Bad Juju

by Dina Rae

  Sue moved to the adjoining family room and sat with her back to Rio and his father. He could hear her sobs. His dad didn’t budge. Oh no, he’s gonna bitch.

  “What kind of son are you? You left them both to die? Do you want to rot in Hell? I can’t believe what a fucking….” Alonzo yelled.

  Rio drowned it all out, waiting until his rant was over. “I was terrified. I thought I’d get blamed. Oh Mom, please look at me,” Rio begged.

  “What’s to look at? You’re a monster. Have you no conscience?” His mother continued to whimper. She probably thinks I killed Brittany. His mother withdrew, but his dad who remained surprisingly tacit appeared to be devising a plan. He sat holding the towel and rubber sole. His eyes scanned every inch of the great room. Rio sensed he was close to finding a solution to the mess, and being the hard-ass he was, the solution might be jail.

  “Sue, please sit with us. I know you’re angry, but we’ve got to discuss this,” Alonzo said. His mother slinked back to the kitchen table refusing eye contact with Rio. “You really fucked up this time. Don’t know if your mother or I will ever get over this, but you’re our son. The way I see it, nobody knows you were there. Maybe Fontana can I.D. you, maybe she can’t. She’s in a coma, so even when she wakes up…the drugs, the shock of it all…this might blow over. Where’s the knife?” Alonzo asked.

  “I washed it and put it back with the other knives in the kitchen drawer,” Rio answered.

  “Smart. Let me finish what you started.” His father lit the towel with the gas stove and let it burn out in the sink. He then cut the rubber sole into several tiny pieces and dumped them down the garbage disposal. “No sense in ruining your life over some slut. Sue, what do you say? Your son needs your support.”

  Rio was in shock. Up until this very moment it had always been his mother who covered for him, who was easily manipulated, who was the forgiving parent. But now, in his hour of need, it was his father who was helping him destroy evidence. He had been so wrong about the man.

  “I don’t know, Alonzo. Maybe we should get a lawyer and Rio could go to the police. He’s a minor. Make some kind of restitution towards that poor teacher. What if she wakes up and remembers?” his mother debated.

  “This is your son’s life. They can try him in a court of law as an adult for attempted murder and if she dies, then the charge will be upgraded to murder,” Alonzo argued.

  “Well, maybe we could move away,” Sue suggested.

  “That’s way too suspicious. Listen, if the teacher does remember, then you’re right. We’ll get the best lawyer money can buy. But it might not get to that point,” Alonzo said.

  His mother nodded, clearly uncomfortable with his confession. The tension in the room fell over his head like a black cloud. Although grateful for his dad’s defense, there would be no lawyer. Vague beginnings of a backup plan monopolized his thoughts.

  Chapter 46

  Jessica watched Jake drive off. His comments filled her with so many emotions; she didn’t know how to feel. Preferring to ban the boy from her house forever, she could not afford to be hasty. She needed him, that much was certain, but she wasn’t sure what for.

  Did you see his eyes? echoed inside her head. Absurd. But she saw them too. Red. Delving deep into the logical side of her brain, she came up short. She had to admit the new, wide-awake Henry was different in other ways besides his eyes.

  Henry had always been quiet or bursting with dialogue, particularly about subjects of interest. Jessica could count all of his expressions on one hand. Now he used eye contact when he spoke. He attacked his doctors. That’s not my kid, she thought.

  Tom was quick to remind her about the skirmishes he had in junior high and then last school year’s fight in math class. Maybe Tom was right. Maybe Henry’s short temper was escalating as he matured.

  Tom came home late as he did during the whole month of August. He had a big construction contract at a nearby elementary school. With the first day of school approaching, pressure mounted. He worked fourteen to sixteen hour days to make the completion deadline. He came home exhausted, not wanting conversation. Jessica put off telling him about Jake’s visit. She’d wait until he had a good night’s rest. The next morning she broached the subject as they dressed for church.

  “So what you’re telling me is that our son is demonically possessed. All because his eyes sparkled in a certain light?” Tom asked as he fastened his belt.

