"What does that mean?" Bonisile asked lighting a cigarette. They we all done eating except her. "Is there a chance that we might lose him?"
Mandisa looked at her. "Put that thing out. If you want to smoke go outside." She turned to a worried Sindi. "The court date has been set for the twenty second. So far we have an upper hand on Tebogo and a strong case but that might change. He is smart and I wouldn't put anything past him or underestimate him." She looked at Bonisile who was still puffing on her cigarette but got up immediately at Mandisa intense look.
"Where is Joy by the way? Did he eat?" Mandisa asked pushing her plate away. She didn't have an appetite.
"You fed him an hour ago and I put him down for his afternoon nap." Khanyisile answered clearly wondering where Mandisa's head was. Joy always had his lunch an hour before them then had a nap for at least two hours. Mandisa knew that.
"Is there something you are not telling us?" This came from Bonisile who rejoined them minus the cigarette.
"Something like what?" Mandisa asked careful to keep her face free of expressions.
"Like what is bothering you and don't tell us it's work. You have handled tough and hopeless cases before but you never let it bother you."
"But this case is not just work." Sindi answered before Mandisa could. "It's is personal. We are talking about losing my son, your nephew. Can you imagine how bad that would be? I can't imagine my life without my son."
There was silence around the table as they all thought about their pasts. They knew all about loses and none of them felt strong enough to survive another loss of a loved one.
"I can't live without my son." Sindi whispered in a trembling voice.
"And you won't have to." Mandisa said trying to reassure them. She was confident about the case but she knew that Tebogo wouldn't just accept defeat that easily. He would try to get an upper hand. Perhaps bribe the mothers of Tumi's children not to testify. Mandisa had already covered that base. She had promised to help the girls claim maintenance from the Motsepe if they testified against Tumi and refuse to speak to anyone representing the Motsepes.
"I need you all to trust me. I have this covered and if I suspect for a minute that we are going to lose Joy, I will tell you and we will come up with Plan B." She promised.