy. You lie. People outside tell she dead."

Nadia, too, burst into tears. "Where has my mother gone? Santa did not bring my mummy back."

Elisa embraced her granddaughter. "Come on, stop crying. She'll be home soon," she said.

Nadia raised her head, her eyes welling up, and she looked at her grandmother.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. Your father will track her down."

Elisa looked at Miguel, and a few tears formed in her eyes.

"I forgot to tell you that Santa Claus is coming today," Miguel said.

"Really?" Nadia asked.

"Yes, but first you need to finish opening your gifts, eat breakfast, and take a shower."

Ronnel rose to his feet.

"Daddy I'm not in the mood to open gifts any longer. Can I do it later?"

"Sure," Miguel said.

Nadia looked at her gifts.

"Granny, I'll open mine with you when Santa comes," she said.

"Okay, honey. You just sit on the sofa. I need to make your breakfast."

Elisa went to the kitchen and began making breakfast. Soon a song came on the radio.

It's Christmas day today,

Hip, Hip, Hooray.

My dear Madina, pour sorrel for me,

Lots of nice things to have, you will see.

On the table roasted pork and ham,

You must cook bodi and some yam.

Don't' forget the pastelles and Christmas rice,

I'm feeling hungry, it all looks nice.

Black forest cake, rum raisin ice cream,

Hurry up, my dear, before I scream!

She put an iron tawa on the stove and prepared to make dosti roti. She began by kneading the dough into thin circles. She then rubbed butter into each circle of dough and pressed two circles of dough together. Then Elisa rubbed butter on the tawa and placed a dough circle on it. She used a spatula to flip it over when one side was done.

When she had made enough, she warmed up some curried potatoes and pastelles.

Ronnel entered the kitchen. "Do you need my help, Granny?"

"Yes. Take the plate with pastelles out to the table, and I'll bring the rest."

Ronnel left with the pastelles. Elisa picked up the plate of dosti roti and took it to the living room.

Ronnel and Nadia sat at the table and Miguel sat on the sofa. His attention was on a gift wrapped in blue paper. It was one that his wife had left for him.

"Miguel, come and have your breakfast."

Miguel got up. As he approached the table, he noticed that there was nothing to drink, so he went to the kitchen and brought back a big bottle of sorrel . Elisa brought out the rest of the food and sat down at the table.

Miguel dished out breakfast for his children and then himself.

"Mummy, pass the pepper please," he asked.

Elisa gave him a bottle of hot pepper sauce. He sprinkled some on his curried potato.

As they ate, they could hear rain falling.

"Oh boy, rain for Christmas. Last time it rained, the river behind Natasha's house rose and flooded it," said Elisa.

"It's the rainy season. We can't avoid rain or flooding," Miguel replied.

He put some roti with potato into his mouth.

"Are you working on Boxing Day?"

"Nope. I decided to take the day off and spend it with you. Plus, I want to watch the cricket match," answered Miguel.

Ronnel and Nadia finished their breakfast and got up from the table with their plates.

"I'm going to take a shower," said Ronnel.

"Okay, just don't take too long."

"Granny, come and bathe me," said Nadia.

Elisa left the living room with her grandkids. She allowed Ronnel to take his shower first, and then bathed Nadia.

While they were gone, Miguel cleared up the table.

The doorbell rang, and he opened the door. Once he recognized who was there, he unlocked the gate.

His brother Kevin ran to the door, wearing a Santa disguise and carrying a sack on his back.

"With this rain, I thought you wouldn't dare to leave the house," said Miguel.

"I didn't want to disappoint your children."

Raindrops were landing on Kevin's red clothes.

"Come nah inside before rain wet you up," offered Miguel.

Kevin dashed into the living room. After shaking off the rain, he sat down on the sofa. He dropped the sack on the floor.

Miguel went to the kitchen and brought two glasses and a bottle of Ponche de Crème. He poured some for himself and his brother.

"Boy, take a drink. This is homemade Ponche de Crème. Mummy made it," said Miguel.

Kevin took the proffered glass and had a sip as Miguel sank into an armchair.

