Growing Pains

chapter 10: we are watching

*Chapter 10: We Are Watching*

The chalk on the road was gone by morning.

Washed away by rain. Or by someone.

But the words were burned into Ada’s head:

_WE ARE WATCHING_

Her father didn’t sleep that night. Neither did Dike’s men.

“Could be anyone,” Dike said at breakfast. “Could be a kid playing. Could be Danladi’s people. We don’t take chances.”

The house was moved again. Third time in 3 weeks.

Ada was tired of packing. Tired of looking over her shoulder.

“Enough,” she said. “If they want me, let them come. I’m done hiding.”

Her father looked at her. “You sound like me.”

“Good. Because I’m your daughter.”

*2 Months Later: Law School*

University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Faculty of Law.

Ada got in with a scholarship. _Tunde Adebayo Memorial Scholarship for Brave Students._

First day, she walked in with 2 bodyguards and a knot in her stomach.

“Is that her?”

“The girl who took down a Senator?”

“She’s so small.”

She ignored them. Sat front row. Took notes.

Professor Okoro, Constitutional Law, was the first to call her out.

“Miss Adebayo. What do you do when the law fails you?”

“You make the law work,” Ada said. “Or you find new people to enforce it.”

The class went quiet. Then clapped.

After class, a girl came to her. Braids. Glasses.

“I’m Zara. Can I sit with you? I read about your case. It’s crazy.”

Ada smiled. First real friend in months. “Sure.”

*The Mole*

Dike called her to the station on Friday.

“We found him.”

On the screen: Officer Lamin. 34. Part of her security team. Bank records showed 5 million naira deposits in the last 2 months. From a shell company linked to Danladi’s brother.

“He was feeding them your location. The chalk. The car outside. All him.”

Ada felt sick. “He brought Chike snacks.”

“I know,” Dike said. “That’s how they get you.”

Lamin was arrested that night. He cried. “They threatened my sister. Said they’d kill her if I didn’t.”

Ada didn’t feel sorry. Not anymore.

*The Letter*

One week later, a letter came to the faculty office. No stamp. Hand delivered.

For: _Adaeze Adebayo_

Inside: One page.

_“Dear Miss Adebayo,

Congratulations on Law School. My father watched your trial from prison. He was impressed.

I’m not like him. I don’t believe in violence. I believe in the law.

I would like to meet you. To discuss land reform. To make sure what happened to your father never happens again.

My name is Kabir Bello. Senator Danladi’s son.

We can change things. Together.

- K”_

Ada showed her father.

He went still. “Bello’s son. He’s 21. Studied abroad. Never been in trouble.”

“So? Trap?”

“Probably. But... if he’s serious, we need to hear him out. On our terms.”

*The Meeting*

They met at the university library. Public. Cameras. 4 officers nearby.

Kabir Bello was tall. Clean suit. No gold chains. He looked nothing like his father.

“Miss Adebayo,” he said. Stood up. “Thank you for coming.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Ada said.

They talked for 1 hour.

He wasn’t defending his father. He was denouncing him.

“My father used our name to steal. I’m here to return land. To families. Starting with yours.”

“Why?”

“Because I read the files. 12 families. Because of me, kids grew up without fathers. I can’t undo it. But I can try.”

He slid a folder across. Documents. Land titles. Signed over to _Tunde Adebayo Memorial Foundation._

“Is this real?” Ada asked.

“Check it. With your lawyers. If it’s fake, arrest me.”

She did. It was real. 4 plots. Worth billions.

Zara whispered later: “Girl, is this a redemption arc or a villain origin story?”

“I don’t know yet,” Ada said.

*The Threat Returns*

2 weeks after the meeting, it started again.

Text to Ada: _“Traitor. You’re talking to a Bello. You’ll regret it.”_ Unknown number.

Then: Chike’s school called. “Someone asked for him. Said he was from the foundation.”

Then: Kabir called Ada at 2am.

“Ada. My house was broken into. They took my laptop. The one with the transfer files.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. But they left a message on the wall. In blood.”

“What did it say?”

_“Bellos die with Bellos.”_

*The Trap*

Kabir wanted to help catch them.

Plan: He’d pretend to have more documents. Lure the person out. Ada would be the “bait” to sign.

Dike hated it. “Too risky.”

“It’s my idea,” Ada said. “If they think I’m turning on you, they’ll come.”

Saturday. 11pm. An abandoned warehouse in Owerri. The place from the files.

Kabir went in first. With a wire.

Ada followed 5 minutes later. With Dike’s team in the vans.

Inside: Dark. Wet. Smelled like rust.

“Hello?” Kabir called.

Footsteps.

A man stepped out. Mask. g*n.

“Where are the papers?”

Kabir handed him a USB. Fake.

The man grabbed it. Then pointed the g*n at Kabir.

That was when lights flooded in.

“POLICE! DROP THE WEAPON!”

The man turned. Fired once. Missed.

Dike tackled him.

When they pulled off the mask, Ada gasped.

It was Officer Lamin.

From jail.

“How—”

“He escaped 3 days ago,” Dike said. Face pale. “With help from inside.”

On Lamin’s phone: messages from a number saved as _“Boss”_.

Last message: _“Finish the Bello boy. Then the girl.”_

*The Truth About Kabir*

After, Kabir sat with Ada on the warehouse steps. Shaking.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I brought this to you.”

“You didn’t know.”

“My father called me from prison last month. Before they took his phone. He said ‘fix what I broke or I’ll disown you.’ I thought I could.”

Ada looked at him. “You can. But not alone.”

He nodded.

*1 Month Later*

Things were different.

Kabir worked with Mama’s foundation. No PR. No cameras. Just paperwork and land transfers.

The 4 plots were now building sites for the school.

Danladi was moved to a prison with no outside contact.

Lamin was back in custody. This time, maximum security.

Ada was 3 months into Law School. Top of her class.

One night, she was in the library late. Studying Criminal Law.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

_“You think you won? Chapter 11 is coming.”_

She looked up.

Across the library, a guy in a hoodie was watching her. He saw her see him, and walked out.

Ada ran after him. He was gone.

On the table where he sat: a book.

_Introduction to Criminal Law._

Inside the cover, written in pen: _“See you in court, Miss Adebayo. - h***:://K.B.Jr”_

http://K.B.Jr. Kabir Bello Jr.

But Kabir was with her father at dinner.

So who was that?

*That Night*

Ada got home. Everyone was there. Safe.

She didn’t tell them about the library. Not yet.

She went to her room and opened her laptop.

Searched: _Kabir Bello Jr_

One result. News article from 2 years ago.

_“Senator Danladi Bello’s second son, KABIR BELLO JR, missing after boarding school incident.”_

Missing.

Ada closed the laptop.

Outside, a car engine started and drove away.

She texted Dike: _“We have another Bello.”_

He replied instantly: _“Stay inside. We’re coming.”_

Ada looked out the window.

The street was empty.

But somewhere, someone was watching.

And Chapter 11 was about to start.

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