The data plug

The data plug

*Chapter 1: Client #27*

The rain in Lagos didn't care if you had rent to pay.

Tolu pulled her hoodie tighter and counted the cash in her palm. ₦8,700. Not enough. Her landlord would be knocking by Friday, and NEPA had taken light again.

"1GB for ₦300! MTN, GLO, AIRTEL!" she shouted, holding up her phone like a banner at Yaba bus stop.

It was illegal. Very illegal.

But hungry people don’t ask for licenses.

Her phone buzzed. New order.

*Client #27: Send 10GB. Location pin attached. Pay on delivery.*

Tolu frowned. 10GB was big money. ₦3,000. She grabbed her power bank and jogged to the address.

It was a co-working space in Ikeja. Glass doors, AC, people with laptops and coffee. Not her usual crowd.

A guy was waiting by the entrance. Tall, clean shirt, laptop bag. He looked like he made 6 figures.

"You Tolu?" he asked.

She nodded, handing him the code. "10GB. ₦3,000."

He scanned it with his laptop. Then he smiled. Not the customer smile. The scary one.

"You’re using a VPN tunneling exploit to resell bulk data," he said casually. "Cute. Also very illegal. EFCC can pick you up for this."

Tolu's heart dropped to her stomach. "I-I don't know what you’re talking about."

"Relax," he said, pulling out his wallet. "I’m not here to report you."

He dropped ₦3,000 in her hand and added ₦2,000 extra. "Consider it a consultation fee."

Tolu stared at the extra cash. "Why?"

"Because," he said, zipping his laptop bag. "I think we can make you legal. Big money. No EFCC."

He handed her a card.

*_David Okoro

Lead Developer, TechNova Solutions__

"Call me when you’re tired of running," he said. "Client #27."

He walked away, leaving Tolu in the rain with ₦5,000 in her hand and a decision that could change her life... or put her in jail.