"I haven't seen you since last month," said Miguel.

"You know how it is, boy. With the crime rate going up, my wife doesn't want to leave the house after 7 p.m. Amelia is so tiny and fragile; we don't want to expose her to germs. So many people are getting symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. There's a flu virus going around too."

"Yes, I understand it very well. Congratulations on Shantel's SEA results. I saw her name on the list. She made the top 100," said Miguel.

Kevin smiled and eased into the back of the sofa.

"She was accepted into her first choice of high school. I'm glad that she's leaving primary school. That place always ends up in some kind of bacchanal. Last term, a teacher wrote a love letter to an eleven-year-old girl."

Kevin sipped his Ponche de Creme.

"Yes, it was in the news." Miguel scowled. "I hope they'll suspend him. Children can't be trusted with this type of person. Today he writes a letter. Tomorrow he might want to have sex with she."

Kevin nodded. He then grinned and looked at his glass. "Oh, gosh, this Ponche de Crème is de bess. Did Mummy put aside a bottle for me?"

"Yes, she did."

Miguel got up and left the living room. He came back with a bottle of Ponche de Crème and two bottles of sorrel, along with a grocery bag. He put everything in the bag and set it on the table.

Kevin stood up. He put his glass on the table, then hefted his sack.

"I have to go home soon to help Ria, so I guess we'd better make Santa's presence known."

He then shouted, "Ho, ho, ho! Santa's here! Is anyone at home?"

Miguel winked, trying not to smile.

"Boy, with that red suit and the sack you really do look like Santa."

"Ho, ho, ho! Where are the children?"

Nadia and Ronnel ran down the stairs and rushed into the living room. They screeched to a stop, eyes wide, when they saw Santa standing there in the middle of the room. Ronnel stared at him intently, trying to see if the face was familiar.

Nadia ran to Santa and hugged him.

"Santa, I knew you were real!" she said.

"I am real for those who believe in me."

Nadia pulled his hand. "Come, Santa. Sit on the sofa."

Santa followed Nadia, carrying his sack. Then he sat down next to her.

"You're not Santa. He doesn't exist," said Ronnel, looking serious.

Nadia stared at Santa's face, frowning. She put both hands on his cheeks and then touched his beard.

"He is Santa. He has a long beard and a big belly like Santa. But why is he dark?"

Miguel couldn't stop smiling.

"He probably got too much sun. Santa isn't accustomed to the Caribbean weather," he said with a grin.

"Come here, Ronnel. I brought a gift for you," Kevin said.

Ronnel walked over to him. Kevin dug in his sack and removed a gift wrapped in green wrapping paper. He gave it to Ronnel, who quickly took it out of his hands. He gazed at it, wondering if he should open it.

"Open it, boy," said Miguel.

Nadia touched Kevin's hand. "Santa, what about me?"

Kevin stroked his chin, pretending to be thinking.

"Hmm. Have you been on your best behavior?"

"Yes, and I put away all my toys," answered Nadia.

Kevin dug in his sack.

"Well then, you have a gift to get."

He took out a huge gift wrapped in pink wrapping paper. Nadia held out her arms, ready to take it.

"And this is for a special girl," said Kevin, giving it to her. She took it from him and quickly began to open it.

Elisa came in.

"Santa, would you like to have some breakfast?" She gave him a wink.

"No, thank you. I've eaten many cookies and drunk a lot of milk."

Kevin rubbed his belly. "My belly is certainly full."

Nadia unwrapped her gift and found a talking baby doll. She removed a pacifier from the doll's mouth and pressed on the button.

"Mummy, mummy feed me," said the doll.

Nadia put the pacifier back in the doll's mouth.

"This is the best gift ever!" she said, and hugged Kevin. "Thank you, Santa."

Kevin embraced her. "You're welcome, dear."

He stood up. "Santa has to leave. There are other children waiting for their gifts."

He put his sack over his shoulder, and then picked up the grocery bag with his drinks from the table.

"Miguel, call me later," whispered Kevin as he passed him on the way to the door.

