The Lazarus Effect

by H. J Golakai

  ‘What do you wanna see Dad about?’

  ‘Important stuff.’

  ‘Yeah, you said important. You didn’t say secret. What’s up?’

  ‘It is secret, so mind your own business.’ Jacqui rubbed her arms briskly.

  ‘Tjo, it’s cold. Thought it was going to rain today for sure.’

  ‘Me too. We all thought it was going to rain, but it didn’t. That’s what always happens.’

  ‘Mm-hmm.’

  ‘Now there’s all this wind. I don’t get it.’

  ‘Yeah. Who knows?’

  Rosie rubbed her arms, too, mimicking her sister. She had on a jersey but it didn’t matter. Jacqui had slender, nice arms and pretty fingers. She wished she had arms and fingers like that.

  ‘Last day of school was yesterday, finally. Now I’m free. I didn’t do anything today, got sooo bored. I can hang out with you guys.’ Rosie blinked. One blink, two, three, four in rapid succession.

  ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, Rosie.’

  ‘Like, when you go for tennis practice I can come, too. I’m good at tennis. And touch rugby.’ Giggle. ‘I kick ass at sports.’

  ‘Don’t swear.’

  ‘Sorry.’ Sniff. ‘Don’t know about basketball, though. It’s complicated. But I can learn. You can teach me. You’re like a real pro. We can go to the club and make teams–’

  ‘We’re a lot older than you, Rosie. You have your own friends, don’t you?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Shrug. ‘But they’re, you know … boring sometimes. You guys are cool.’

  ‘We’re supposed to be the boring ones. We do church activities most of the time. Why would you want to hang out with preachy types when you can have fun with your own friends?’

  ‘I like the church stuff; it’s not that bad. I used to go with Serena before you, remember?’

  ‘Yes, I remember.’

  ‘So. Anyway, Dad says it’s good to be well rounded, so I can do cell group and tennis and learn basketball and you can show me–’

  ‘Rosie. Look, can you …’ Jacqui’s hand went up. ‘Can you just shut up for one minute? Okay? Just keep quiet and let me think for a minute.’

  Another pause. ‘What’s your problem, anyway?’

  ‘I’ve got a lot on my mind. It’s been a long day. And, no, I do not want to talk about it.’

  Silence again. ‘You used to tell me stuff.’

  ‘What? Stop mumbling. I can’t hear you.’

  ‘You used to tell me your secrets. We used to talk and do stuff together.’

  ‘Rosie …’ Sigh. ‘You’re a laaitie, all right? I know we used to hang out, but you’re still a kid. And I only told you the kinda stuff that wasn’t important to me. Sometimes you have a big mouth. You spill your guts to your mother about everything.’

  ‘Not everything! I so do not tell her everything. Whatever you tell me, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I won’t even tell Serena.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I mean. Wh–’

  ‘I won’t say anything, Jacqui, I swear!’

  ‘Seriously. This is personal, and you’re too young to understand. Leave it alone.’

  ‘I’m not, I’m not! Tell me, please, I promise–’

  ‘Jesus, will you calm down!’ Jacqui grabbed Rosie’s meaty arm, held it tight and shook. ‘Stop it. Stop carrying on like a big, stupid baby. You always do this. What’s up with you?’ She released her breath. ‘Listen, you don’t want to know about this, anyway. It’s really terrible, grown-up-type stuff. You’ll freak out. Only Dad can help, and maybe even he won’t want to. So just forget it, okay? It doesn’t matter.’ Her eyes were desolate as she surveyed the settling dark. ‘Maybe you’re right; I should come back tomorrow. I gotta get home.’

  ‘Wait, Jacqui, wait. I know grown-up secrets.’

  Jacqui scoffed. ‘Good for you. I gotta go. Mum’s really gonna kill me this time.’

  ‘I know about … you know …’

  Jacqui stopped on the front steps and turned, only to find Rosie pointing a finger at her midriff and blushing heavily. ‘I know about you, and Lucas … and that.’

  ‘That what? You think me and Luke, you think that I’m …’ Scornful laughter rang out. ‘You really are nuts. You think you know my big secret, huh? You think so? You’re kinda right. It’s a filthy secret–’

  ‘Stop that. Stop touching me.’

  ‘–about shagging and humping and cumming and making babies. You know anything about that? You know about naked bodies and men’s penises–’

  ‘Stopitstopit!’

