How to investigate a lecturer.

Step 1. Ask. Ask. Ask. Anyone. Everyone.

"Ask pertinent, open questions," Ayo muses, "questions that encourage people to talk more. The more they talk, the more things are revealed."

"Ok, sis."

"And no leading questions. Let your stance be vague. Or at least show that you are on their side. Talk like -"

"Can we just go in and get this over with?" Adja cuts her off.

Ayo flips her the bird. They are outside a hostel - the one that her murdered classmate resided in.

Her name was Sarah. Adja didn't know her at all, but the girl to open the door for them is familiar. This girl, Sarah's roommate, also recognises Adja enough to ask, "Aren't you from my class with Mr. Reynor?"

"Yes," Adja flounders, "this is my sister, Ayo."

"Hi."

"Ya, and we would like to ask a few questions for our, urm, sorta -"

"Our blog!" Ayo butts in, vibrant. The roommate looks between us humourous before stepping aside for us to enter. This is too easy. How can she trust us so easily when her roommate just died mysteriously?

"You can sit here." She points to two chairs near a large study desk. Ayo straddles one faster than my eyes can blink. This sister of mine.

I smile. "Thanks for welcoming us."

"Oh no, I haven't even served you water. Would you like -"

"Yes."

Ayo! I shoot her a stern look. The roommate, however, offers her water gladly, then turns to me with another glass while muttering, "You are here to talk about Sarah?"

"How do you know?"

"Why wouldn't I know?" She answers me. "That's all everyone seems to care about. For the wrong reasons, too. One guy came here demanding that I leave the building before the 'spirit that ate her' returns. Another straight up called is whores, which I am not.  For Sarah, well."

"Well what?" Ayo urges as if the roommate isn't bathmouthing Sarah.

I grimace as the roommate continues. "Sarah liked the professor, and it wasn't her first time of liking someone she isn't supposed. Guess she was into 'forbidden love'. "

"So they had an affair," Ayo grunts, "typical."

The roommate shakes her head. "It was all in her head actually. He warned her to stay away, but she didn't listen. I'm pretty sure she went to his house to try again. If only she knew she would die there."

"She died in his house?"

"That's why he's a suspect." The roommate wears a 'duh' tone. "He said he wasn't there. However, his alibi being his wife hasn't helped him much."

I scratch my ear. "In what sense?"

"Well, she's hus wife. Of course, she'll say anything to get him out. I'm guessing that the story made up wasn't un since with his or whatever."

"Mm." Ayo rubs her hands. We talk with the roommate for a few more minutes before taking our leave, hearts filled with questions she can not answer.

Stepping into the dusty pavement, Ayo sighs, "We need another opinion on Sarah's relationship with the professor."

"Not today." I branch off.

"Where are you going?"

"To sleep!"

Luckily, she doesn't disapprove. Adja makes it her hostel not fast enough though.Turning to get inquisitive sister, Adja feels a spark bursting in her. She grips the staircase's railing as Ayo muses, "I think we should find someone else who would know the relationship between Sarah and your lecturer."

"Uh-uh. I know what you are thinking. Mr. Reynor is not like that," Adja bursts. "It makes more sense that Sarah was obsessed with him -

Ayo stops. "What?"

"I mean - "

"Adja." Her head shakes. "That girl isn't Sarah's friend; she might have exaggerated or perceived things differently... And the power dynamics at play here puts the lecturer at the front seat of whatever was going on between them -"

"The front seat? - Ayo, speak English."

Ayo frowns. "Ok, fine. So you are gonna write the whole blog on what one jealous friend said? Let's go talk to more people!"

"More people like who?"

°

While the sisters bicker about Sarah's friend, a student is brushing her teeth to die.

Unaware, the student sprays perfume and hobbles out of her room. She descends the stairs, brushing past Adja slightly. She hears a little of their conversation but doesn't put much thought into it.

It's raining when she steps out. What a mood swinger weather they have - one moment it is all sunshine and then boom! Thunder clouds. Like some sort of animated world. The student hated that. Her minute life back home wouldn't  stand a chance against spontaneity.

She crosses all roads out of the campus. She calls her mother, promising to get money for some medical bills. Yes, she is headed to her bank - her bestie.

Her bestie is a guy. Her bestie is in a shop with his other friend, Farley. The moment she enters the shop. Farley sees her first, prompting her bestie to turn.

"Gigi!" Her bestie runs up to her. They embrace, albeit the gag sounds Farley makes behind them.

She pretty much takes her bestie away from Farley. By the time they are done talking, Farley wants to leave. He bids them farewell and years to a bus stop only for the student to trail him. As they stand side by side, she blurts, "Busy tonight?"

"What are you? A hooker?" Farley grimaces. 

The student's shock boils into her reply. "How dare you talk to me like that."

"Well." Farley points to an envelope in her bag. The bestie gave it to her.

"Oh, and before you say he gave it to you for free, nothing is free in this world, babe. You're either dumb or delusional to think you won't have to return the favour." He makes air quotes.

The student chuckles, "You just speak ill of everyone, don't you? Are you a philosophy student?"

"Are you saying philosophy students are pessimists?"

"No, but some are arseholes."

Farley smiles to that. She's annoying in an intriguing way. She would make a great companion in bed. Converse foolishly. Insult each other.

"Where to?"

"My hostel -"

"Never mind. You're coming with me now." Farley grabs her free hand.

*

They have dinner at a food joint nearby and, as expected, insult themselves straight into a motel.

Then, when Farley wakes up, he finds her side of the bed empty. He chuckles and goes to the lobby only to tighten his fingers around the lobby desk.

Before him, his client is feeding on her and the lobby worker.

Farley stills. The client looks up and smiles, "There you are! I was coming to ask you for food, but then, voila!"

"Are you sick?" Farley blurts. "Are you sick in the head?!"