Chapter 10- INNOCENT BEHIND BARS
1278 Words
Michael gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“Hold on.”
The dark vehicle behind them accelerated.
Veronica turned around again.
“It’s getting closer.”
“I know.”
“Can you lose them?”
“I’ll try.”
Michael suddenly turned onto a smaller road. The dark vehicle followed.
Veronica’s heart pounded.
“They know where we’re going.”
Michael glanced at the mirror.
“That’s what it looks like.”
He drove through several narrow streets before turning into a crowded market.
“Why are we stopping?” Veronica asked.
“Get down.”
She immediately lowered herself into the seat.
Michael switched off the engine.
A few seconds later, the dark vehicle passed slowly along the main road.
Veronica held her breath.
It continued forward.
Michael waited before starting the car again.
“We need somewhere safe before you meet Amara.”
“Where?”
“I know someone who may be able to help.”
They drove to an old office building.
Michael knocked on a wooden door, and an older man opened it.
“Michael?”
“Yes. We need your help.”
The man looked at Veronica.
“Who is she?”
“My friend’s wife.”
The man stepped aside.
“Come in.”
Inside, Michael explained everything that had happened—the missing company money, Daniel’s arrest, Victor’s return, Lydia, the threats, and the second account.
The man listened carefully.
“My name is Inspector Okafor,” he finally said. “I used to investigate financial crimes.”
Veronica looked at him.
“Can you help us prove Daniel is innocent?”
“I can try.”
Michael showed him the information they had.
Inspector Okafor examined it carefully.
“There was an old investigation involving a company connected to the Umoru family.”
Veronica leaned forward.
“What kind of investigation?”
“Financial irregularities.”
“Was Daniel involved?”
“His name appeared in the records.”
“But Daniel was very young.”
“That is what makes it interesting.”
The inspector opened an old file.
“This company account was registered using Daniel’s identity.”
Veronica immediately remembered Umoru’s confession.
“The second account.”
Inspector Okafor looked at her.
“What second account?”
She explained what Umoru had told her.
The inspector's expression became serious.
“If this is true, someone may have been using Daniel’s identity long before his current business existed.”
“Can you find out who managed the account?”
“Yes.”
He searched through the old records.
“A financial adviser named Samuel.”
Veronica nodded.
“That’s the man Umoru mentioned.”
Inspector Okafor continued looking.
“Samuel is dead?”
“Yes,” Veronica replied.
“Then his son may have inherited the records.”
“David.”
The inspector found an old address.
“This is David’s last known address.”
Veronica took the paper.
“Thank you.”
Inspector Okafor looked at her seriously.
“Don't go there alone.”
“I won't.”
Suddenly, Veronica's phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
A message had arrived.
You shouldn't have gone to the inspector.
Her blood ran cold.
Michael read it.
“They know where we are.”
Inspector Okafor immediately stood.
“Turn off your phone.”
Veronica did.
“Whoever is doing this has access to information they shouldn't have,” the inspector said.
Michael frowned.
“Someone close to us?”
“Possibly.”
Veronica thought about everyone around her.
Umoru.
Mama Umoru.
Michael.
Daniel.
Amara.
Victor.
Lydia.
David.
Could one of them be helping the person behind everything?
Her thoughts were interrupted when the old phone Inspector Okafor had given her rang.
It was Amara.
Veronica answered.
“Amara?”
“Why are you calling from another number?”
“I couldn't reach the café.”
“What happened?”
“Someone followed us.”
Amara became quiet.
“I warned you.”
“I know. I need to know who is behind this.”
“You're getting too close.”
“Then help me.”
After a long pause, Amara spoke.
“Go to the old railway station.”
Veronica frowned.
“Why?”
“There is a storage building behind it. I left something there years ago.”
“What?”
“A file.”
“What kind of file?”
“The kind that can explain everything.”
Veronica's heart raced.
“About Victor?”
“About Victor, Daniel, and the money.”
“Why didn't you give it to me before?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of who?”
Amara's voice dropped to a whisper.
“The person who destroyed everything.”
The call ended.
Veronica lowered the phone.
Michael looked at her.
“What did she say?”
“She wants me to go to the old railway station.”
Inspector Okafor shook his head.
“Too dangerous.”
“I have to go.”
“You don't know what is waiting for you there.”
“I know.”
Veronica looked at the address for David.
Then she looked at the old phone.
There were now two possible paths to the truth.
David could explain the second account.
Amara could reveal what happened to Victor.
But someone was always one step ahead of her.
Then Veronica looked at Michael.
“You said whoever is following us must have known about the café.”
“Yes.”
“I only told you and the people at the house.”
Michael's expression changed.
“You think I told them?”
“I don't know.”
“You do know.”
“I don't.”
Michael stepped closer.
“Veronica, I did not tell anyone.”
She studied his face.
Before she could respond, Inspector Okafor's phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes?”
He listened.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He ended the call.
“What happened?” Michael asked.
The inspector looked at Veronica.
“Your husband has been released.”
Veronica froze.
“What?”
“Daniel was released from police custody less than ten minutes ago.”
“Why?”
“The charges were temporarily suspended.”
Veronica felt a rush of relief.
“Where is he?”
Inspector Okafor checked his phone.
“He was last seen leaving the station.”
“With whom?”
The inspector hesitated.
“Victor.”
Veronica's relief vanished.
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
She immediately reached for her phone.
Before she could call Daniel, a message appeared.
You wanted the truth. Now you will get it.
Another message followed.
Come to the railway station alone.
Then a photograph appeared.
Veronica stared at it.
Daniel and Victor were standing beside an old railway platform.
Her heart began pounding.
The photograph had been taken only minutes earlier.
“Daniel is there,” she whispered.
Michael moved closer.
“We have to go.”
“No.”
Veronica shook her head.
“The message said alone.”
“That’s exactly what they want.”
She looked at the photograph again.
Daniel was facing the camera.
Victor stood beside him.
And between them was the same woman from the old photograph.
Veronica's breath caught.
It was Lydia.
The woman who had supposedly disappeared with Victor years ago.
Lydia was alive.
And she was standing beside her husband.
Veronica stared at the photograph, realizing that whatever happened at the railway station could finally reveal the truth about Daniel, Victor, and the missing money.
But it could also be the trap that the mysterious enemy had been preparing for her all along.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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