Chapter 9- THE 2ND ACCOUNT
1778 Words
“It was me.”
Veronica stared at Umoru.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The words seemed to remain suspended in the room.
The money had been transferred the night Daniel was born.
And Umoru had done it.
Veronica struggled to understand what she had just heard.
“Why?”
Umoru looked away.
“It's complicated.”
Veronica's voice trembled.
“No. It isn't complicated anymore. You have to tell me.”
Mama Umoru slowly sat down.
She looked at her husband with an expression Veronica had never seen before.
“You should have told her years ago.”
Umoru closed his eyes.
“I know.”
Michael remained standing near the doorway, clearly uncomfortable.
Veronica turned toward him.
“Did you know about this?”
“No.”
“Then please leave us alone.”
Michael nodded.
“I'll wait outside.”
When he left, Veronica faced Umoru again.
“What was in that account?”
“Money.”
“I know it was money. Where did it come from?”
Umoru hesitated.
“It belonged to my father.”
Veronica frowned.
“Your father?”
“Yes. He left an inheritance for the family.”
“Then why did you move it?”
Umoru lowered his head.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“My younger brother.”
Veronica remained silent.
Umoru continued.
“He believed he was entitled to the entire inheritance. When our father died, there was a disagreement over how the money should be divided.”
“What happened?”
“My brother threatened to take everything.”
“So you moved the money secretly?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I transferred it into an account under my control.”
Veronica stared at him.
“That doesn't explain the missing money.”
Umoru sighed.
“I didn't keep all of it.”
“What did you do with it?”
“I invested some.”
“In what?”
“A property.”
“Did the investment fail?”
“No.”
“Then where is the money?”
Umoru looked toward Mama Umoru.
She lowered her eyes.
“I lost some of it,” he admitted.
“How?”
“There was a business deal.”
Veronica's expression hardened.
“Another business deal?”
“I thought it would increase the family's wealth.”
“And?”
“It collapsed.”
“How much was lost?”
Umoru gave her the amount.
Veronica felt stunned.
“That was a huge amount.”
“I know.”
“Did Daniel know?”
“No.”
“Did Mama Umoru know?”
She shook her head.
“I found out years later,” Mama Umoru said quietly.
Veronica sat down.
“So all these years, Daniel believed his financial problems started with his own business.”
“They did,” Umoru replied.
“But the money problems began long before that.”
“Yes.”
Veronica rubbed her forehead.
Suddenly, the pieces were beginning to connect.
The old account.
Victor.
The missing money.
The accusations against Daniel.
Amara's involvement.
Lydia.
But there were still too many unanswered questions.
“Why would someone bring this up now?”
Umoru didn't answer.
“Daddy?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
He looked at her.
“You have been afraid of something since Victor appeared.”
Umoru remained silent.
Veronica stood.
“Tell me what you're hiding.”
Finally, Umoru spoke.
“After the business deal failed, I received a letter.”
“What kind of letter?”
“A threat.”
“From whom?”
“I never knew.”
“What did it say?”
Umoru walked to a cabinet and opened a drawer.
He removed an old envelope.
The paper looked worn.
He handed it to Veronica.
She opened it.
Inside was a short handwritten message.
You took what was not yours. One day, your family will pay for it.
Veronica looked up.
“When did you receive this?”
“Many years ago.”
“Did you report it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I thought it was an empty threat.”
“And now?”
Umoru looked toward the window.
“Now I'm not so sure.”
Veronica read the message again.
The handwriting looked strangely familiar.
She couldn't explain why.
Then she remembered the photograph Victor had shown them.
The same boldness.
The same slant.
Could the person who wrote this letter still be involved?
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
She looked down.
A message had arrived.
Ask Umoru about the second account.
Veronica's blood ran cold.
She slowly raised her eyes.
Umoru saw the message.
His face changed.
“There was another account?”
Veronica held the phone toward him.
Umoru stepped backward.
“I didn't tell anyone about that.”
“Then someone knows.”
Mama Umoru stood.
“What second account?”
Umoru looked at his wife.
“I thought it had been closed.”
Veronica's heart pounded.
“What was it used for?”
“I don't remember.”
“You don't remember?”
“It was connected to the old business.”
“Whose name was on it?”
