Chapter 2: Suya, Blood and Clues

1.

Around seven for evening, one friend jolly me go chop suya.

The day hot; everywhere still dey bubble for our side. We sit down for one corner, close to the main road where Okada dey zoom pass. As we dey chop suya, pepper dey burn my mouth, but I no send. Breeze dey blow small, mixing the smell of grilled meat, Lagos dust, and somewhere far, the scent of burning refuse. From roadside, one hawker dey shout, "Gala! Gala dey here!" and danfo horn just blast suddenly, making everybody look up. My guy, Seyi, steady dey pour cold Star beer, foam dey spill for his hand. People dey gist, laugh, shout for background—Lagos no dey sleep.

After we don drink some bottles, both of us don high small. That whole story wey I talk up there? Na my guy yarn am after beer don enter body.

Seyi eye red small, his voice low. E tap me for back, say, "Guy, abeg, gist dey. I need your sense for this one." Normally, Seyi no dey talk serious talk if e never drink pass two bottles. That one alone make me sit up.

I no understand why e dey tell me all this.

I watch as his face dey twist—like say he dey struggle to find word. He lick suya pepper from finger, then frown. “Abeg, just dey with me. Na your head I need now.”

I talk my mind, then watch as e pull out phone, send me two pictures.

He no even talk plenty. Just open WhatsApp, tap send, then push the phone near my hand. The blue light shine for his face, eyes still dey dodge mine.

Friend: "Today for work, I see two drawings. I wan throw dem, but my mind dey tell me say story dey behind am. I dey fear say e go be like that ten-naira note—if I throw these ones, maybe I go cause wahala for person. I no fit show anybody else, but I wan know the truth. No be you help police solve that attic case recently? Abeg, check these drawings, see if anything dey off."

As Seyi dey talk, e voice dey tremble small. I know say e no be person wey dey shake for nothing. I look am well, e dey serious. The attic case e mention na one wahala wey happen for my street last year, na me help find clue wey lead police to one missing pikin. Since then, people dey reason me like Sherlock Holmes, but I be just guy wey sabi observe.

My curiosity wake. I open WhatsApp, check the two pictures.

My hand shake small as I click the photos. The suya suddenly taste bland for my mouth. I fit feel one kind cold wey start from my spine, dey crawl my body.

......

2.

As I see the drawings, cold just catch my body.

The air for that suya spot no dey hot again. I press phone close to my face, the street noise fade. For my mind, I dey hear only my own heartbeat—heavy, like drum.

Na two blood drawings—the edges rough, like say dem tear am from tissue paper.

The first one get some smudge—blood never dry finish before person fold am. The paper itself thin, almost transparent. The second one neater, the lines sharper, but still, red everywhere. I swallow spit, because for Naija, blood no be play thing at all. E dey carry meaning—danger, pain, or wahala.

Both drawings almost the same style, like say na the same message dem wan pass. The first one blur pass the second, like say na test run, then the second na the final one.

I dey look the way the lines bend—one kind shakiness dey inside, like say hand wey draw am dey weak or dey fear. The shapes be like pikin draw am, but the intent get weight. My mind begin run up and down.

For the top of the drawing, dem write 15.3.11. My first mind talk say maybe na date, but I no sure.

Numbers no dey lie, but for this kind situation, e get as e be. I dey wonder whether na code, birthday, or maybe secret signal. The way e take stand alone for top, e resemble something important to the person wey write am.

Under the numbers, two stick people and one square. E fit mean anything.

The stick people get different height, one longer than the other. The square look like box, or maybe na small room. The drawing dey rough, but the message wey e dey try pass dey deep—my mind dey turn.

But the one wey shock me pass na the number inside the square:

"112."

Once I see am, my mind jump. "Ah-ah!" I talk inside. For our side, every radio and TV dey hammer am: if wahala dey, call 112—na emergency police number. E clear like day.

Even pikin for Naija sabi say that number na police number.

I fit remember the jingle: "If you see something, say something. Dial 112!" The number don dey everywhere. For Lagos, even market woman sabi am. So for drawing to carry am, e get serious meaning.

If you just glance, the two drawings be like pikin play.

But as I look am well, my skin dey crawl. This one pass ordinary. My mind dey warn me say something deep dey behind am.

But pikin go highlight "112" like that?

I try imagine which kind pikin go reason police number reach that level. My head dey full, I fit feel the sweat dey form for my neck despite the evening breeze.

I reason am, but I no fit join the pieces, so I ask my guy:

I try to arrange my thoughts, but the thing hook me. I look Seyi, voice low: “Guy, where these two drawings from?”

He reply:

Seyi blow out air, rub neck. "Make I start from beginning. You know say my family dey run recycling station. Today my papa bring come one truck of LED bulbs, na as I dey dismantle the bulbs I see the drawings."

I remember the station—one big warehouse behind railway line. People dey carry old iron, phones, batteries come drop. Seyi papa dey collect anything, as long as money dey inside.