Miguel accompanied him.

"Thank you for bringing some joy into my children's lives. Both cried earlier for Sheila, but your presence has cheered them up."

"Why don't you come over tomorrow? Let them play with Shantel."

"I'll see how it goes."

Nadia got up from the sofa. "Santa, wait!"

Kevin looked at her.

"Where's my mummy?"

Santa stared at Miguel, not knowing what to say. "Help me," he whispered.

"Nadia, you're keeping Santa back," said Miguel.

He opened the door. Kevin stepped out and glanced at the sky, and then at his mother's yard. The rain had stopped falling, but the hibiscus leaves and buttercup flowers were still wet.

"The child's question took me aback."

Miguel nodded his understanding. He looked over his shoulder. "Yes, it happens a lot these days."

Kevin put a sympathetic hand on his brother's shoulder. "See you later."

Kevin walked out of the yard and put his sack in the truck. Miguel went back inside.

Sheila discovered that she was being kept in a two-story house that belonged to Bernadette. The upstairs had one huge guest room with a toilet and shower, and three smaller bedrooms, one of which was occupied by Bernadette and Victor. Four bedrooms and a kitchen took up the downstairs. This was where customers were taken for paid sex services.

Each bedroom had burglar-proof windows with tinted glass. The building itself had only one iron door, with five locks. It was occupied mostly by local women who paid Bernadette a rental fee. However, a new teenage girl, Daniela, had been brought to the brothel from Romania and was being kept there against her will.

Bernadette had tried to make her place Christmassy by decorating it. A few red and golden ornaments shaped like icicles hung down from the ceiling of the guest room. There was a tall Christmas tree. Small yellow and green gift box ornaments and garlands were used as decorations. A few gifts stood under the tree.

Two women were in the room, entertaining clients. One couple sat on a brown fabric sofa, which was covered with oily stains.

The woman, a 29-year-old, olive-skinned young lady by the name of Camille, was a bit chubby, but liked by her clients for her big breasts and an unusually big, round bottom. Despite the disgust she felt when she was touched by her customers, she kept coming to the brothel.

She and her 45-year-old companion, who had black hair and a fair complexion, were wrapped up in kissing each other. They were too busy to care about what was going on around them in the room.

After unsuccessfully searching for employment, Camille had chosen a path of prostitution to provide for the loved ones who were dependent on her. Camille's mother was paralyzed, and her father had lost his job. She also had two children, ages eight and five, from a relationship with a married foreign man. The father of her children had moved back to the USA and had refused to help financially. He wasn't interested in the welfare of his kids and kept demanding a DNA test to confirm his fatherhood. In addition, her dad was a diabetic whose life depended on his medication. Therefore, for the sake of her family, she had swallowed her pride and dignity to sell her body.

On the other sofa a fat, baldheaded 60-year-old tourist by the name of Jackson massaged Daniela's feet. She was only 17 years old, a fair-skinned teenage girl from a wealthy family. She averted her gaze from what was going on, feeling scorched and dirty. The stench of alcohol mixed with his odor was making her nauseous. To make matters worse, he kept farting.

Anger stirred in her heart as she hatefully gazed at this stranger. It grew steadily, until she had finally had enough.

"Get your dirty self away from me! You're sickening!" she said. She tried to push Jackson away.

He slapped her. She quickly moved to the other end of the sofa and put her hand on her cheek.

"Shut up, you little whore. I didn't pay to hear your whining."

"But you stink, and you keep farting like a pig."

She tried to get up, but he pushed her back onto the sofa. Her black eyes filled with fear. She looked over at Camille, hoping that she would help her. However, Camille pretended that she had not heard anything, and tried not to look at Daniela.

Jackson started unbuttoning Daniela's blouse, but she pushed him off.

"Please go away," she pleaded.

However, he was aroused and ignored her pleas. He continued working on getting her blouse off. His eyes opened wide as she fought him.

"Stop being naughty," he said. Now his hands went down her body.

"Please come back later."

Hearing Daniela's pleas, Camille got up.