Umoru hesitated.
“Daniel's.”
Veronica's mouth fell open.
“Daniel?”
“He was only a child. I used his name because I needed an account that wasn't connected to me.”
“Daddy, you used your son's identity?”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
Umoru looked ashamed.
“I was trying to protect him.”
“You were putting him in the middle of something he didn't even understand.”
“I know.”
Veronica paced across the room.
If Daniel's name had been attached to the account, someone could have used it later.
That could explain how his information had been used in the recent transfer.
She suddenly stopped.
“Where is the account now?”
“I don't know.”
“Who managed it?”
“A financial adviser named Samuel.”
“Where is he?”
“He died several years ago.”
Veronica felt defeated.
Then Mama Umoru spoke.
“His son.”
Veronica turned.
“What?”
“Samuel's son took over his records after his death.”
Umoru looked at her.
“His name is David.”
“Do you know where he is?”
Mama Umoru shook her head.
“I haven't spoken to him in years.”
Veronica immediately called Michael back.
He answered quickly.
“What happened?”
“I need you to find someone.”
“Who?”
“David. His father was Samuel, the financial adviser who handled an old account belonging to Daniel.”
Michael became quiet.
“Why?”
“I'll explain later. Just find him.”
“Okay.”
The call ended.
Veronica turned toward Umoru.
“I'm going to the police station.”
“You shouldn't.”
“Daniel needs me.”
“I understand.”
“And I need to tell them about this account.”
Umoru looked worried.
“What if it makes things worse?”
“What could be worse than my husband being accused of stealing money he didn't take?”
Umoru had no answer.
Veronica picked up her bag.
Before she could leave, her phone rang.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name.
Amara.
Veronica answered immediately.
“Amara?”
“Where are you?”
“Going to see Daniel.”
“You must listen to me carefully.”
“Why?”
“Because I know who has been moving the money.”
Veronica stopped.
“Who?”
“I can't say it over the phone.”
“Then tell me where to meet you.”
“There is an old café near the market.”
“When?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“Fine.”
Amara's voice became urgent.
“Come alone.”
Veronica frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if anyone sees us together, they will know I told you.”
“Told me what?”
Amara paused.
“The truth about Victor.”
The call ended.
Veronica stood completely still.
Michael had said Victor disappeared.
Umoru had admitted Daniel was with him that night.
Amara claimed she knew the truth.
And now someone was threatening her family.
Veronica knew she was walking into danger.
But she also knew that every answer seemed to lead to another question.
She turned to Mama Umoru.
“Please stay with the baby.”
“I will.”
“Don't open the door for anyone.”
Mama Umoru nodded.
Veronica looked at Umoru.
“I need you to stay here too.”
“Where are you going?”
“To meet Amara.”
Umoru immediately stood.
“No.”
“Why?”
“You cannot trust her.”
Veronica stared at him.
“Maybe I can't.”
“Then don't go.”
“But she may know who is behind this.”
Umoru's expression became troubled.
“Veronica, please.”
She shook her head.
“I have spent too long waiting for other people to tell me the truth.”
She walked toward the door.
“This time, I'm going to find it myself.”
Outside, the afternoon sky had darkened.
Veronica entered Michael's waiting car.
As they drove away, she looked back at the Umoru house.
She didn't know that someone was watching from across the street.
A man stood beside a parked vehicle, holding a phone.
He watched Veronica disappear around the corner.
Then he made a call.
“She is going to meet Amara.”
A voice answered.
“Good.”
“What should I do?”
There was a pause.
“Make sure she never reaches the café.”
The man ended the call.
Inside the moving car, Veronica suddenly felt uneasy.
She looked at Michael.
“Stop the car.”
He glanced at her.
“Why?”
“I think someone is following us.”
Michael checked the mirror.
A dark vehicle was several cars behind them.
It had been there since they left the house.
Michael's expression changed.
“You may be right.”
Veronica's heart began racing.
The vehicle moved closer.
Michael increased his speed.
So did the other car.
Veronica held her phone tightly.
She had wanted answers.
Now someone was determined to stop her from getting them.
And somewhere ahead, Amara was waiting with a secret that could finally reveal what happened to Victor.
But Veronica had no idea whether she would reach the café before the people following her caught up.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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