"Your family dey recycle bulbs too? E get money?"

He shake head. "The bulbs no really get value, na the LEDs inside dey important. People dey use am take extract gold. Plenty people dey do am now."

I laugh, slap his shoulder. “Seyi, you too sharp! Hustle no dey ever finish for your side.”

He just shake head, smile small. “Forget, guy, money must flow.”

After he explain, I think small, then ask:

I pause, then ask, "You get picture of the bulb?"

"I get."

He send me one photo, explain:

The photo load. The bulb don scatter, glass for one side, the yellow squares dey shine for middle. “Those small yellow squares na the LEDs. I see the drawings hide behind the board.” The background of the photo show Seyi hand, grease full everywhere. I look am well, my heart dey pound.

The bulb for the photo don already scatter, cover and shell don separate.

I zoom in, try see if any blood dey inside the bulb itself. Nothing show. But the arrangement clear—whoever hide that paper dey smart.

As I look am, I get idea where e mean, so I ask:

"Both drawings dey inside the same bulb?"

"No, dem dey two different bulbs, but na the same type."

That mean say e no be accident; na plan dey.

I look the bulb well, then notice another thing wey no pure.

As I dey look photo, I spot say the wire for inside bulb don cut—red and blue both snap, no dey touch circuit board again. For electrician work, na rare thing be that if e no be sabotage.

Both red wires don cut, commot from where dem join am. I point the wires for the picture, ask:

"Na you cut these wires when you dey open am?"

He say, "No, na so I see am as I open the cover."

"The other one nko?"

"E cut too."

The pattern dey clear. No be mistake, person cut those wires on purpose.

Both bulbs, wires don snap.

The thing dey give me goosebumps. Why the same thing happen for both bulbs?

I squeeze face, ask if e see any other clue.

"Na only those ones I get," he talk. He look me, eyes dey search my own.

So I focus again for the three photos. Plenty things no add up:

I dey jot small notes for phone as I dey reason: blood for paper, double drawing, cut wires, hidden message. My brain dey work like machine.

Why person go use blood draw for tissue paper?

Blood get meaning for our culture—if you see blood, wahala dey. Person wey use am draw, no get choice, or no get pen. The tissue paper dey show say na urgent message, maybe from someone wey dey trapped.

Why do two drawings with the same style?

Maybe the first one no clear, e try again. Or maybe the first one na draft, second one na the real deal. Who knows how fear dey make hand shake?

Why hide dem inside bulb?

Bulb na ordinary thing, nobody go suspect am. If you wan send message without person see am, e make sense to hide am inside something wey people dey throw away everyday.

Why the two bulbs get cut wires?

To make the bulb spoil, so that whoever dey house go quickly throw am away. If e still dey work, e go remain for socket for months.

Who draw am?

Maybe pikin, maybe adult wey hand don dey weak. The stick figures suggest na child or person wey no sabi draw.

Why e do am?

Na cry for help. Maybe person dey trapped, or dey face big wahala. Blood and police number—na serious matter.

All these questions just dey point to one direction.

E clear say na person wey dey inside big trouble dey send message.

I carry notebook, write all six questions down.

I look Seyi, my face serious. “Omo, this one no be play.”

......

3.

As I arrange the clues, one theory just form for my head.

The picture for my mind dey clear—one room, one person dey trapped, desperation full everywhere. The clues dey line up like Okada for evening rush hour.

After I check well, I wake my guy, wey don doze for table.

Seyi dey nod, eyes nearly close. I tap am for shoulder. "Guy, wake up. E get as e be."

He rub eye, still dey dull. "Huh? You see something?"

I nod. "I get answer."

My voice low, but sure. I fit see his body react, small shiver run through am.

"So? E get wahala for these drawings?"

"E get. To cut story short: the person wey draw am dey trapped somewhere. Na cry for help e dey try pass."

As I talk, I fit see the hair for his arm stand. E swallow beer, hand dey shake.

My guy eye shine, he rush take another gulp of beer.

The bottle nearly fall from his hand. He look me as if I be prophet. “You sure?”

"I know am! My mind dey tell me since, but I no fit talk am. How you take reason am? Abeg, gist me."

He shift near me, e dey eager hear wetin I go talk. Other people for suya spot dey shout for football match, but Seyi dey tune dem out. Na only my voice e dey follow.

I point the photos, start:

I open my phone, swipe between the photos, then point. “See these drawings—look am well.”

"Make we begin with the drawings."

"Oya."

"See the lower part of both blood drawings. The two be almost the same, just say the second clear pass the first. E mean say the person no just dey draw anyhow—e wan talk something. If you look the content alone, you fit think many things. But once you join am with the number 112, the meaning no too far. For Naija, 112 na police number—na to ask for help or report wahala. See the drawing: that square no resemble room? Then outside the room, stick man—na the bad guy."

As I dey talk, I draw the shape for table with suya stick, so Seyi go understand. I dey see as e dey nod.

My guy ask:

"Who dey inside the room?"