  “When you phrase it like that it makes me sound like a whacko.” Jess was sorry she told him.

  “Listen, I know I’m barely home and all of this has fallen upon your shoulders…” Tom patronized.

  “Not like we have a choice. Our insurance has limits. His doctors’ fees are astronomical,” Jess interrupted.

  “That’s not the point. It’s very stressful. You might need a break. Why don’t we call my parents. Maybe Jake shouldn’t come over any more,” Tom said.

  “You are so condescending!” Jess went into her walk-in closet looking for a pair of shoes to match her floral dress. “And Jake was a great idea! Henry loved the company!”

  “No need to get hysterical. But Jake, from what you’ve told me, has some weird notions, no doubt fuelled by Lucien. I’m just saying he could be triggering you to…” Tom hesitated.

  “To what? Snap? Go cuckoo?” Jess took her shoe and whipped it at Tom. Realizing she had lost control, she sat down and cried. “I’m sorry. Don’t worry about me. I can be Dr. Jekyll’s and Dr. Hyde’s next customer.”

  “It’s okay. Life sucks right now. We’ll get through it. God will see to that.” Tom sat next to her and held her.

  “Now I’ve got to put my makeup on again.” Jessica took a Kleenex and wiped her tears. “As for Jake, I know he knows something we don’t. Give me a chance to get to the bottom of this.”

  “What could he know? It’s not like he went to Haiti with us,” Tom said.

  “For starters, he told me Brittany said she was pregnant with Henry’s baby. And then there’s the mysterious backpack Candy Fontana dropped off and I can’t find. She said she was coming back. Why?”

  Tom shrugged his shoulders with a look of concern. “I had no idea about Brittany. Was it true?”

  “Don’t know. You have no idea about a lot of things. If you don’t mind watching Henry, I’m going to visit Candy at the hospital after church,” Jess said.

  “What good will that do? She’s in a coma,” Tom said.

  “I know. But I’m going anyway,” Jess said.

  ***

  Once inside the church, the strides Henry made had vanished. He instantly reverted back to a state of catatonia. Jess checked his eyes countless times, the same grayish blue at every angle. Afterward, church members tracked them down in the lobby to say their hellos and offer their prayers. Jess and Tom wished Henry showed some of his progress, but he became more withdrawn, hiding behind her and looking down at the wooden floor.

  As they headed for their car, Jess whispered, “What happened?”

  “Mom, he was scared. Too many people. Right Henry?” Natalie asked as she looked at him.

  “Yes. Don’t remember any one,” Henry said.

  “Of course. It’s intimidating. It’s going to be the same way at school. Maybe you shouldn’t go back next week. Wait another month and see how things go,” Tom said as they drove home.

  “I want to go to school,” Henry argued.

  “Well see, okay? See what your doctors say. You’re seeing them tomorrow, right?” Tom asked.

  “He’s got an appointment. I won’t be home until late afternoon.” Jess answered for Henry.

  Tom was driving much too fast. Jess assumed it was the Greenbay Packers pre-game that was causing him to ignore the speed limit and safety of his family. She knew he looked forward all week to relaxing in the lazy boy, eating appetizers, and watching football. A twinge of guilt prickled her, and she was mad at herself for acknowledging it.

  “You mind watching Henry for a couple of hours?�
� she asked.

  “Still going to sit with that comatosed teacher? Go ahead. Maybe she’ll wake up,” he snidely remarked.

  Tom was right. Seeing the teacher was almost ensuring a waste of time, but curiosity compelled her to go anyway. Jessica changed into more casual clothes of shorts and a t-shirt and headed to St. Mary’s Hospital on the other side of town.

  The hospital was immense, a combination of multiple wings gradually added over the years after the original was built three decades ago. Not knowing where Candy’s room was, Jess parked in the main parking lot. She entered the remodeled lobby that gleamed of marble and shone of glass. Tom had remodeled it last year. She admired her husband’s work as she followed the signs to the gift shop. She picked out a large bouquet of carnations and headed to the information desk.

  “Hi. I’m here to see Candy Fontana. Can you direct me to her room?” Jess asked.

