Chapter 3: Secrets and Suspects

As we dey drive go pick am, my hand dey shake for steering. Musa dey pray under im breath.

We carry Baba Chinedu go station for questioning.

He just dey behave as if he ready, cooperate as we carry am.

As if na him dey control the whole thing. He even dey smile, like person wey know wetin dey happen for back.

By normal police rule, I suppose comot hand for the case.

But abeg, I no fit do that now.

Blood na blood. No papa fit look front if e pikin dey missing.

I use all the trick wey I sabi, try all interrogation style, but Baba Chinedu mouth tight. No matter how I press, the guy no talk.

E just cross im hand, look me with dead eye, mouth tight like padlock.

Only half hour remain before the 12-hour detention time go finish.

By law, you no fit hold person pass 12 hours without charge.

Half hour more, we go gree let am go.

I stand up sharp, off the CCTV, tell Musa Lawal wey dey with me, “Abeg, comot.”

He no gree, fear say I go do something bad.

I vex, shout, “Comot! Now!”

He still no move.

Na that time Baba Chinedu finally talk, low voice, calm: “Oga, abeg go. I wan talk to Officer Bello alone.”

As if dem get secret code. Musa look me, look Baba Chinedu, but I nod. He no get choice, e comot.

Na only me and Baba Chinedu remain for the room.

The room dey quiet, only sound na fan wey dey shake for ceiling.

“Officer Bello, long time no see.”

Voice cold, like say two old enemies dey meet for shrine.

“Baba Chinedu, wetin you want? Where my pikin dey?”

My own voice dey tremble, my chest dey pain me.

“Officer Bello, you love your pikin. But how about my own? You don figure out why Ifedike die?”

Baba Chinedu voice soft but e eye dey burn. Pain dey hide for inside.

“Baba Chinedu, I don tell you before. Ifedike kill himself because of depression. Hospital confirm moderate depression, give us prescription record. You think say na fake?”

“Even if na depression, why e go die during exam?”

I no get answer.

The truth be say, sometimes as police, no matter your uniform, you no go fit explain why people dey do some things. The world get as e be.

As I quiet, Baba Chinedu look me, talk slow: “You really believe say your pikin fit pass that exam on im own?”

My heart grip, as if person dey squeeze am. “Wetin you mean?” I ask am.

He eye dey red, voice drop: “People dey think say na only bad pikin dey do bad thing. You get pikin, so you suppose understand how e be to watch your own pikin die for your front. You never wonder why boy wey no get exam wahala go kill himself for last moment of exam? No be say person suppose pay for im death?”

That time, we sef think say maybe na bullying or some other bad thing happen.

But pikin don die, im parents no press charge. Less wahala, better for everybody.

Nobody wan drag family name for mud. For Nigeria, people dey fear disgrace pass death.

But Baba Chinedu no gree our investigation, he insist say he go find truth by himself.

And the person he choose to judge, na my pikin.

Twenty-five minutes remain.

Baba Chinedu just dey calm.

E clear say all this na part of im plan.

The way he sit down, e be like person wey dey watch movie, no worry, no fear. My own sweat just dey pour.

I deep breath, bring out one Benson & Hedges, light am, make nicotine calm me small.

The smoke choke my throat, but I gree. For that moment, even God know say police man need one stick.

I ask, “You go smoke?”

He nod for cigarette.

I light one for am, talk, “Make we talk about the exam.”