  ‘No, you stop it. Big baby. Big ridiculous baby, what d’you think you know?’ Jacqui raised a finger and jabbed it into Rosie’s forehead. ‘Idiot. I’m out. Tell Dad I was here.’

  ‘I know Daddy can’t stand you.’ Rosie’s spit flew and landed on Jacqui’s cheek. ‘He can’t stand your coming here and pretending to be one of us. He hates you. He wished he never made you. He hates you and your mum and he thinks you’re cheap.’

  Jacqui barked a sharp ‘ha’. ‘No, he doesn’t. He’d never think that.’ Shrug. ‘Maybe your mum does, but he doesn’t.’

  ‘Yes, he does.’

  ‘No, he doesn’t! And I’ll tell you what else your pathetic mother thinks.’ Jacqui stuck her nose inches from Rosie’s. ‘She hates you. Maybe she can’t stand me, but it’s you she hates. Wanna know why? Because you let her precious little Sean die. You were supposed to save his life and you didn’t.’

  ‘N-nnn-no, that was you, that was you.’

  ‘It was you first. After the first time he got sick, they decided to make you, specially, to save his life. They were gonna grow their own brand-new factory and cut bits and pieces out of you to fix Sean. But you turned out to be a loser, as always. You weren’t even a match for his big toe. But I was.’

  ‘That’s not true!’

  ‘That’s not true,’ Jacqui mimicked. ‘It hurts, doesn’t it? Believe what you like. Maybe it isn’t true, who knows? Who cares? Nobody tells us anything, Rosie, not you and not me. Live with it.’ Jacqui smacked the pad of her fingers on her stunned sister’s cheek. ‘Now open the gate.’

  ‘I–’

  ‘Open the bloody gate.’

  Rosie slunk inside and closed the door. Her heart was thumping. She licked her lips and tasted sweat. Her whole mouth tasted of sweat and blood. She groaned, low and anguished. Blindly, she grabbed a set of keys from the hook near the door. She ran outside.

  The car’s engine purred as it started. Jacqui glanced over her shoulder, squinting up the drive. She turned around and walked back, towards the car, her laugh getting louder and louder. Her lips were moving but Rosie’s ears felt numb. Her head throbbed. She couldn’t see straight. The car lurched forward. Jacqui’s face melted, from teasing to fear and then to horror. She started to run, and got two steps before the bonnet ate the back of her legs. The car reversed and went over her again.

  Rosie sat quietly, sucking in gulps of pine- and leather-scented air. It felt like hours before she could see and hear again. The taste of blood and sweat was gone. Her heart was still screaming at her.

  *

  ‘Serena …’

  ‘What’s up? What’s wrong?’

  ‘I did something bad. I don’t know … I … Serena …’

  ‘What’s wrong, what happened? Are you hurt?’

  ‘Nn-n-no, I– it’s Jacqui. I hit her. She’s not moving. Ohmygod Serena, she’s not moving! I can’t … I don’t know. I can’t … Pleeeaaase …’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘Home. Come come please come, are you coming?!’

  ‘Shut up and calm down. Stay there and don’t move. Don’t call anyone. I’m on my way. Just stay where you are and don’t touch anything.’

  ‘Don’t leave me by myself, please. I can’t! She made me …’

  ‘Ro, listen to me! Calm down. Shut your mouth and breathe. Let me think, okay? Let me– I’m coming. Stop freaking out, I’m coming now.’

  ‘Hurry. I�
��m scared, Serena. What if–’

  ‘Ssshhh. Breathe and stay calm. Don’t move, and don’t let anyone see you. Don’t call Mum and Dad! Just wait till I get there. Don’t freak out, okay? I’m coming to you right now.’

  45

  ‘That’s so … despicable and sad.’ Chlöe had her hands over her neck. The room had emptied out. Connie had gone back to her shop, and Titus and Joshua had stepped outside to give them privacy to wrap up. ‘They were just two stupid sisters having a typical, stupid, sister argument. When I think of all the crap I’ve said to mine … But was it true?’

  ‘I doubt it. Carina was already pregnant with Rosie when Sean first developed leukaemia, so she couldn’t have been conceived for spares to save him.’ Vee sipped her juice. ‘They tore into each other and it spiralled out of control. Sean was always the most sensitive topic. We really should’ve looked more closely at what was right in front of us instead of chasing our tails. Rosie’s face is literally a suicide note. Flip the coin the other way and she could’ve easily been tipped into murder.’

