Chapter 2: Palm Groove House Secrets

Although Baba Musa wicked, for southern town, na Mr. Wen people fear pass.

Dem dey whisper say Mr. Wen no dey use gun, but people dey vanish anytime e vex. Children dey use im name frighten each other for night.

Mr. Wen no tall, im body slim, e resemble school teacher. E always dey smile, like say e know all the big men for town.

Im suit always fresh, tie dey set like new yam, shoe dey shine pass mirror. Even for local meeting, e dey greet elders with respect. But if e eye shift, know say e fit carry person go where dem no return.

But if Mr. Wen no dey smile, just know say wahala don land.

The last time e frown, na five people disappear. Palm Groove House close for three days.

If im mood spoil, Mr. Wen fit clear some people just to cool im mind.

For market, dem talk say e once carry area boys enter beer parlour, use am clean table—no ask who dey inside, just begin dey clear.

Mr. Wen na number two for Palm Groove House, wey get four top women: Ngozi, Lara, Zainab, and Funmi. Last month, the finest one, Miss Nnenna, na Chief Dogo from West Side carry am run with double money. This thing pain Mr. Wen for two days. On the third day, dem see Nnenna hang for town wall, naked, body full of wound.

The whole area freeze that morning. Market women cover their children's eyes, elders begin dey call for town meeting. That kind thing na abomination for the land.

No be only that, Chief Dogo wey carry am go, dem stab am as e dey piss drunk. That stab make am no fit touch woman again for life.

People yarn say the matter dey spiritual—Chief Dogo don offend ogbanje or na Mr. Wen send warning go im village.

Mr. Wen stand for third floor of Palm Groove House, dey look people wey dey enjoy below. E sip im palm wine, dey shake im folding fan, body sweet am.

For balcony, the wind dey blow, the palm wine cold. For background, music dey play low, boys dey laugh. Mr. Wen dey count him blessings, dey check how im boys dey behave for ground.

But soon, im smile disappear, because e see guests dey run like say dem see masquerade. Before you know, everywhere empty—na only one person remain.

Na so the music stop. Even the generator hum reduce. All eyes dey look that one man wey remain—im dey different.

Na police officer dey sit down, dey drink, twelve ears, fresh and bloody, arrange for table like suya for night market.

Some people say na movie, others dey pray under breath. E never too late to escape trouble, but this police officer no dey move.

Na Wu Lie, of course. For this world, no many police officers get this kind liver.

Dem say na only spirit dey waka like that for Palm Groove House. But today, na man—Wu Lie.

Mr. Wen waka come meet am, bow and smile: "Oga, abeg, anybody do you bad for here? Make I call girls make dem entertain you, or you wan cold drink?"

E bend small, smile dey wide like politician. Im voice calm, but im eyes dey watch every move. Na the kind way dem dey greet police commissioner during festival.

Mr. Wen no be mumu. E sabi those twelve ears—na the twelve debt collectors wey e send out earlier today.

E chest tight, but e no show am. Na only those wey sabi Mr. Wen go know say e dey fear.

Wu Lie drop im cup, ask, "You be Mr. Wen?"

E voice cool, but heavy. The whole room chill.

Mr. Wen smile, "Na me. Abeg, officer, wetin be your name?"

E talk am with small shake for voice. Im right hand dey near pocket, left hand dey guard im mouth.

Wu Lie no talk, just slap arrest warrant for table. All Mr. Wen crime dey inside: loan shark, kill person, force people sell, dey work with river pirates... enough to finish am ten times.

The blue paper loud for table, the letters sharp. Some boys for corner begin shift towards exit.

Mr. Wen smile just freeze. E look the police badge for Wu Lie waist, grit im teeth, still force smile. "Oga, abeg, na mistake. All these things no concern me. I be ordinary businessman. Even if I get ten times courage, I no fit try am..."

Im voice dey break, the smile wey e force na only mouth dey move, eyes dey beg.

As Mr. Wen dey beg, dagger don already enter im hand from im sleeve.

E fingers dey steady, sweat dey im brow. For this town, na this kind sharp men dey reign.

Even the ceiling fan slow down, like say e dey fear the wahala.

The way e take attack—na only one out of hundred fit survive.

Na flash—before anybody blink, Mr. Wen hand don move, blade dey fly.

But Wu Lie na that one. E just grab Mr. Wen wrist.

Wu Lie hand like iron clamp, im grip heavy. The kind calmness wey e take move, people begin whisper say maybe e be juju man.

Mr. Wen feel like say dem put hot iron for im hand. The pain nearly make am beg, but instead, e spit three cold darts from mouth—na secret cult hidden weapon from Jos.

For that Palm Groove House, some old men sabi say na only Jos cult dey use that kind thing. Some begin cross chest, dey pray inside mind.

For this kind close range, nobody fit dodge am.

But Wu Lie still react. E twist Mr. Wen wrist, dagger fly go up, block the three darts. One even bounce go Mr. Wen own shoulder. Mr. Wen scream. Secret cult weapon touch blood, the wound don begin rot.

The pain loud, the blood dey black. Mr. Wen face change, e leg dey shake like generator wey wan off.

"With this kind dirty juju, I sure say I no arrest wrong person..."

The way Wu Lie talk, na as if e dey judge for big court. Everybody quiet, just dey look as Mr. Wen dey struggle.

Wu Lie finish im last palm wine, use one blow break Mr. Wen nose, the man roll for ground till e faint.

Blood splash for tile, glass cup break. The way Mr. Wen body roll, even stubborn goat no fit drag pass like that. Boys begin peep from window, dey hail Wu Lie with low voice.