Officer Tanko

The police officer first appeared at the salon door on a Saturday, with a notebook and an expression of fixed neutrality.

"Madam Bisola Adu?"

"That's me."

"Officer Tanko Garba. Ajegunle Division." He was tall, broad-shouldered, in a spotless blue uniform, with a close-cropped beard and the stillest dark eyes she had ever seen. He looked about twenty-eight. "I've received a report."

"What report?"

"That you've been seen talking to yourself."

"Excuse me?"

"Several neighbours say you speak to the gutter." His mouth twitched. "And to a cat."

"I talk to a lot of things."

"Mm." He wrote something down. "They also say that last night a number of lights appeared above the drain on Ojo Lane. Floating. Blue."

"I'm told it's methane."