The repugnant and putrid odor of decayed flesh and rotten blood hit Felix as he stepped into the compound. He frowned and wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Welcome, honey,” Vicky, his wife said, relieving him of his briefcase. “How was your day?” He gave her a peck. “Good and yours?” “Hectic, baby.” He yawned and slumped onto the settee and sniffed as the smell hit him again. He rubbed his hand across his nose and looked furtively around, sniffing. “What is it?” He sniffed again.” I smell something.” “Me too,” she wrinkled her nose. “Even the children complained about it.” “Did you use the rat poison?” “No. but I’m sure something died somewhere.” “I think so too. God! This is killing.” The door to the girls’ room opened and two girls, aged 4 and 6 respectively burst into the room, shouting. “Daddy welcome. Daddy welcome.” He scooped them into his arms. “How was school today?” “Fine, daddy,” they chorused. “Daddy, my teacher said I would not be allowed in art class if I fail tocome to school with my crayon tomorrow,” Ada, his 6 years old daughterwhined. “Is that so? Okay, I will buy one for you tomorrow, okay?” “And me too, daddy,” Cyndi, the second daughter said. “No problem. Now go and finish your homework.” The girls went back to their room, giggling. “Will you eat or take your bath first?” “I’ll take my bath first.”
***
Inspector Ayomide eyed them suspiciously. “So, what do you want? Do you want me to leave matters of national important to go looking for a soured pot of soup someone left behind?” “Sir,” Felix said calmly. “It does not smell like a rotten pot of soup.” He was instrumental for their coming to the police station. For days, a strange odor terrorized the occupants of 10 Tapa Street, and as the days progressed, the odor, instead of abating increased in intensity. After a careful search, they discovered it was coming from Greg’s room, they promptly reported it to the police. “Where is the owner of the room?” “We don’t know. No one has seen him for over a week,” the landlord said. He looked directly at the property owner. “How much do you have for fuel?” He fumbled in his pocket and brought out 5,000 naira. The inspector snatched it with hawk-like fingers and pocketed it hurriedly. From the passage, the rotting smell of decomposed body and rotten blood caressed the police officers’ faces and nostrils. “Oh fuck,” Corporal Adu, assigned to investigate the cause of the smell, cried covering his nose with his hand. “What’s that smell, man?” “That’s what we are here to find out,” Sergeant Oti snapped. “Where is the landlord?” “Here, sir.” “Show me the room?” “If you’ll come this way, please?” As they stepped into the passage, more waves of stench hit them, stronger and harder. “That’s it, sir.” “Open it.” The property owner looked from one police officer to another. “How do I do that when I don’t have the key?” “Are you not the landlord?” the police officersnarled. He scratched his hair. “I am, but…” “Then open it.” He picked up the hammer and hit the lock. It held. He tried again and the hook bent slightly. He raised the hammer higher and hit the lock harder. The lock flew into a thousand pieces and the door swung open. The putrid smell of heat, decaying body and blood rushed out. Sgt. Oti switched the lights on and stepped into the room. Flies, startled by the light and human presence, flew in all directions, buzzing insistently and hovering over the bed. He covered his nose with his handkerchief and peered closely; lying on the bed was what remained of the body of a young girl. 
***
The silence was unbearable and the suspense, killing. Jason paced up and down, his hands in his pockets and a faraway look in his eyes. It was almost one week since his kid sister, Miriam went missing. They had searched everywhere and made calls to virtually every member of the family, including friends, both far and near. Yet, no one seemed to have seen or heard from her. Tension built up gradually. “I think we should notify the police, Mom,” he suggested. He is a pragmatic, forward thinking and hardworking young man and an undergraduate student at Gregory University. Ever since their father died some 5 years ago, he had matured rapidly; the development even surprised his mom. Mrs. Ndem said nothing. She just sat there, staring morosely at nothing, her mind befuddled with worry and anxiety. She could barely trust herself to speak. All around her sat a few family members, friends, and neighbors with sad, gloomy faces. “Yes, I think Jason is right, Mom.” Kele, her second son said. “I don’t see any point in wasting more time. I suggest we notify the media houses too.” “Mrs. Ndem shifted uneasily. She could hardly get a grip on herself. Their words fell on one ear and exited from the other. A knock at the door startled them. Jason, standing close to the door, threw it open and two police officers confronted him. “Good evening, officers.” “Good evening, is your mother home?” “Yes,” he threw the door wider, and raising his voice, called. “Mom, the police are here.” “The police? What do they want?” she jumped to her feet and re-tied her wrapper. She sensed trouble was about to burst. “Good evening, ma,” one of the police officers said. “I’m Sergeant Oti and this is my partner Corporal Adu. We are from Divisional Police Headquarters. Youare Mrs. Ndem, right?” “Yes. Any problem?” The two police officersexchanged glances. Sergeant Oti cleared his voice and brought out an ID card. “Does this girl look familiar?” She recognized it as Miriam’s school ID card. “Yes. It is my daughter’s ID card. Where did you find it? She’s been missing for 8 days.” The police officers looked at each other again. “Em… we would like you to come with us for identification.” Fear jumped into her eyes. “Is she dead?” “Just come with us.”
***
“Wonders shall never cease,” Kate cried. “Greg? The word-filled, Holy Spirit resident brother, I can hardly believe this.” Maya shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. “I told you he is a fake and you didn’t believe me.” “Where did they discover her body?” “In his room. The bastard; he locked her in his room instead of going for help.” “Wait a minute, do you mean her body was found in his room?” Kate’s eyes were wide with fright. “Yes. The odor of the decomposing body attracted the neighbors’ suspicion and they reported to the police.” “Where is he now? I hope he is rotting in jail?” “For where? He ran away.” She threw her hands up in the air. “The bastard! God will punish him.” “Could be she died before he could get help, so he ran away to save his neck.” “He will never go unpunished. Let him run to hell, nemesis will catch up with him one day.” “I pray so, my sister. To think beyond that handsome face lay a very wicked soul is beyond my comprehension.” “Gosh,” Kate blew out her cheeks. “I thought that guy was born again. Never knew he was a lion in sheep’s clothing.” “My sister, we have to be careful.” Kate gave her a knowing look. “I should tell you that. No more men.” Maya shook her head. “I still can’t believe Miriam is dead.” “My sister, let’s talk about other things, joor. When are you going back to school?” “This weekend, but with this development,” she shook her head. “I don’t know.” “Wish I wasin your shoes.” The way she said it made her look up abruptly. “What do you mean?” She lowered her head, her face subdued. “Nothing, I mean, I wish I could leave this village for a while.” She sensed something was troubling her. “Anything I need to know?” “I’m getting married,” she blurted out. Her eyes narrowed. “Stop joking.” “You don’t believe me, do you?” “You don’t expect me to believe you. I mean, you don’t even have a suitor.” “My parents found one for me.” There was pain in her voice, and she was close to tears. Maya stared at her like a strange animal. “Don’t tell me arranged marriages still exist?” “My parents said I am not educationally inclined and that the best thing would be for me to get married.” “I don’t see any sense in that. Why don’t you learn a trade?” “Where is the money to do that?”