Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) (30 page)

“He chased me with Tama. I thought he liked me.”

“Oh, love. I’m sorry.”

“He visited while I wuz sleeping. Stella said he wanted to say sorry. He brought the carnations.” Maia felt her mother’s hand brush the back of her head. “Stella said he likes me. But why would he chase me and help Tama if he’s s‘posed to like me?”

“I don’t know, love. Maybe he was scared of Tama or just doing what he was told. But, it still doesn’t excuse what he did. He’s not the type of person I would want you to be friends with.”

Like she had a choice. Fucking Tama ruined everything. It was probably Tama’s fault that Mikey was shot too. That prick was a magnet for trouble.

A moan escaped Mikey’s lips. Maia looked up in hope as his eyes shot open. Pain flickered across his features. He gripped onto her fingers and squeezed his eyes shut as his body arched up. He let out an agonised shout then flopped down, his hand going limp in Maia’s. The monitor flat-lined.

Maia’s mother screamed for help. A nurse ran into the room, quickly followed by a doctor. The nurse switched on a machine by the bed and yanked back the blanket. Maia’s mother wheeled her away as the doctor placed paddles on and below Mikey’s chest.

Tears ran down Maia’s cheeks as she watched Mikey’s body jolt up from the electric shock.

“Reset to 300 joules,” the doctor barked. The nurse did as instructed.

“Stand clear!”

Maia covered her ears, not wanting to hear the thud as the electricity went through Mikey’s lifeless body.

41

Tama

He’d been waiting bloody hours for his aunty to return home. Darkness had settled in a while ago and he’d been freezing his nuts off inside Naf’s shitty little Escort. But at least the physical discomfort was a partial distraction from the brain fuck he’d been having since dropping Mikey off at the hospital. Corey and Naf had phoned a few times, the last an hour ago, giving him updates on Mikey’s condition. It didn’t sound good, but there was still hope they said.

Tama felt sick to his stomach that he’d been responsible for Mikey getting shot. It was always the wrong fucking time and place for the people he loved ... like when his dad died. His father wouldn’t have been on the motorway if it hadn’t been for him. Tama had wanted to go with him, but his mother wouldn’t allow it. He’d found out why later. His bitch aunty told him everything, blamed him for it too. And she had every right. His father had gone out to buy his birthday present. A brand new softball kit, the expensive one he’d seen in the city. If he hadn’t begged him every day for two months his dad would probably be alive today. Fuck, he hated himself at times.

He looked down at his hands. If Mikey karked it he knew he’d go mental again. When his dad died he’d totally lost it for months, ripping into anyone that came near him. Shit, he didn’t want to go through that hell again.

The sound of a car snapped him out of his thoughts. He glanced over his shoulder as a red Honda turned into the driveway. Finally! He got out of the car and headed for the driveway, then stopped at the gate in surprise as Caitlin ran around the Honda, dressed in a pink sweater and purple jeans. What was she doing here? His mother never let his aunty babysit, often calling her a bitch and a bully behind her back.

Caitlin squealed in delight as she ran for him. “Tama!”

Tama opened up his arms. He picked her up and kissed her cheek. “Hi, gorgeous.”

“Tama, you-you look a-a-after me? Mummy not like Aunty B-Bitch.”

Tama sniggered.

Aunty Trina walked up to him. She was dressed in a long black skirt and blue blouse, the buttons pulled to breaking point. And the way she was looking at him suggested she blamed him for what Caitlin had said. Hell, he got blamed for everything else; it made no difference to him.

“So you decided to show up then?”

Tama glared at her. Bitch! She didn’t even look remorseful for turning him in.

Her expression softened a little. “I suppose Michael has told you what happened. Where is he?”

Giggling, Caitlin ran her hands over his head. Tama closed his eyes, trying to get his emotions under control.

“Tamati, where’s Michael?” Aunty Trina repeated.

Tama opened his eyes. His aunty’s harsh expression was now replaced with a look of concern. For the first time ever he felt sorry for her.

“He’s...” Tama breathed in. “He’s in hospital.”

Her face dropped. “What?”

“He wuz shot in the stomach.”

Aunty Trina started to bawl, her hands waving about. “How? Who shot him?” She screamed, “What did you do?”

Tama stared at her in disbelief. What the shit was she saying? He wouldn’t hurt Mikey. He loved him. “I didn’t do it. I took him to the hospital.”

She turned and waddled to the car. She squeezed in and slammed the door shut, her skirt getting caught in the door. Still holding Caitlin, Tama stepped out of the way as the car backed down the driveway.

“Will M-M-Mikey die l-like Mummy?” Caitlin asked.

Tama’s eyes darted to Caitlin. “What did you say?”

“Will M-Mikey die l-l-like Mummy?”

Tama frowned. Caitlin said the strangest things. She probably didn’t know what she was saying. No matter how much he reasoned with himself, he started to shake.

“You-you c-c-cold, Tama?” She wriggled about, trying to get free.

“No. Where’s Mum?”

Slipping through his grasp, Caitlin landed on her feet and grabbed her crotch. “I-I’m busting!” She ran over the grass and up the stairs.