"Let's go to my bedroom. There's no privacy here at all," she said.

She walked away, pulling her partner with her.

Daniela pushed her tormentor away and got up. Right then, she caught a glimpse of Victor standing by the door. He glared at her and swiped a finger across his neck, giving her a sign. It was only too clear that, if she did not obey her customer's desires, her head would be cut off.

She shook as she turned back to her customer. With a feeble smile, she took his hand and said, "Please come with me. I feel uncomfortable doing this in here."

"I knew you were a good girl," he said. His face was red, and saliva dripped from his lips.

"Lead the way," he said, hitting her bottom. Trembling like a leaf, she led him to the bedroom.

Late in the evening, Sheila lay on the bed. She stared at her latest client, Mateo.

His head was covered with grey hair, and wrinkles crisscrossed his unshaven face. He was unhealthily thin, in such a way that his ribs were bulging out through his skin. The smell of cigarettes on his breath bothered her nose. He was rubbing her back.

Yesterday's incident had left a horrid feeling in her mind, and the memory haunted her.

She recalled her last client. He had smelled like a fish and his back had been covered in acne. As soon as he had taken off his clothes and tried to kiss her, she had pushed him away and had run out of the bedroom. She had puked in the garbage bin that was in the guest room, and then had sat on the sofa crying. The man had followed her into the guest room, stripped to the waist.

"Hey, you. I didn't pay good money for you to relax in here. Come back to your stupid bedroom."

She had looked up tearily at him, ignoring his words. He had snatched her hands and pulled her up.

"You little trash, I want to get what I paid for!"

Sheila had tried to pull her hand away. "Let go my hand, you nasty dog. I'm not your slave!"

Hearing loud voices, Victor had entered the guest room. "What is happening here?"

The man had released her hand and grinned.

"I paid 300 US to sleep with this slut, and she refuses to do her job. I want my money back."

"Mr. Price, please calm down. Go back into the bedroom. I give you my word you'll get value for your money."

Price had walked away. Victor had grabbed Sheila's hair and made her get up.

"Ouch! Please stop! I'm not a prostitute. Why are you making me to do these things?"

He had pulled her in front of him. "Walk to the toilet," he had ordered.

As soon as they had gone in, he had locked the door and pushed her to the toilet. He made her kneel.

"In this house, you are to please every desire of the clients without questioning," he said.

He had grasped her neck from behind and pushed her head into the toilet bowl. Then he had flushed the toilet with her head in the water. The water had gone all over Sheila's face and into her mouth.

She had put her hand out, searching for something to grab onto. At the same time, she tried to lift her head up out of the bowl.

Finally, he had taken her head out of the toilet bowl. She began coughing and vomiting.

"Now you know what will happen to you if you disobey. Clean yourself up and go back to your room," he had ordered.

He had unlocked the door and left. Sheila stood up, crying, and began rinsing her mouth and face. Right after that she sat on the floor and pulled her knees up to her chest, quivering.

"Please, God! Please! Free me from this shackle. It's too much for me. I beg you, help me escape."

She leaned her head against the wall and stared at the celling.

"Father, it's too much for me. I want to go back to my children. Why has this happened to me? Why? This monster comes every night and rapes me. I try to be strong for my children. But I might not last. Please save me before I perish!"

For a while she sat in silence, letting her rage build up inside her. Finally, she made a fist, stood up, and left the toilet.

Now, as she lay there with Mateo, she started to feel weak, as if someone was draining the life out of her. She glanced at her unfinished drink on the bedside table.

Victor must have drugged me.

Mateo removed a small pack of white powder from his valet and a short straw. He sat on the bed and glanced at Sheila. Then he emptied some powder into his palm. With a straw in his nostril, he brought his palmful of cocaine closer to his nose. He began snorting cocaine with closed eyes. His eyes became teary.

"Hey, chick! You want some?" he offered, staring at her.

"No." She turned on her back.

He grabbed her chin and made her face him. He brought his palm closer to her face.

She pushed it away, and the powder spilled on her.

"You little slut! You wasted it!" He raised his voice and made a fist.

