Chapter 6: Enter Musa Okoye

As we dey leave Christ Redeemer Church, one young man for black kaftan waka pass us. E walk fast, head low. My spirit just tingle. Instinct dey warn me. My heart skip. I hold Inspector Tunde, whisper, "No be say this guy resemble person?" I dey look back, dey try remember. My skin crawl.

Inspector Tunde say, "I see am too. E resemble Musa Okoye." The way e call the name, I know say danger dey near. Inspector Tunde always dey alert. Musa Okoye—first son of Palm Grove Boys boss Chief Okoye. We dey chase their gang for two years, but dem sharp, no dey leave trace, no way to enter.

Their own wahala na big wahala. For every bust, dem dey vanish. Chief Okoye name dey fear people for street. Now, Musa Okoye waka reach our front. How I go miss this chance?

My mind dey race—opportunity wey I dey wait for. My blood dey hot, detective spirit dey push me. I tell Inspector Tunde, "You go first. I go follow am, see wetin e dey plan."

I stubborn, I know. Inspector Tunde look me with worry. But e trust me. Inspector Tunde know my stubbornness. Once I don decide, no turning back. E just say, "I go wait for you for church gate. Abeg, no face am direct."

E squeeze my hand, give me silent prayer. I follow Musa Okoye enter church. I tiptoe, hide for shadow. My heart dey drum, sweat dey my palm. I see am kneel for altar, dey pray well. For that moment, e look innocent. But I sabi devil dey wear white sometimes.

Which kind prayer? E wan drop knife become pastor? My mind dey calculate—if na real repentance, why e still dey hide? Lie. For Naija, street boys dey act film pass Nollywood. Musa Okoye na number one for Palm Grove Boys—heartless, crazy. Devil like am, even pastor no go accept. Even for street, na legend. I dey wonder wetin e dey tell God.

After prayer, e stand, waka go. I try follow, but my leg weak. I decide make I use another plan. I no fit follow again, so I buy candle, ask usher, "That fine man just now, e dey come here always?"

The usher na old woman, she look me with wisdom. Her voice soft, 'My daughter, e dey come, but e no dey talk to anybody.' Usher say, "Yes, two or three times every month. No get fixed time."

The news sweet me. Na so plan dey form for my head. I dey ready to sacrifice my peace for the job. Big idea enter my head: go near Musa Okoye, enter Palm Grove Boys.

For my heart, fear dey, but my oath dey bigger. I dey ready to do anything to finish this gang. Inspector Tunde vex, no gree. I threaten am say if e no gree, I no go marry am. Na so e surrender. E shake head, say 'I sabi say you stubborn.' Na love and anger mix dey his face.

I say, "Tunde, na last time be this. After we finish with Palm Grove Boys, I go resign, work for registry, marry you, born pikin, you gree?"

I smile small, but I dey serious. For my heart, I dey pray make this my last mission. Inspector Tunde no answer. E still dey vex. But e no fit fight me. E know say my mind no go change.

I wait for Christ Redeemer Church half month before I see Musa Okoye again. Every day, I dey pray, dey act like ordinary worshipper. My spirit dey strong—God abeg.

As e dey pray, I stand for one side, dey watch. I dey watch body language, dey learn e routine. My detective mind dey log everything.

After e finish, e turn, sharp eye catch me. Our eyes jam. E waka come straight. E dey walk like lion—confidence full body. I ready myself.

"You dey look me. We sabi each other?" e ask. E voice sharp. E dey test me, dey watch my reaction.

"We fit sabi each other?" I answer. I smile small, dey twist my voice like village girl. "Why?" E raise brow, dey size me. "Because... you fine." I fit don blush. I talk am with confidence. E catch am off guard. Small smile touch e mouth.

"You dey talk rubbish." Musa Okoye waka go. E act like e no care, but e eye still dey search my own.

After that, every time e come pray, I go meet am, dey talk. Each time, we go gist about nothing. I dey use charm, dey show innocence. Na slow game.

Finally, one day, e say, "Beautiful lady, make I buy you food?" E tone soft, e eye gentle. I know say I don enter the circle.