The Guest in the house
698 Words
The drive back to the mansion was silent.
Not because Daniel and Amina had nothing to say.
But because there were too many possibilities.
Someone inside their home.
Someone close enough to access the archives.
Someone close enough to know their plans.
Amina looked out the window.
"Daniel."
"Yes?"
"Do you think it's someone we know?"
He kept his eyes on the road.
"I don't want to believe it."
"But?"
He sighed.
"But we can't ignore the possibility."
---
When they arrived, the mansion looked peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
The guards stood at their posts.
The lights were warm.
Everything appeared normal.
But Daniel had learned a painful lesson.
Danger rarely announced itself.
Sometimes it smiled.
Sometimes it helped you.
Sometimes it called you family.
---
Inside, Grandma was waiting in the living room.
"You found the will?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Yes."
Her face relaxed.
"Thank goodness."
Amina watched her carefully.
For a moment, suspicion entered her mind.
Then she pushed it away.
Grandma had protected Daniel his entire life.
She couldn't imagine her being the enemy.
---
The next morning, Daniel gathered everyone in the mansion.
Grace.
Michael.
Grandma.
Security.
And the household staff.
"There was a security breach," Daniel said.
Everyone became tense.
"Someone entered the archive room."
No one spoke.
"The person who did this knew the security system."
Grace looked uncomfortable.
Daniel continued.
"We will find out who it was."
---
After the meeting, Amina noticed something.
A servant quietly leaving the room.
She frowned.
"Who is that?"
Daniel followed her gaze.
"That's Joseph."
"How long has he worked here?"
"Almost fifteen years."
Amina looked surprised.
"Fifteen?"
Daniel nodded.
"He was here before I became CEO."
---
Later that afternoon, Amina found Grandma looking through old photographs.
"Grandma?"
The older woman smiled.
"Come sit with me."
Amina sat beside her.
"I need to ask you something."
"About the thief?"
Amina was surprised.
"How did you know?"
Grandma smiled sadly.
"Because secrets always return."
Amina looked at the photographs.
"Did my father ever trust anyone in the Okello family?"
Grandma was quiet.
Then she answered:
"Yes."
"Who?"
Grandma touched an old photograph.
"Joseph."
---
Amina froze.
"The servant?"
Grandma nodded.
"Joseph was not always a servant."
"What was he?"
"He was your father's closest friend."
---
Amina immediately found Daniel.
"Daniel."
He looked up.
"What happened?"
"Joseph."
Daniel's expression changed.
"What about him?"
"Grandma said he was close to my father."
Daniel stood.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because Joseph told me he barely knew him."
---
They searched Joseph's records.
The truth was shocking.
Joseph's real name wasn't Joseph.
It was Joseph Wekesa.
Samuel Wekesa's brother.
The same family connected to the factory records.
---
That evening, Daniel confronted Joseph in the garden.
"How long were you planning to hide the truth?"
Joseph remained calm.
"I knew this day would come."
"Who are you working for?"
Joseph looked hurt.
"Do you really think I would betray your family?"
Daniel stared at him.
"Your name was connected to the stolen files."
Joseph nodded.
"Because I took them."
Amina stepped forward.
"Why?"
Joseph looked at her.
"Because they were never meant to be found."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You stole evidence."
"No."
Joseph shook his head.
"I protected evidence."
The answer surprised them.
"From who?" Daniel asked.
Joseph looked toward the mansion.
"From the person who has been searching for it."
Amina whispered:
"Anthony?"
Joseph shook his head.
"No."
"The person hunting the evidence is not Anthony."
Daniel stared.
"Then who?"
Joseph's face became serious.
"The person who taught Anthony everything he knows."
Amina felt a chill.
"There is someone above him?"
Joseph nodded.
"Yes."
"Someone who has been controlling this entire game from the beginning."
---
Before they could ask more, the mansion lights went out.
Again.
A loud alarm sounded.
Security rushed in.
"Sir!"
"What happened?"
"The main gate was opened."
"By who?"
The guard looked terrified.
"By someone using Mr. Okello's personal access code."
Everyone turned toward Daniel.
But Daniel knew one thing.
His code had never left his possession.
Which meant someone had copied it.
Someone who had been close enough.
Close enough to watch.
Close enough to wait.
And close enough to strike.
- Writer