"Please, no! I am very tired and unwell," she plead staring at his fist.

He put the powder and straw back into his valet.

Then he started undressing her. He suspected that she was under the influence of another drug, but he didn't care. Before him was a beautiful woman who couldn't say no and would be used to satisfy his dirty dreams and desires.

"You idiot. Leave me alone," she said, as she tried to raise her head. It was too much of an effort, so she dropped it back.

"Oh, you want to play." Mateo leered down at her.

"Listen, I don't belong here. I have children and a husband," she mumbled.

Mateo ignored her words. Sheila lay helpless, feeling as if a part of her soul was dying, along with all her values and hopes. She had an urge to yell but swallowed it when she saw that the door was slightly open. The one who had almost drowned her in the toilet bowl stood there watching them.

She forced herself to look in another direction and closed her eyes, trying to get lost in her thoughts.

It's Christmas. I should be with my family, not in this whore house or with this jerk on top of me.

He caught hold of her hand and began caressing it.

"Where are you from?" he asked.

Sheila stared straight into his eyes, playing mute and deaf.

He squeezed her wrist. "When I ask questions, you had better have answers," he said.

"Please let go of my wrist."

He loosened his grasp.

"Are you a new girl? I've been here before and have never seen you."

As he caressed her cheek, she turned her head away. "I don't belong here."

"Every whore says they don't belong here, playing innocent and pure," he said.

Sheila rose slightly and slapped him on the cheek.

"Look nuh! I'm not a whore! I was forcedly brought here!"

Mateo got up, rubbing his cheek. He spat on her face and then squeezed her throat with both hands.

"You nasty bitch. I can smell a whore like you from afar. Don't play virgin with me."

Sheila clutched at his hands, trying to loosen his grasp. Her face got red, and her eyes became teary.

The door opened, and Victor walked in. Sheila's tormentor let go of her neck.

"Is everything alright here, Mateo?" Victor asked.

Mateo picked his clothes up off the floor.

"Oh, yes. We're just getting to know each other. But I think I'm done for now."

As Victor gazed at Sheila, Mateo slipped into the rest of his clothes. Then he took out a few dollars from his wallet and threw them on her.

"Here, this is for you. You should buy some soap and take a shower. You stink like a shit."

Sheila raised her head slightly and stared at him and at Victor. She wanted to say, 'I don't need your dirty money,' but was too afraid of being punished.

Mateo walked away. However, he stopped at the door and turned around.

"You need to tame her a little bit. She's too wild for me."

Victor smirked at Sheila. "She's new here. But I guarantee that the next time you won't have any problems with her."

"And please do not come into the room when I'm naked."

A grin formed on Victor's face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you."

"Forget it. I'll be back in two weeks," Mateo said, with a smile on his face.

After he left, Victor clutched Sheila's hand, squeezing it firmly.

"Remember, the customer is always right. It's your job to make them happy. If they express dissatisfaction with you, I will make sure that you drown the next time we must 'discuss' your behavior."

He let go of her hand, picked up the money from the floor, and left her alone.

Sheila got out of bed, trembling all over. She rubbed her aching wrist silently as an urge to cry filled her. The feeling of being filthy pushed her to the bathroom. She managed to get there just in time to puke in the toilet bowl.

She got into the shower and let the water run. As the cold water poured over her, she soaped herself over and over, trying to remove all the pain and disgust that she felt.

"Yuck. Get out of me."

"Sheila!" It was Bernadette. "When you're done, come into the guest room."

What does she want now?

Sheila's left eyelid twitched, and a stabbing pain developed behind her eye.

"Did you hear me?"

Can't even take a shower in peace! "Yes, Senora. I'll be there."

"Stubborn woman. I will break her spirit," whispered Bernadette as she left the bedroom.

Sheila turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel. When she came out of the shower, she gazed at herself in the mirror. Her face looked thinner, and there were dark shadows under her eyes. With a frown on her face she whispered, "I will find a way to get out of this damned place."

She walked to the small closet and took out a top and skirt that had been given to her by Bernadette. She put them on and went to the guest room.