Tama followed.

“It’s-it’s locked,” she squealed, still twisting the door handle. “Busting!”

He picked her up and carried her around the back, then put her down next to the shed. “Go here.” He turned around.

“No, I need th-the toilet.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “The house is locked. Just pull you knickers down and go.”

Caitlin’s squeals grew louder as she hopped between feet.

Tama grunted in frustration. Fuck it! He’d break the back window for her. He got a rock from the garden and smashed it through the glass, then unlocked the door. Caitlin ran inside, squealing repeatedly as she headed for the toilet. Tama looked down at the broken glass on the lino. Shit, he’d been so distracted that he hadn’t even considered using his Swiss knife. Now his aunty was going to kill him.

The memory of the last time he’d visited came to mind. All his sympathy evaporated as he kicked the glass to the side. Stuff it, the bitch deserved some payback.

The toilet flushed. A few seconds later, Caitlin came running into the kitchen. “I’m hu-hungry,” she said, pulling on the fridge handle.

Tama bobbed down in front of her. “Where’s Mum?”

“He-He-ven.”

“What?”

Caitlin let go of the handle. “Mummy’s in heaven,” she said, without stuttering.

“No,” Tama said, panicked. “This isn’t a game, Caitlin. Where’s Mum?”

“Besy said...” Caitlin started crying. “M-Mummy’s w-w-with God.”

42

Nike

Nike’s mother shielded her eyes from the early morning sun as she peered out the windscreen. “Wow! This place is huge.”

Nike’s gaze shifted back to his mother’s legs. On the car ride over to Craven’s place, he’d been winding himself up over how unwell she looked. She didn’t like him getting on her case about her health, but shit, he had to say something.

“Mum, are you takin’ care of yourself?”

Her expression changed from awe to annoyance. “Of course I am.”

What a crock of shit. Although she was wearing a long skirt, he’d seen her swollen legs as she’d gotten into the car. And combined with the dark circles under her eyes and her eczema, she looked anything but healthy.

“Your legs don’t look good, Mum. I know weight problems and lack of exercise can cause it.” He’d googled it after she’d thrown out the word
oedema
like it was the root of all evil.

Her face broke into a scowl. “I’m trying to exercise, but don’t have enough time, and my legs make it hard to do anything.” Her lips pulled tight. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why shouldn’t I? You just make one excuse after another. It’s bullshit, Mum. And you know it. You need to cut back on work and tell Rory to get a fuckin’ job. Cut back on the junk food too.” Yeah, he wasn’t the most diplomatic, but it was all true.

Her cheeks reddened. “Don’t speak to me like that. You’ve got the foulest mouth. And lay off Rory, he
is
working
and
I lost a whole kilo last week.”

“He isn’t gettin’ paid for that,” Nike said. “Why the fuck can’t he get a job that pays, and write in his free time?”

“Look! It’s none of your business, plus I told ja to stop with the bad language. God, Son, show some respect.”

“Sorry, but I’m worried you’re gonna have a heart attack—”

“You’re being paranoid. So, stoppit.”

“I’m gonna have a talk with Rory about this.”

“Don’t you dare. I don’t pester you about the things you do.”

“What do I do that’s so wrong?”

“I know you’re searching for Tama. This has gone on long enough. You hafta stop this before someone gets killed.”

Nike flinched. “Are you sayin’ it’s my fault that Maia got stabbed?”

“Don’t be silly, Nike, I never said that.”

He got out of the car. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Son, don’t be like that.” She leaned over, looking at him through the passenger window. “Call me when you need a lift.”

He grunted and opened the back door to give Jake a kiss. Jake poked him in the forehead with his rusk. Nike wiped his brow and closed the door. He headed towards Craven’s front door. Shit, he was in a foul mood now. Not a good start for his first day on the job.

He pressed the doorbell. The sound of hooves caught his attention. A woman came around the corner on a tan-coloured horse, and stopped in front of him. She was wearing riding pants the same colour as the mare, along with a black jacket and helmet.

She smiled down at him. “Who are you?”

Nike’s gaze moved from the small whip in her left hand, then back up at her. She looked a few years older than him. He wondered whether she was the boss’s daughter.

“I’m the new chauffeur,” he replied.

Her smile widened. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

She slid off the horse. She was a fraction shorter than him, with the face and body of a model. Christ, she’s skinny, he thought. If anyone pounded her she’d break in two. Snap, crackle, and floppy cock. A slight grin broke out on his face.

She held out a hand. “I’m Talia Craven.”

He shook it. “Nice to meet you. I’m Nike Daniels.”

“Interesting name.”

He shrugged, used to people’s amusement over it. “It’s Indian.”

“You don’t look Indian,” she said, her expression surprised.

“I’m not. My mother saw it in a book and liked it.”

“Well, I like it too.” She grinned and looked down at his feet. “No little Nikes?”

He forced a smile, not letting the annoying comment get to him. Best not piss off the boss’s daughter, he thought.

“It’s also a girl’s name,” Talia said.

Nike grimaced. No way was it a girl’s name.