  ‘Wow. This is not how I saw this ending.’ Chlöe massaged her temples. ‘I hate myself for forgetting to mention the conversation about the car to you. After I heard about the hit and run, my brain blanked out. That was so crucial. I’m such an idiot.’

  Vee waved her quiet. ‘Ah, bygones. We’ve both had a lot to deal with lately. Now that my car is evidence, maybe you can make good on your promise of being my driver.’ She chuckled. ‘It’s unreal knowing I’ve been connected to this case all along.’

  Once Chlöe had got past the gravity of her oversight and recounted her chat with the rosy-cheeked Isabella, another piece locked into place. Serena had borrowed her roommate’s Toyota Corolla to get rid of Jacqui’s body. Knowing full well it was up for sale and that the trip likely wouldn’t be remembered or linked back to her, she returned the car and hoped for the best. Her prayers bought her two years and a twisted coincidence. The car was sold to a used car dealership, and driven off the lot a year later by Vee. Currently, it was being impounded, to be swept for evidence later. Forensics was no more hopeful about finding DNA in it than they’d been about Carina’s Mercedes. But Vee had a strong feeling there was something to find. Jacqui may have gone out lying down, but she wasn’t going to settle for not getting her final say. A part of her was somewhere in that car and the geeks would find it. Vee felt chilled to her marrow knowing she’d been driving around in a mobile casket for all these months.

  ‘When I offered Rosie a lift home that day, she looked like she was about to have a stroke. I think she even recognised the plate number. It didn’t make sense at the time.’ Vee remembered the amazement on Rosie’s face, like life had pulled the cruellest prank on her. ‘I thought it was because she was scared of being in my clutches. But she recognised the car, or probably can’t stand any model that looks like it. Must’ve been like reliving her worst nightmare driving in it again.’

  ‘That’s super creepy. Maybe that was your subliminal motivation for the investigation. You had premonitions, or felt these supernatural vibes in your soul …’ Chlöe made an eerie noise and twiddled her fingers under Vee’s nose. ‘Jacqui called out to you from the dead, ‘Veeeee…”

  ‘Stop it! Don’t joke about shit like that.’

  Chlöe dropped her hands. ‘Whoa. Shem man, sorry. Didn’t mean to … but I get why you’re sensitive about it. All this time, the same car … But it’s a crappy coincidence, that’s all. You know that stuff’s not real, right?’

  Vee mumbled something and fussed with the bedcovers. Every day without the visions, every day without another crushing attack, was a joyful one. She hoped to heaven it lasted. ‘I hope they find the body. Adele needs that real bad.’

  The police were not optimistic they would find Jacqueline’s remains, even after the Fourie sisters had given them broad directions for where they had dumped her. The system of sewage pipes and waterways that drained into the Black River was convoluted, and after twenty-four months the body had surely moved.

  ‘They all need to move on, though God knows what they’ll be moving on to now.’ Chlöe cocked her head. ‘This’ll be the blow to destroy them forever. Serena and Rosie have screwed up their whole lives. And Carina …’

  She and Vee shared a look. The fate of the girls before a criminal court looked bleak. Their mother’s was less certain. It was unlikely Carina would face serious criminal charges, but the impact on her psyche and career would be irreparable.

  Once the statements collected from the Fourie sisters revealed that Rosie was indeed the hit-and-run driver, Carina’s motives for taking the fall became crystal clear: she wanted, needed, to protect her daughter. Ever since Jacqueline’s disappearance, Rosie had suffered from nightmares, and her monsters had come back to torment her when Vee had started poking around. The morning of the jogging incident marked an escalation. Convinced that Vee pumping her for information about Ian was actually a ruse to expose her, Rosie had taken matters into her own hands and gone after her the same way she’d gone after Jacqui. After the ordeal, Rosie had driven home behind the wheel of her mother’s battered car, witless with fright, and thrown herself into her mother’s arms. She had confessed everything and Carina, who had not played favourites among her children since Sean died, threw herself under the bus to protect the child she had always paid the least attention to.