To her surprise, all the girls of the brothel were in the room. They had wine glasses in their hands and were chatting merrily.

Daniela, however, sat silently by herself. She was thinking about the last Christmas with her sister and parents. She recalled opening gifts with them and then going to church. Her face was sad as she sat there missing her family.

Sheila sat quietly on another sofa, watching the ladies in the room.

Bernadette picked up gifts from under the tree and handed them out. When Daniela got her gift, she hugged Bernadette and said, "Thank you."

With a smile on her face Bernadette said, "Don't thank me but Victor."

She glanced at her watch and then walked away. Daniela began unwrapping the gift. Suddenly she heard Camille's loud laughter.

Camille took out the contents of her gift box and held them in the air for everyone to see. They were red panties, condoms, a pregnancy test kit, and a lubricator.

"Victor is a real idiot. Couldn't he get a better gift for us?"

Others also opened their gifts and found the same items.

"Is this a joke, or what? Just throw them away," said a woman by the name of Luciana. She stood up and left.

Sheila didn't even bother to unwrap hers. As soon as Daniela opened her gift, disappointment was clear on her face. Sheila walked towards her.

Without saying anything, Daniela took out a pack of condoms.

"What kind of gift is this? They are cruel animals."

Tears formed in her eyes. "They sell my body to make money and give me this rubbish." She stood up, dropping her gifts.

"I guess they want to make sure you don't catch a disease."

"They robbed me of my virginity, my soul, and my innocence. I'm unable to bear this anymore."

Daniela dropped back onto the sofa. Sheila sat down next to Daniela and rubbed her back.

"Please don't make a scene, or Victor will come back. I promise we'll walk out of here free as birds," Sheila whispered, glancing at the others.

One by one, the brothel's dwellers left the guest room with their gifts.

"Wipe your tears and get up. You must not show your weakness to them."

Daniela lifted the edge of her blouse up and wiped her tears with it. Then she clutched Sheila's hand.

"Whatever you're doing, please free us soon. I can't handle this any longer."

I don't even know where to start, or how to free us.

Sheila rose. She felt as if something was stuck in her throat.

"I'll try. Now go to your room and get some rest."

26th December

It was Boxing Day, a public holiday. Candice, wearing shorts and a strapless green top, sat on the sofa in her living room with a tall dark-skinned man by the name of Terrel. She held a glass of Sprite, and he was drinking beer.

He put his glass down and began kissing her shoulder. She laughed as she squirmed away.

"What happened to you, gyal?"

"I'm just ticklish," she said.

He took the glass from her hand and put it on the floor. Then he pulled her top up. His lips passed over her breasts. She stiffened and moved away.

"You kind of seem uninterested and edgy today," he said.

"My tummy is in pain. Maybe because of the pregnancy."

He grasped her hand and stared into her eyes.

"Ah always wondering if dis child is really mine."

Her eyebrows knitted. "Wah yuh talking about, boy? When did you started doubting me?"

"Weren't you sleeping with him as well?"

"No, we've only been dating."

"Yuh lie. Men wouldn't see a woman for so long without having pussy."

She pulled her hand away from him and walked towards the table. She took a cigarette out of a pack and lit it, then sat down on a chair and smoked silently.

"Yuh pushed me to date he so I can spy on he . Now yuh accusing me with dis shit?" she asked in a loud voice. She flicked her ashes into the ashtray.

Terrel walked to the table. He poured another glass of beer for himself and stood in front of her.

"I didn't have much of a choice. I borrowed money from de boss and couldn't return it. When I told him that I had no money, he put a Smith and Wesson revolver to my head and said, "Either pay back my money or find out what Miguel knows about my operations."

Candice put out her cigarette and dropped it in the ashtray.

"Both of you are dotish. Why would he tell me anything about police stuff?"

"Why yuh doh leave him?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He kissed her back. She pulled her lips away from his.

"Your jealousy is suffocating. You know my heart belongs only to you."

"I don't want his hands all over you."

"Why yuh cyah understand? I'm doing this for you!"