I talk slow, “Na the person wey draw am.”

He come dey confused.

His face dey wrinkle, “You dey talk say, na bad guy lock the person for room?”

I pause. "E no too clear like that. The right word be 'imprisonment.'"

He repeat, “Imprisonment?"

I nod. "Yes, imprisonment. If you follow this logic, everything go clear. Why e use blood and tissue paper instead of pen and book? Because e dey imprisoned, nothing dey—no pen, no paper. But tissue paper dey, because even prisoner must use toilet. That one sure."

Seyi shift for chair, his mouth open small. Fear dey for his face.

My guy frown.

He rub his hand for neck, “If e fit draw, why e no just write message?”

I answer:

“Maybe e no sabi write.”

Seyi look me, eyebrow high. "No sabi write?"

I shake head. "Maybe na pikin, or e no go school. Or maybe e hand dey shake, too weak to write plenty. If you dey fear, writing hard."

He point the numbers for top of the drawing.

"This number nko? 15.3.11—wetin e mean?"

I talk, "E fit be date: March 11, 2015. But wetin e stand for, I never know. E fit be clue, or maybe na day e enter captivity. We go need check am."

He still dey press:

"Why the criminal lock am?"

I pause. No be say I no know, but I no sure how to talk am. I just form say I no know.

"I no sure—fit be ransom, fit be revenge, or any other thing. Human being get wahala, and reason for crime plenty. These three photos no fit show us the evil wey dey person mind."

He gree, then ask last question.

"How all this take concern the bulbs?"

I point the bulb picture and the cut wires.

"Let’s look the bulb. See those wires wey cut?"

"I see, but wetin e mean?"

I talk, “I check online. The wires for these bulbs na join dem join am. To break am, you need at least strong force. But the bulb cover no get any sign say person force am—so e no break by mistake, na person break am on purpose. And I believe na the person wey draw the pictures break am."

Seyi mouth dey open small, he dey nod every word.

"But why e go do am?"

I shift closer, voice low. “E get as e be… See, make we act am. You go be the victim.”

"Okay."

"Dem lock you for room. Toilet dey, food and water dey—everything to keep you alive. The criminal no dey house most times, you fit move for the room. Wetin you go do?"

He answer, "I go try escape, na."

"Correct. So you prepare message for help, but you no sabi write, and you no get paper or pen. Na only blood and tissue paper you fit use."

Seyi nod, the thing dey clear for am.

"Now, your cry for help dey ready. But how you wan send am out?"

He ask: "Window dey?"

I shake head. "E no dey. Only door dey, and na the criminal dey open am."

He reason, "So if I wan send the drawing out, na through the criminal hand e go pass."

"Correct."

He look the picture, dey reason.

"How the criminal go help me send my drawing out?"

I point the bulb again.

"E possible. For Naija, dem dey talk say, 'If you wan hide something, put am for where people dey see am pass.' Meaning, make your real intention hide inside something wey look ordinary. Since you no fit send the drawing out direct, you hide am inside something the criminal go throw away by himself. The LED bulb na perfect idea. When the criminal no dey, you hide your drawing inside the bulb, break the wires, then put the bulb back. When the criminal come back, see say bulb no dey work, e no go suspect anything—e go just think say the bulb don spoil, which dey normal. E go buy new one, replace am, then throw the old one. Na so the bulb with the blood drawing land for your family recycling station. Your papa carry am come house, you open am, finally see the desperate cry for help. Na the full story be that."

Seyi dey nod, mouth open like say breeze blow for inside.

My guy eyes open wide, like say NEPA just bring light for him head.

He slap his own knee. "Chai, God abeg! I know say something no pure, but I no fit join the dots. E mean say, person dey wait make we save am! No time—make we go police station!"

I pause small, no move immediately.

I hold him shoulder. "Wait first."

"……"

He look me, wonder.

"Wetin happen? You get something to talk?"

"I need confirm one thing. Where your papa collect those bulbs from?"

He shake head. "I never ask am."

"Ask am now."

He look me, eye dey sharp. "Why?"

"Because the place wey the criminal throw the bulbs no go far from where e dey live. If we know, e go help police search quick."

He just reason am. "True!"

He quickly call him papa. After small talk, he drop call, tell me:

“My papa say na one old man house. The old man dey pack plenty things. After e die, the son wan sell house, so e call my papa make e clear the junk. The bulbs dey inside.”

I reason the story—old men dey keep all kinds of things, but now, the wahala fit big pass ordinary junk. The son no know say message dey inside bulb.

"You sabi the old man address?"

Seyi nod. "I sabi."

I tap him back. "Then make we go police station together."

He grab his phone, voice strong. "Oya, make we go. Oga, bring bill abeg."

Seyi no even wait for suya change. As we waka commot, I dey feel one kind spirit follow us. The road quiet, but my mind dey shout: if we no do something now, another person fit disappear forever. As we enter keke, I dey pray make police listen quick, make help reach on time. Because for this Lagos, hope no dey wait for anybody.