Chapter 9: Harmattan Judgement

Ngozi, after more than twenty years, you really turn spirit dey waka for this town?

This question dey ring for my head every time sun go down. Some nights, I go dey hear knock for window, my heart go jump. Even dog no dey bark for that alley again.

Na that moment, fear grip me for body.

Fear no be say I never see before, but this one get cold hand, e grip my throat.

Night for town, na only streetlight dey shine.

Generator don off, NEPA no dey, so darkness full everywhere. Even moon dey hide behind cloud.

Since all these years wey people dey see ghost, everybody dey lock door and window tight for night.

People dey pour salt for entrance, dey burn incense, dey pray Psalm 91 for night.

I wan close door by instinct, but I notice say my body no gree move—na like person put heavy stone for my body.

My leg dey ground, sweat full back. I dey hear my own heart beat for ear.

That woman wey wear white—maybe na Ngozi ghost—

Spirit or not, her presence heavy. If to say my mama dey alive, she for carry bitter leaf, dey wave am for air.

Like say she dey find who do her bad, she dey come near me.

Her step no loud, but my mind dey shout. I dey ask God for protection.

That face, once you see am, you no fit forget.

The pain, the cry for help—e dey inside her eye, dey follow you reach dream.

Na really her.

Even if person bring hundred picture, I go still sabi. Ngozi no fit hide for crowd.

I just dey recite for my mind: "If you no do bad, you no go fear ghost for your door."

Na the prayer my papa teach me for bush when we dey hunt. E dey help, but that night, my mind still dey run.

After forty-something years for police, I believe say my hand clean.

I never take bribe, never frame innocent person—at least, I try my best.

But for this moment, apart from fear, na guilt full my chest.

E dey pain me say my spirit never rest, even after retirement.

Na only Ngozi matter dey pain me for conscience.

For all the cases I solve, na this one dey haunt me. Maybe na because I no fit bring her peace.

We really catch the right person that time?

My mind dey ask, "Ifedike, sure say you no rush the case?"

Na Musa really cause Ngozi to kill herself?

Question wey never get answer. Until today.