  The receptionist was young and pretty and looked disconcerted. “Oh…well…she’s currently on the fourth floor. You need to use that elevator over there, not the elevator bank, and then you will be escorted to her room. You need to sign in and I’ll also need a copy of your driver’s license.”

  The precautions made Jessica remember Candy was a victim with an attacker on the loose. Security was necessary.

  Once she finished the proper paperwork, she ascended to the fourth floor in the single small elevator by the information desk. As the doors opened, she was greeted by a uniformed policeman.

  “Hello, Mrs. Novak,” he said.

  “You know my name?” she asked, paranoid.

  “The receptionist from downstairs just radioed me. I’m Officer John Carillo. Afraid I’m going to have to search your purse and sift through the flowers you bought. I need you to empty your pockets too. It’s procedure,” he said. Jess obliged. “Are you by chance Henry Novak’s mom?”

  “Ah, yes. Ms. Fontana was his favorite teacher. I’m here to pray for her and give her some flowers,” answered Jess.

  “She was a lot of the students’ favorite teacher. I know about your son. So sorry. Detective Bastian was the one who went to your house after you came back from Haiti. Do you remember him? He’s here, perched outside of Candy’s door,” said Officer Carillo.

  “Yes, of course. That was an awful day,” Jess said. She felt as if she was being interrogated as she stood in the hallway.

  “How is your son? I heard he was attacked during your mission. Again, I’m so sorry. I heard he has some terrible problems because of it,” said the officer.

  Jess’s paranoia was not paranoia. He was definitely fishing. She began to doubt if she would be escorted into Candy’s room. Maybe I should leave. Maybe I should get a lawyer. She politely updated him. “Yes, Haiti was not what we hoped for. But thanks to God, we got our son back and he’s getting better.”

  “I’m being rude. You came to visit Candy, not talk about your tragic summer. Forgive me. You know she’s out of her coma, right?” asked Officer Carillo.

  “What? No. When?” Jess asked, flabbergasted.

  “Only a handful of people know about it. It happened four or five days ago. She can barely talk and has a lot of memory loss. We are trying to keep this hush-hush for as long as we can. Who knows if the person who did this to her will try again.” The officer walked her down the long corridor while he talked.

  “Of course. Is this why there’s all the security?” Jess asked.

  “Actually it was set up like it is now during the whole summer. When the media gets a hold of the story we’ll take more precautions. Her room is right down there, where Detective Bastian is sitting. So you know, Candy is heavily drugged and sleepy. If she’s awake, she’ll try to talk to you. Lately, she hasn’t had too many visitors. Go ahead,” said the cop as he motioned for her to walk the rest of the way by herself.

  Jess saw the detective and said hello. He was wearing a cheap suit, probably the same one he wore when he came by to inquire about her address being programmed in Candy’s car. He was preoccupied with a magazine as he sat in front of the closed door. Jess said hello, and he let her in. She was thankful he wasn’t chatty like Officer Carillo.

  Jess entered the one-person suite and saw Candy sleeping. There were tubes coming out of her mouth and arms, connected to multiple blinking machines. Parts of her head were shaved, exposing deep wounds stitched up with black medical thread.

  Jess looked at this once beautiful woman with pity. A terrifying thought emerged. Could Henry have done this? Flooded with relief, she recalled missing the teacher’s visit by only a matter of minutes. Henry couldn’t have done it; he was home. What kind of mother am I for even thinking my son could have been responsible for such a thing?

  Shrugging off her shame, she found an empty vase and went into the bathroom to fill it with water. She set the vase on a loaded dresser topped with Get Well cards and arranged the bouquet. She then sat down in a chair by the room’s only window and watched Candy sleep. She wasn’t leaving until the woman woke up.

  Almost an hour went by. Candy’s large brown eyes fluttered. She looked startled to see Jess staring at her.

  “Don’t be scared. It’s Jessica, Jessica Novak, Henry’s mom. Sorry to show up like this. I see you’re struggling, but I’ve got some questions that can’t wait. Henry’s not… well.”

  “Hhhhhi,” Candy breathlessly mumbled.

