"So what happened after you were removed?" Les was absolutely appalled by her parents.
"Parents were investigated, charged, and convicted of multiple felony accounts of assault of a child, Neglect and endangerment of a child, and threats and emotional abuse. Mom got five years and served three; dad got ten years and served six. A couple of teachers got into trouble for failing to report suspicions of child abuse. They went back to the small town and are still there, but they aren't in great health. Prison wasn't an easy time for them. I went back a few years ago. I didn't approach them or talk to them. I just observed. They both look about ten years older than they are, and they're shunned in the church - child abuse is really looked down on there; children are a gift and should be treated as such. Like I said, what happened to me was an anomaly."
"Why did they get out early?"
"Overcrowding in the case of dad. According to the parole board psychologist, Mom got out with good behavior and showed genuine remorse for how I was treated but felt she couldn't go against Dad. She wrote me a letter after Benji died; there was a lot of "I'm sorry you felt" in it, essentially minimizing what happened, but also letting me know I always had a place in their home and to remember to "Honor your parents and look after them in their old age."
"Did you answer?"
"No, part of their parole conditions was not to contact me, so I sent the letter to their parole officer. She was brought before a judge and warned that any further attempts to contact me would result in her going back to prison. Haven't heard from them since."
Asher pulled into the campground, and the next couple of hours were taken up by setting everything up and getting started on supper. Mina gave Greg the drawings of his niece and nephew, which earned her a hug, to Asher's displeasure, and he offered to pay her, but she declined, saying it kept her busy and she was grateful for something to focus on. After she ate, she said good night, claiming she was tired and wanted a shower.
Asher sat the others down and updated them on the current situation when she was gone inside. "Mina and I will be meeting with the FBI Agent at a Saloon for lunch tomorrow with the end goal of working with them to bring down Draco. This means we'll be here an extra day, but because we're confident that Derrick will be looking at giving up his sister in Belcourt, North Dakota next, when we leave here, we'll drive directly there and stay for two or three nights."
"What's the plan with that?" Greg leaned back and linked his hands behind his head
"We'll get more information from Mina and make a firmer plan after we meet with the FBI tomorrow. They might decide to push us out of things, although I aim to get paid. I think if we do this properly, we can get paid by Draco and by the FBI."
"Let's not push out luck here." Eric shifted nervously. "Maybe Greg and I should go ahead to a hotel."
"No, if they're watching us, we can't deviate. Lex has erased you both pretty thoroughly and given you deep cover identities." Asher shook his head. "And If my plan works, Derrick will take the fall for turning states evidence on Draco."
"And if it doesn't?" Eric raised his eyebrow at him.
"Alright, Eric and I need to clear the air here." Asher waved his hand, and Les, Joe, and Greg silently got up and went inside their RV. "Got something you want to say?"
Eric shrugged. "I'm questioning your judgment."
"Because of Mina?"
"No, because you were ready to walk away from the only thing that has brought you any joy or happiness in the eight years I've known you. Not just walk away from it, but wash your hands of her, knowing what would happen to her. Jesus Asher, if that was your response and plan with to deal with her, how can I trust your judgment with anything?"
"Have I ever led you wrong before?"
"No, you've also never engaged in self-sabotage before. Or told me to take a woman who would either end up a sex slave or taken her own life if we aren't protecting her to the airport and letting her go." He shook his head. "I would have gone with her Ash, just to make sure she never ended up in that situation. And I know you don't think this is possible, but I love and respect you, and in that moment I didn't know why anymore."
Asher nodded slowly. Mina had been right. "You're right, and I almost lost her because of my actions. I won't make that mistake again." He held out his hand, and Eric automatically took it. "Thank you for making me pull my head out of my ass. I rely on your skills, but I also rely on you to be the one to say something when I'm behaving like an idiot."
"And I'll continue to do it." Eric smiled. "I'm happy you got her to agree to stay."
"I have to work to get her to forgive me, but I'm willing to do it."