Because We Are: A Novel of Haiti (49 page)

Libète clings to the Nurse once more. She pushes the motorbike, driving fast and reckless to reach Anse-à-Galets before the Sun departs, the Moon takes the nightwatch, and the last ferry out of La Gonâve makes its way across the waters. Libète has Limyè’s tin and other possessions pressed between her belly and the Nurse’s back. The hair on her arms and neck stands on end, feelings of dread following like a phantom on her trail.

— Thank you, Libète says out of nowhere, as loud as she can without shouting. For everything.

The Nurse acknowledges her through her own weariness and fear. It’s nothing, she says. It’s nothing.

The truck pulls up and into the concrete park. This is very bad, Dimanche says.

It is quiet now. The angry marching has come to an end. The tent dwellers remain but are inside their homes.

— There were supposed to be police present tonight, watching over things. Maybe they fled, Dimanche says. Or maybe they were paid off. I’ll go ask someone what happened. Stay here. Libète and Jak nod, happy to obey.

He opened the truck door and put his foot to earth. Something imperceptible made him stop, a keen sense that something was amiss.

A loud pop and flash from the opposite end of the park pierced the dark. Before Dimanche could react, the side mirror of the truck exploded in a spray of glass and black plastic molding. Dimanche threw himself back into the truck, releasing a long string of profanities while forcing Libète’s head down. A second quick shot broke the open door’s window. Jak ducked beneath the dash. Dimanche clamored for the gear selector and threw the truck into reverse. More shots could be heard, puncturing the side fenders and engine or flying wide and missing the truck.

Libète risked a peek above the dash to see at least three young assailants running after them, firing pistols. She flinched when one bullet crashed through the windshield just above her head and exited through the back window, leaving a web of cracks shooting from the bullet hole.

Jak uttered prayers next to her. She decided this might not be such a bad idea.

The truck roared and fought as it careened backward, never meant to do so with such speed and abandon.

Once at a safe distance on the main road, Dimanche ripped out his phone and made two quick calls, one to another police officer and another to a MINUSTAH commander. If those bastards want to fight, he said. They can put their pop guns up against MINUSTAH’s machine guns!

— Maybe that’s what Touss wants! Jak remarked.

— Innocents will die if that happens, Dimanche—they always do! Touss and Benoit, they’re playing with the situation, trying to make things explode just like they are. I don’t know why, but they want there to be a battle!

— So what do you want me to do?

— The right thing. All the evidence may not be there, but we have enough
.
Make arrests!

— What are you talking about? You told me about Touss riling things up, being involved in the prostitution ring.

— Dimanche, there is more. Too much more for us to handle on our own.

— Tell me then!

— Claire and Gaspar. Jak figured it out. Lolo is innocent, just like I told you all along. Benoit was behind their deaths! He hired the killer who did them in, had Simeon killed, broke Jak, and came after me. We’ve got it all figured out!

Dimanche looked away, his face clouded. He stopped the truck, unable to look at the children. You say you have proof?

She explained everything as quickly as the words came to her.

— It’s enough, don’t you think? The Truth is crying out, desperate for us to listen.

Dimanche said nothing. He seemed caught up in private thoughts.

Jak cocked his head and looked at the officer.

— You know something, he said evenly to Dimanche. This is too important for you to keep secrets from us.

— Shut up! he roared. Know your place!

Jak bristled, sitting up straight. I…will…
not!
I have sacrificed too much! Endured too much! Any respect we have for you goes to nothing if you hide something from us now!

Libète beamed with pride at Jak.

— Then let it go to nothing. I don’t deserve it anyway.

— What are you saying? Libète snapped.

— I did not know for certain, but I already believed Benoit to be behind the murders.

— You mean—

— Lolo did not do it. I suspected that to be the case, but now know.

— And yet you arrested him? Let him waste away in jail all this time?

— As I said, you have no reason to respect me.

— But what did you do, Dimanche? What did you do?

He looked at them with a searing stare, clenching his jaw.

— To do justice, you must be just. He sighed heavily. And I am not.

They reach Anse-à-Galets, speeding down the road to the dock, maneuvering around potholes and ridges.

The Nurse stopped the bike prematurely.

— I have to pull over here, she says. Dumas will have eyes at the dock. If they see us together and know we’re coming, there will be trouble for the both of us.

She turned down a narrow side street a few blocks from the bustling dock and parked the bike. Libète hopped down and pulled money from her tin, enough for the passage. She hid the tin deep in her black plastic bag.

A long, low horn bellowed in the distance. Both looked toward the dock.

— The ferry is leaving soon. Walk ahead of me, and I’ll follow behind at a distance. Put your cap on again, the purple one, and try not to look anyone in the face.

Libète did as told. She started down the road until it broadened and the full dock came into view. She tried to avoid looking at anyone, her eyes settling on the dwindling queue for tickets.