He gently removed her arms from around his neck and walked over to the window. He gazed at a shop that was across from her house.

"You know, I can easily get money just by robbing shops or neighbors. Chen's shop can give me a good income. Isn't this shop run by a Chinese man?" he asked, pointing outside.

She came to the window and looked at where he was pointing.

"Yes, he runs it with his wife. Dem come here and doh even talk English," she said.

"I went there a few times and didn't see any security. It would be easy to rob them," Terrel said.

"Leave that Chinese man alone. He's already been robbed a few times this year."

"Who cares how many times he was robbed? Dem come to our country opening restaurants, little shops taking we money. Why can't I rob dem?"

"You might get another jail term if they catch you. The streets have cameras."

On the other hand, if he goes to jail, I'll be free of him.

"You know what? Just go ahead with your plans. The baby will need a lot of things."

If dem lock him up, I can for sure marry Miguel.

His phone rang, and he answered. The smile on his face disappeared and his eyes narrowed.

"Yes, boss. I'll be there shortly."

He ended the call.

"What bossman wants?" asked Candice.

"I dunno . He asked me to come by immediately."

"You're like a loyal puppy ready to run after a bone," she said with a grimace.

"Hush nah."

He walked away. As he left, Candice took a cigarette from the pack and lit it. She sat on the sofa and sucked some smoke in. She held it in her mouth and then blew it out.

I need to have a better plan so I can leave him. Next thing I know, he may slice me with a cutlass or shoot me.

Candice gazed at her tattoo.

I have so much to worry about. This damned tattoo is causing so much trouble. I can get caught for this.

She picked up the cell phone from the table and dialed Miguel's number. It rang but no one answered.

They should kill she, and then I wouldn't have any problems. He's avoiding me because of she.

Candice turned on the radio and listened to the chutney music.

Then she closed her eyes and began visualizing her wedding day. She saw herself going to the altar with Miguel and exchanging rings. Daydreaming about her future, she fell asleep.

It was mid-morning, and at the primary school Ronnel was playing outside with his friends. The schoolyard, as usual, was filled with noisy students during recess time. Some played a game of catch, while others sat on a bench munching on their lunch.

Suddenly shots echoed in the schoolyard. The children began running into their classrooms.

Ronnel dashed into his and ducked under his chair.

"Where's Miss Tyler?" he asked a girl next to him.

"I don't know," she said, shaking.

Miss Tyler came in and shut the door behind her. The students started coming out of their hiding places.

"Everyone, please stay in the classroom till your parents come for you," she said.

"Miss, I'm scared. Did someone die?" asked Kamla, a girl who sat behind Ronnel.

"No. There's nothing to be afraid of."

The room buzzed with the chatter of classmates talking about what had happened. However, Ronnel sat soundlessly and lay face down on his desk. He remembered the events of the night that bandits had entered his house. Tears fell on his desk.

"They took her. I'm not going to see her anymore," he whispered.

Within an hour, parents were rushing to the school to pick up their children. Everyone hurried to leave.

Miguel arrived and walked towards Ronnel's classroom. As soon as he came in, Ronnel rushed towards him.

"Hello, Miss Tyler," Miguel said to the teacher.

Ronnel clutched at his hand. "Father, take me home now, please!"

"Just give me a minute." He looked up at the teacher.

"Do you know what happened?" asked Miss Tyler, who knew that Miguel was a policeman.

"It was a shootout between police and two bandits. One of the gang members was killed and the other one injured."

"It's so scary to come to this area. When these things happen, no one dares to leave the school's compound to check on it," said Miss Tyler.

"Father, where's Nadia?"

"She's still at school."

Miguel addressed the teacher once again. "How is Ronnel doing with his schoolwork?"

"He's become less talkative, and his marks have dropped. He was one of my best students, but now he's lagging behind."

"Hmm. I'll talk to him about it," said Miguel.

He looked at his watch. "Sorry, Miss Tyler. I must go to pick up my daughter. Stay safe this afternoon."

"You too," she answered.

Father and son walked away.