  “I know you stopped by, before we left for Haiti. I don’t want to upset you or stress you out. But my kids said you were going to come back,” Jess said.

  “Bbbk.” Candy choked.

  Jessica felt like a real heel. The poor woman had been to Hell and back and here she was barging into her room only days after she came out of a coma.

  Candy caught her breath and moaned, “Paaac.”

  “Huh? Did you say backpack?”

  Candy groggily nodded.

  “Yes, that’s right. You dropped it off on the last day of school. What was in it?” Jess persisted.

  Candy lifted her stickly arm and pointed to the Bible on the nightstand.

  “The Bible?”

  Candy shook her head. “Bbbbb…”

  “Book? He had a book?”

  Candy nodded and softly said, “Voodoo.”

  “A Voodoo book? Like a research book from the library?” Jess inquired.

  Candy shook her head and violently hacked. The monitor bleeped in a deathly medley. A team of nurses and a doctor stormed into the room and told her to leave.

  When asked what happened, Jessica remained vague. Her protective motherly instincts kept her quiet. She feared their interest in her son would continue.

  The term ‘Voodoo book’ rang through her mind the rest of the afternoon. Tom appeared to be indifferent.

  “We were going to Haiti. Doesn’t surprise me he wanted to read about Voodoo. Maybe the book or books were missing from the library. It’s a miracle she was even awake,” he said with eyes never leaving the TV screen. Henry was alone and unwatched in the basement watching TV.

  Early evening Jake called, asking to come over the next day. She invited him over for dinner after Henry’s therapy session intending to corner the boy with more questions.

  Chapter 47

  Sunday night dragged into the beginning of Monday morning. Jake stared at the digital clock in Leah’s bedroom, waiting for the right time to slip out. He had been sneaking into her bedroom on her nights off from work. She didn’t want Rhianna to be confused.

  The red glowing numbers of the clock reminded him of Henry’s eyes. Once they hit 1:50 a.m., it was time to leave. He stroked Leah’s hair while she slept, dreading the moment when he had to tell her the truth.

  He crept back to his room and dressed in a black t-shirt and sweats per Lucien’s instructions. He wore the crystal necklace Lucien had given him, and a simple gold crucifix that once belonged to his mother. He was not formally brought up in the Christian faith, but was baptized and believed there was a God and His name was not Bondeye.

  When Ja
ke arrived at Lucien’s trailer, the lights were off, but the old man was wide awake. Jake could see the glow of a cigarette cherry through the front porch screens.

  Lucien wore a black tunic with a red outline of a coffin and black pants. His hair was banded in a ponytail and tucked inside of his shirt. Several rings drew attention to his hands. He was dressed to kill, or in this case, dressed to raise the dead.

  “Hey. You look…nice. I thought we were going to the cemetery?” Jake asked.

  “Back in Haiti, my brethren and I would wear these kinds of things when we performed a dessounin. It’s a very complex death ritual. Tonight we will do something a little different. A reversal of sorts,” Lucien announced. “It’s a formal affair. Are you wearing the crystal I gave you?” Jake nodded and pulled it out from his shirt. “Good. Let me give you two of my rings, one for each hand. Here. See if these fit. They ward off loas.”

  Lucien handed Jake the two most ornate of the five he was wearing. They were heavy, encrusted in stones Jake didn’t recognize. They fit his index fingers perfectly.

  “They’re both made with rubies and diamonds and set in gold. They belonged to an ancestor of mine, Plato the Wizard, and they’re very powerful guards. Once I became a bokor for my Bizango brethren, my uncle gave them to me. They’re very valuable, museum valuable. I know you’re only here to save Henry and will soon be washing your hands of Voodoo, so to speak. But don’t sell these off to some slummy pawn shop. When I’m dead I want you to also take the ones I’m wearing as well. Try an auction house like Sotheby’s or Christie’s, or a museum, wherever you can get the most money. You’ll have a bright future without the Voodoo. I should have quit my sorcery and sold off my family heirlooms years ago, taken care of my family... But my fate is sealed and this is all that I know.”