She counted under her breath as she had once counted houses at the end of her long journeys home.

En
. She stepped forward, off the dirt road and onto the pavement stones.

De
. Many vendors, men and women of all ages, watched the passengers buy their tickets, bid family farewell, and embark.

Twa
. She felt as if all eyes were now upon her, but the hovering presence of the Nurse close-by reassured her.

Kat
. She paid the ticket seller, and he placed a ticket in her hand.

— A little one, heading across all alone? the seller asked. She nodded, not meeting his stare. Well,
bon vwayaj
, he offered. He began to whistle a curious tune.

Senk
. She paused at the foot of the gangplank, letting other passengers pass her by and board. She looked over her shoulder to see where the Nurse had settled, to wave to her, to thank her.

Scanning the faces in the quickly-fading light sent chills through her.

The Nurse was not there.

— Tell us what you mean, Dimanche. Tell us!

His guilt kept him silent.

Libète filled the gap, her lip trembling and body shaking.

— You told me a long time ago that if I wanted justice I had to go find it myself. I have tried, Dimanche, oh, I’ve tried. But I can’t do it alone. Neither can Jak. We are two children the world cares nothing for, and will pay no attention to. But
us
, together, we three are something different. Whatever you did, whatever lies you’ve spread, we can stand up now and be
heard
. We can stop Benoit before he enters office and corrupts Haiti even more!

— I can’t do that. It would be the end of me. He’s powerful. He has connections. No matter what we do, he’ll escape the law.

— I’ve seen you fight, Dimanche! Don’t back down. Fight now, against all that’s wrong in Haiti. Against impunity!

— You and your big words.

— It’s not just Benoit. It’s for Claire and Gaspar and Simeon, for Lolo, to save my cousin and all the others who have been taken in and chewed up by these monsters, to protect all of Cité Soleil!

— Another corrupt man will take his place. Bienamié is no saint either.

— But is he a murderer?

Dimanche hit the steering wheel hard. You don’t know what I’ve done!

— Tell us then! Jak urged again. Then we can choose to condemn or acquit.

He looked out through the broken driver’s side window and swore.

— After the murders, Benoit contacted me, invited me to his office, asked for updates on the investigation. He said Claire was a valued employee, and that there would be a reward for finding the murderer.

— Go on, Libète prodded.

— I was certain Lolo was the killer. When Simeon told me your story, where Lolo was, I was certain Lolo had taken you in with lies and that he was really guilty. I could feel it. I called Benoit and told him we’d found the killer. He put it very plainly to me, telling me that if I arrested the boy, I’d be paid a large sum.

The children were silent. Libète spoke. And?

— I believed I was right. I sold myself. I prostituted justice. After Simeon was killed, after the quake, I got word that another had attacked you. I doubted everything I had been so sure of. I called Benoit again and said that Lolo was the wrong man, that I needed to return the money and get the boy free. He became furious. He said Lolo was responsible and that he would pay for his crimes. He said if I questioned this, he would see me lose my rank. So I stayed quiet.

Libète moved her hand toward him, but couldn’t bring herself to touch him. She finally placed it on his shoulder and the boulder of a man shirked from it.

— That’s a hard story, Dimanche. You’ve hurt us by not telling the truth till now. But you can make it
right
. There’s still a chance to do the good that’s been put before us, she said, her thoughts drifting to ailing Limyè on La Gonâve, now surely dead.

— Even if I wanted to roll this back, how could it be done? Lolo has suffered in prison. Even you two were beaten and broken by Benoit’s assassin. I see no way forward.

— Tolerate his injustices no more! said Jak. That’s how.

— He’s too powerful! I’d lose my job, maybe get killed, and you two would be in danger once again. There’s no one who will stand up to him, no judge who would order his arrest and Lolo’s release.

— That’s not true.

Both Dimanche and Libète looked at Jak in surprise.

— There’s an obvious one who could do all these things.

— Who, Jak?

— Bienamié, of course. He’s a magistrate. And I’m sure there is no other person he would rather issue an arrest warrant for then Benoit!

Without a word, Dimanche turned the key in the ignition and steered the truck in a wide U-turn.

— Where will we find him? Libète asked.

— I know exactly where he’ll be, Dimanche replied. He has an event tonight. Spending the meager money left in his campaign to celebrate his coming loss. Libète looked to Jak wide-eyed.

Dimanche’s shrill ringtone filled the cab, making them all jump. He answered his phone. Wi? What is it?

The children could hear the tinny, worried voice come blaring through.

—
Sir, it’s Castel and Bourgoin. They were on patrol through Bwa Nèf and got attacked by a mob. It…doesn’t look good for them.

Dimanche swore through clenched teeth.

—
MINUSTAH is starting to move in. Can you come, sir?