Chapter Seven — The First Cruck
1291 Words
Daniel drove without speaking.
The threatening note lay folded inside the glove compartment, but Amara could still feel its presence.
Stop searching, Amara. You are next.
She had read the words so many times that they seemed burned into her mind.
The road back toward Kumasi stretched ahead of them.
Streetlights passed in slow intervals.
Neither of them mentioned the obvious.
Someone had followed them.
Someone had entered the house.
Someone knew Amara's name.
And someone wanted them to stop looking.
Eventually, Amara broke the silence.
"How long have you known?"
Daniel kept his eyes on the road.
"Known what?"
"That my family wasn't responsible for what happened."
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"I suspected."
"That's not an answer."
"I didn't have proof."
"But you knew enough to investigate."
"Yes."
"And you hired me."
"I didn't hire you because of your family."
Amara looked at him.
"Then why?"
He was silent.
"Daniel."
"I needed someone for the position."
"That's not true."
He glanced at her.
"What makes you think that?"
"Because you knew my surname before I started."
"I knew your surname."
"And that mattered."
"It did."
Her chest tightened.
"Why?"
Daniel looked back at the road.
"Because when I saw your application, I remembered your father."
"How?"
"He was the only person who ever stood up to mine."
Amara stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
"My father wanted something your father refused to give him."
"What?"
"I don't know."
"You keep saying you don't know."
"Because I don't."
She crossed her arms.
"You're not very good at answers."
"I'm not used to giving them."
"Maybe that's your problem."
A faint smile appeared.
"Maybe."
The tension between them softened slightly.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?"
It was Lydia.
"Mr. Asare, I've found the location."
"Send it."
"I already did."
Daniel glanced at his phone.
"Got it."
He ended the call.
Amara looked at him.
"Where are we going?"
"My father's old office."
The building was hidden behind a row of older commercial properties.
It looked nothing like the modern headquarters of Asare Holdings.
The sign above the entrance was faded.
ASARE & SONS — PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
Daniel stopped outside.
"This was the first office."
Amara looked at him.
"Your father started here?"
"Yes."
They entered.
The building was almost completely empty.
Dust covered the furniture.
Old files filled the shelves.
A broken ceiling fan hung overhead.
Daniel walked toward a wooden door at the end of the hallway.
He unlocked it.
Inside was a large office.
A desk stood near the window.
On the wall were photographs of Daniel's father with various businessmen.
Amara walked toward them.
Then stopped.
One photograph showed Kofi Asare and her father.
They were smiling.
Not pretending.
Actually smiling.
"They were close," she whispered.
Daniel nodded.
"They were."
Amara studied the photograph.
"Something must have happened."
"Yes."
"Do you know what?"
"No."
She turned toward him.
"Then let's find out."
They began searching.
Daniel opened filing cabinets.
Amara checked shelves.
Nothing.
Then she found an old ledger.
"Daniel."
He came over.
"What?"
She opened it.
The pages were filled with property transactions.
She turned several pages.
Then stopped.
There it was.
Mensah Property Development — Joint Venture Agreement
Her heart raced.
"I found something."
Daniel took the ledger.
His eyes moved across the page.
"There's a date."
"What date?"
"Two weeks before the land dispute."
"What does it say?"
He read silently.
Then his face changed.
"What?"
He handed her the ledger.
The agreement showed that Amara's father and Daniel's father had jointly purchased the property.
But beneath the agreement was another signature.
Someone had transferred ownership without either man's approval.
Amara looked at the name.
She didn't recognize it.
"Who is this?"
Daniel stared.
"I don't know."
"You should."
"I've never seen the name."
"Then who signed it?"
"I don't know."
Amara looked at him suspiciously.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
She continued reading.
Then she noticed something.
The signature looked almost identical to Daniel's father's.
But not quite.
"This was forged."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"And whoever forged it wanted your father to take the blame."
"Exactly."
Amara looked up.
"Why?"
Daniel's expression darkened.
"That's the question."
A noise came from the hallway.
They both froze.
Daniel slowly closed the ledger.
"Stay here."
"Again?"
"Please."
The word surprised her.
Daniel rarely said please.
She nodded.
He walked toward the door.
The hallway was empty.
Then he saw it.
The front door was open.
He walked toward it.
A figure ran across the street.
Daniel followed.
"Hey!"
The figure disappeared around a corner.
Daniel stopped.
He had lost them.
When he returned, Amara was standing beside the desk.
"You scared me."
"Someone was here."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
She looked at the ledger.
"Maybe they were looking for this."
Daniel nodded.
"We need to leave."
"Why?"
"Because whoever is behind this knows we're here."
Amara closed the ledger.
"Then let's take it."
Daniel hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He took the ledger.
They walked toward the door.
Then Amara noticed something on the floor.
A small silver pendant.
She picked it up.
It was old.
A tiny letter A was engraved on it.
Daniel stared at it.
"Where did you find that?"
"Here."
He took it from her.
His expression changed.
"What's wrong?"
"I've seen this before."
"Where?"
Daniel looked at her.
"On my father's desk."
Amara's heart skipped.
"Then it belongs to your family?"
"I don't know."
She reached for it.
Daniel didn't immediately give it back.
Their fingers touched.
Neither moved.
For a few seconds, the room became strangely quiet.
Amara looked up.
Daniel was already looking at her.
His eyes moved slowly across her face.
She felt her heartbeat quicken.
"Daniel..."
He stepped closer.
"Yes?"
She swallowed.
"I think we should go."
He didn't move.
Neither did she.
The tension between them became almost unbearable.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
They both stepped apart.
Daniel answered.
"Hello?"
His expression changed.
"What?"
He listened.
"Where?"
Amara watched him.
"How long ago?"
He ended the call.
"What happened?"
Daniel looked at her.
"The hotel."
"What about it?"
"Someone broke into our suite."
Amara's stomach dropped.
"Did they take anything?"
"No."
"Then what did they want?"
Daniel looked at the ledger in his hand.
"Maybe they wanted us to know they could get to us."
Amara's face went pale.
He stepped closer.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
He didn't believe her.
"Amara."
"I'm fine."
He gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You're shaking."
She looked down.
She was.
Daniel's voice softened.
"You don't have to pretend you're not afraid."
Amara looked into his eyes.
"I am afraid."
It was the first time she had admitted it.
Daniel's hand remained on her shoulder.
"Good."
She frowned.
"Good?"
"Fear keeps you alert."
Then he lowered his voice.
"But you don't have to face it alone."
Something inside her shifted.
She didn't know whether it was trust.
Relief.
Or something more dangerous.
She simply knew that for the first time since the threats began, she didn't feel completely alone.
And Daniel felt it too.
Because when she looked at him, he wanted to protect her.
Not because she was an employee.
Not because of her father's name.
But because she was Amara.
And that realization frightened him more than the threatening messages ever could.
They left the building together.
Neither noticed the security camera mounted above the entrance.
The small red light was blinking.
Someone had been watching them the entire time.
And whoever was watching had seen the moment Daniel touched Amara's shoulder.
A message was sent.
He's falling for her.
The reply came almost immediately.
Then use her.
A second message followed.
And make sure Daniel never discovers who really betrayed their fathers.
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