Hit and Run

The day was unnecessarily hot. The black dress she wore for the occasion was making matters worse. She felt she was being baked. The occasion, the thought of it made her shudder. She was standing in her grandfather’s compound in the village with a lot of people, half or probably more than half she didn’t know. She didn’t like the village so much, she hardly came back. This time, she had no choice but to come. She still couldn’t believe Chief Echezona Ekeh was lying in a box ready to be put six feet under the ground. “This can’t happening”, she thought. That was exactly what she said when she received a call from her father’s lawyer saying he had been involved in a car accident. A hit and run, but the driver hit her father’s car in this case. She fled to the hospital but he didn’t make it. She was angry and hurt but she didn’t cry. Her father’s lawyer, Bar. Ikechukwu had been surprised, but not too surprised. The girl was like ice that couldn’t crack. She listened as the Priest said the final prayers and she heard people wailing. She got angry, these people didn’t even know her dad so much and they were screaming like he was their twin. “Pretenders”, she thought, she wanted to drive everyone away.
She was called to put sand on the coffin, “rest in peace, father”, she said as she held the shovel, “I’ll miss you and I’ll always love you”. Eyes rested on her as murmuring started. She didn’t care. She watched as they lowered the coffin into the hole and they covered it with red sand. And that was it, her father was laid to rest and she felt alone.
“Daberechi, nwa m, we are all happy to see you, but would have preferred it in better circumstances, obi gi sie ike”, one woman with a big scarf on her head jolted her from her thoughts. “Thanks aunty”, was all she could say. She couldn’t even remember how she was related to the woman. The eating and drinking started soon after and Daberechi felt even more angry. How do they just eat and drink so fast like it’s a wedding. Back in Los Angeles where she spent some time, this never happened. Everyone was having their fill in her father’s compound, some offering their condolences. What she really wanted was to get on the next flight to Lagos and find out who hit her father. She knew it wasn’t an accident. The story was too good to be true, driver hit his car with a truck and drove off. Someone wanted him dead, and she’d find out who. She went into her room and called her office to make sure everything was fine. Her father owned a real estate company and she was running it now. She had to be serious with it.
“Daby, can I come in?” said a voice at her door. “Yes”, she said. A middle-aged man walked in, he was her father’s younger brother and only sibling. “When are you returning to Lagos?” he asked her. “Tomorrow”, she replied, “I have work to do.” “I was thinking, maybe Chika should go with you, for company.”, he said. “Uncle Somto, I’m fine”, Daby said folding her clothes, “I’m not the first person to lose her father. Chikanyiama doesn’t have to come with me, you guys can go home. You’ve really done enough and I’m grateful.” Uncle Somto tried to convince her, finally she agreed. “Alright, she can come, but only for a week, she can go back to school afterwards”, Daby said. “Chika is on break, said Uncle Somto, standing to leave, “she can stay more than a week.” Great, she thought, now she had to think of finding her father’s killer and taking care of her little cousin.
She finished packing her clothes and went outside to make sure things were put in place after people started to leave. She was happy Uncle Somto and his wife could stay back in the village to help while she traveled. “Dad said I’m going with you to Lagos”, Chika said, distracting her from her thoughts. “Yes you are, and we are leaving early in the morning to get to the airport”, Daby said. “Great, I’m excited”, Chika said smiling and pecking her cousin. She hurried off and left Daby alone to think. She set out plans in her mind on how to manage the business, secretly investigate her father’s death, sort out his will and make sure no one found out what she intended to do. Her life might also be in danger if whoever killed her father found out she was investigating. With Chika around, things might not be so bad, she could help her with things in the house and also some company. She didn’t trust anyone, but she had to be nice.
The next morning, Daberechi went to visit her father’s grave. “Hey dad, she said, her eyes fixed on the tombstone, “it’s really awkward talking to you like this, but all the same, I hope you can hear me. I’m going to take care of your business and I’m going to avenge you. So, wish me luck and say hello to mum for me.” She laughed sadly, “I wish I could hear you guys’ hello from the other side.” She placed a red rose she had bought on her father’s grave and left. Ten minutes later, Daby and Chika left with Daberechi’s agenda to destroy who killed her father.