Chapter 2: Night Visitors

Time don reach past 1 a.m. I dey doze for reception when I hear person knock the counter, e make me jump wake.

I rub my eyes, curse small for mind say sleep no gree me chop night rest, only for me to see two shadowy figures for reception light. My mind clear by force.

I raise head, na so I see say two people don waka enter reception—a man and a woman.

The way dem enter, e be like say dem dey run from something. Lagos get many crazy people for night, so e no too surprise me.

The man tall and slim, wear cap and face mask, carry bag for one shoulder. The woman just dey rest her head for him shoulder, her long hair cover her face.

The air outside still dey hot, but e get that dirty rain smell wey dey follow Lagos gutter. The woman own dey strange, e be like say she no even dey conscious. The man sef no get time for greeting, e just look front, eyes like person wey dey hunt for something.

The smell of alcohol from their body no be here. The woman don high, no be small.

Omo! As them waka near, na so everywhere begin dey smell like Odeku joint for Oshodi. I even shift back small for counter. The woman leg dey drag for ground, she no even fit balance.

Just look them once, I sabi say dem don drink well. The woman no even know where she dey—who know, maybe the guy just carry her from road. Wetin concern me?

As I dey reason am, I just dey hope say dem no go come scatter my room with wahala. But as business dey slow, I no fit dey picky.

Business na business.

This one na my number one motto. As long as dem fit pay, anything wey dem wan do na their wahala. Na so we dey run things for this kind area.

The man just talk, "Room," as he dey hold the woman with one hand, the other dey find something for him pocket.

Him voice deep, e sound like person wey no dey joke. Na that kind man you no go like offend. I siddon well, dey form loyal.

Sharp sharp, I form smile, bring out room key, start the check-in process.

I dey count the keys with my finger, dey arrange receipt. I dey sure say I fit run this thing even for dream, na so e don enter my body.

"ID card—yours go do."

I help the guy arrange am.

I fit see am for face say e no too happy with the delay, but na my job. For Naija now, police fit show any time, so I dey always ask for ID—even if na fake.

But na only some thousand-naira notes him bring out.

The guy just dey count the cash slowly, like say he no wan talk too much. As he drop the money, I dey look am well. Na old notes, but I no mind.

"I forget my ID."

I frown, form say e dey hard me. "Oga, no ID no go work o. Police dey disturb anyhow these days..."

As I dey talk, I dey watch the guy eyes. Him no blink, him face no show any fear. E get as e be.

But the man just dey look me, no move.

This kind calm dey make person fear. I try look another place, but him eyes dey follow me like hawk.

I see one big tattoo for him hand. The guy get that look of person wey fit cause wahala.

Na old school tattoo, like those Area boys wey dey run things for Shitta. E no dey play, I just clear my throat.

People wey dey run guest house like my own sabi say e no good to dey argue with people like this.

If you too stubborn, dem fit vex scatter everywhere or bring police wahala. For Naija, sometimes to get peace, you go just soft.

So I just agree. "Her own nko?"

My voice low, as I dey hope make e no vex. I dey try play my part as responsible manager.

He just touch the woman small. "She no carry her own."

The girl no even talk, just dey limp. My mind dey reason, but I keep face straight.

Then he knock my table two times. "Abeg, help me."

E get the way he talk am, na like say e no dey beg—na instruction. My skin crawl small, but I no let am show.

Him voice calm, but cold like say harmattan breeze dey blow for my bone. E make me reason am well.

For that moment, I just nod, dey count the money. In this Lagos, if you too dey form, you go just put yourself for trouble.

But as I look the woman side, her hair shift small, I see her face—fine girl, young.

My eyes open wide. I dey wonder wetin bring this type come this kind place. Na real Lagos babe—her skin soft, lips pink. She for dey groove club now.

I bite my lip, decide. "Okay, but I no go fit refund your deposit o."

I try balance am, make e be like say I dey do am favour. I add small warning just for formality.

The man no talk again. He collect the room key, carry the woman, climb upstairs.

As he waka go, him leg steady, the woman just dey drag. I dey look dem dey go, my mind dey run different numbers for head.

Na that time I collect the money. As I dey look them back, smile just dey my face.

For this business, as long as you see fresh customer, you dey happy. But this one sweet me pass as the girl fine die.