  ‘Once Carina knew that Rosie had killed Jacqui, she went ride-or-die for her baby. Accident or not, she wasn’t going to let another one of her children perish because of yet another deeply unfortunate incident connected with Adele. Her mother bear instinct kicked in, but I think it was also the principle of the thing, not to let her daughter go down for Adele’s daughter.’ Vee dusted off the last of the mango. ‘Then you got Serena, who’d been protecting Rosie all along. And even Lucas, who, in his scatterbrained way, was trying to help. I don’t know if ‘destroy’ is the right word to use. The Fouries may be a lot of things, but they’re strong. They’ll cope,’ Vee said. ‘Call me crazy, but the person I feel the most sorry for is Etienne Matongo. He lost so much in the DRC, only to rebuild it here and lose it all again. He had a home and now he has nothing.’

  The deputy chief of security was AWOL. Security camera footage was missing from the WI’s surveillance system, and so were he and his family. Their home had been vacated, packed up hurriedly, and friends and neighbours were suspiciously lacking in helpful leads.

  Chlöe looked floored. ‘How can you say that? He’s implicated in a murder enquiry and he did a runner. Serena’s refusing to implicate him in anything they did, so who knows how involved he was? If you ask me, he’s as guilty as they are.’

  ‘It’s not that simple, Chlöe. He struck me as a kind man who got sucked into this bullshit and put himself at risk to help those girls. We won’t ever know now, but that’s how I feel.’

  ‘Hhmmph, whatever you say. All I know is, we now have an article to write and it is going to slay. The madness has begun.’

  Vee groaned and pulled the covers up to her chest. ‘Finegeh, no shop talk, please, ibekyu. I need one more week of rest.’

  Chlöe rose. ‘I’ll take the hint. Should I call your boyfriends back in on my way out or …’

  ‘Okay, get out.’

  Chlöe raised her hands in surrender. ‘Hey, no judgement. I knew you were a dark horse. Just make sure I get all the deets afterwards.’ She leaned down and hugged Vee, then straightened up and cleared her throat. ‘And um, thanks for everything, especially being there for me and taking all the hard knocks. It’s really been a great opportunity–’

  ‘Oh, shut up with the opportunity speech. Stop worrying. Portia owes me, owes us, in a big way, and this time I plan to milk it. You’re not going anywhere if I can help it.’

  Chlöe’s face was sunrise as she sashayed out, already placing an excited call as she slipped out the door.

  ‘You look exhausted.’ Joshua came in, dragged the unoccupied chair as close to the bed as it
could go without crushing his knees, and sat. He leaned on her, arms crossed on her hip, chin resting on his forearms.

  “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.’ Or something close to that,’ she said. ‘Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. That advice you gave me.’ He raised his eyebrows in a ‘not bad’ salute. ‘You look worried.’ She caressed his head, letting his hair wind around her fingers.

  His eyebrows went a notch higher. Should I be?

  ‘I said a lot of things. Before. About how friends should always be cool with each other because of how valuable friendships are and blah blah blah. Then we went and … you know … we misbehaved in a way that was the opposite of cool …’

  ‘Graphic misbehaviour.’

  ‘Yes. And now …’ She huffed. ‘It sounds ideal, but this kinda thing rarely works out. Rule number one, don’t screw your friends or screw them over. If–’

  ‘Hey. Whoa.’ He straightened up. ‘I get it. I’m the one who had a build-up to this. We don’t have to draw each other a map. It’ll be okay.’

  ‘So … Then …’ Do not be the one to ask what are we, Vee warned herself. She waited.

  He rooted through his jacket pocket. ‘Here.’

  She jiggled the set of keys in her palm. ‘You’ve lost your Americanness. It has to be a whole rigmarole before you hand over keys to your place to a woman. I’m ashamed you’re this easy.’

  ‘Pipe down. It’s to somewhere you can be invisible for a while and relax, without worrying about people beating down your door for favours and interviews.’

  ‘Peace and quiet. Sounds awful.’ She beamed. ‘Can I have visitors?’

  ‘Whomever you please. Unrestricted access.’ A little tightness pulled at the corner of his eyes, but he kept his tone light.

  She was slipping under when he left. She battled with her slumping eyelids, trying to keep them open as Titus went through the same motions, adjusting the chair so he could sit comfortably with his legs stretched out. Vee rested her eyes for a second. She felt like a fading icon that half the world was coming to pay their last respects to.