Chapter 2: Bitter Memories, Bitter Coffee

When I change finish, reach café, Officer Auwalu don already order two coffee, set dem for table. The place dey buzz with nurses, medical students, and tired relatives—aroma of fried yam and akara mix with Nescafé for air. Everybody dey hustle their own wahala.

I greet am quick, then grab my iced coffee, take big gulp. The coldness sweet me, like when you chop ice block for hot sun after trekking under Lagos heat. As if e dey wash away all the tension.

Na that time I come dey feel alive again. I even fit hear myself breathe small.

After I drink, I see say Officer Auwalu dey watch me, I come feel small shame. For hospital, na only your fellow doctor fit understand this kain tiredness.

"Sorry, Officer Auwalu, I rush am. No vex."

He smile, understand. "My mama na doctor too. After surgery, she dey always tired, need sugar. E be like say na all doctors get am."

"Actually, na me suppose dey beg you. Sorry say I disturb your rest, Dr. Ifedike."

I shake head, go straight to point. "Something happen for genius class?"

Officer Auwalu eyes darken. "Dr. Ifedike, after you graduate, you dey keep touch with any of your genius class people?"

"No. I never contact any of them since secondary school. Na old wound I no dey touch."

"Not even one?"

"No."

Officer Auwalu nod. "Recently, na serial murder case dey ground. Six people don die, one after the other. All of them, no miss, na your old classmates from genius class."

He pause, make the thing land. Voice low, but heavy. "As e be, we dey suspect say na person wey know dem—maybe even from genius class—dey do am."

I nod, look Officer Auwalu eye. "So, police dey suspect me?"

Officer Auwalu, as professional, no talk am direct. "No. For now, all the surviving genius class people na suspect. Anybody fit be killer, so police must question everybody—"

Before e finish, I cut in. "But only one odd one dey genius class—"

"Me. The one wey always last, wey never fit blend. For police eye, na me go suspicious pass, abi?"

Officer Auwalu no sabi lie. As I ask am, e just keep quiet. The truth dey hide for him silence.