Chapter 9: The Vanishing Act.
323 Words
Chapter 9: The Vanishing Act
Lola stood in the alley, heart still racing, the weight of the gun solid in her hand. The street behind her was empty, but her mind screamed a single question:
Where the hell was Ugo?
She pulled out her phone and dialed his number again. Still no answer.
Her gut twisted. Had he escaped, or had someone else gotten to him first?
She needed leads. Now.
Lola crouched beside the dead assassin and patted down his pockets. No ID. No phone. Nothing. Professional. But when she checked his wrist, she found something odd—a barely visible tattoo. A symbol.
A black shield.
Her stomach clenched. So it wasn’t just a company. These people branded themselves.
She snapped a picture and stood, wiping the blood from her hands.
She had one move left—tracking Ugo the old-fashioned way.
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20 Minutes Later – Ugo’s Last Known Location
Lola pulled up to a rundown mechanic’s shop in Mushin, the kind of place where people disappeared for good. Her contact in the local CCTV surveillance team had done her a favor—Ugo had been seen running in this direction.
She stepped out of her car, hand resting on her holster, scanning the area.
The shop was dark, abandoned-looking, but the gate was slightly open.
Someone was inside.
Lola moved carefully, pushing the gate wider. The air smelled of burnt oil and rust. The place was dead quiet, except for—
A muffled groan.
Her pulse kicked up. Ugo.
She followed the sound toward the back, past rows of rusted car parts and oil drums. Then she saw him—tied to a chair, blood dripping from his nose.
And beside him?
A man in a suit, holding a knife.
He looked up as she stepped into view, his lips curling into a slow, amused smile.
"Detective Ajibade," he said, like they were old friends. "We’ve been expecting you."
- Writer
