THE GUARDIAN'S SECRET

Handcuffs

The handcuffs were cold.

Lora sat in the back of a Ghana Police SUV, wrists in front of her. Auntie next to her, face pale.

Across from them, James Daniels. No cuffs.

He looked relaxed. Like he was in a board meeting.

“Don’t worry,” he said quietly. “This will all be sorted. You’re confused, Lora. Grieving. You took company property from my office.”

Detective Mensah got in the front. “We’ll take you to the station. Make a statement.”

Lora didn’t answer.

Her mind was racing.

_He filed the report first. He has lawyers here. But I have the video. I have the account._

The station was small. Fluorescent lights.

They were put in separate rooms.

A constable read the charges: “Theft of documents. Fraud. Impersonation.”

All from James’s statement.

“Can I call my lawyer?” Lora asked.

“You can in 24 hours,” the constable said.

The door opened.

James walked in. Alone.

He sat across from her.

“You look tired,” he said. “This didn’t have to happen.”

“Where’s Auntie Ngozi?” Lora asked.

“Safe. For now.” He leaned forward. “Give me the USB and the papers, Lora. And I’ll make this go away. We’ll go home. I’ll explain everything. The money was for investments. For you.”

Lora stared at him. “You killed my mom.”

He didn’t flinch. “Your mother had an accident. Don’t say things you can’t prove.”

He slid a document across the table.

*WITHDRAWAL AUTHORIZATION*

*ACCOUNT: LORA GEORGE - BANK OF ACCRA*

*SIGNATURE: LORA GEORGE*

It was forged. But good.

“Sign this,” he said. “Say you authorized me to move the funds. And I’ll drop the charges.”

Lora laughed. It came out shaky. “You think I’m stupid?”

“I think you’re 25 and alone,” he said. “And I raised you.”

She met his eyes. “You didn’t raise me. You stole from me.”

She stood up. “I want my lawyer. And I want to show you something.”

10 minutes later, her lawyer from Abuja was on video call.

And Lora was playing the video.

Amira’s face filled the tablet screen.

_“If you’re watching this, it means I’m gone. And it means James moved the money...”_

James’s expression didn’t change. But his jaw did.

The lawyer paused the video. “Mr. Daniels. This is evidence of forgery, fraud, and potentially murder. We’re also filing in Nigeria and Ghana tonight.”

Detective Mensah, who had been watching, rubbed his face.

“Mr. Daniels,” he said. “We’ll need you to stay as well.”

James stood up slowly.

For the first time, he looked angry.

“You have no idea what you’ve done, Lora,” he said. “You just made this war.”

He was led out. No handcuffs yet. “Person of interest.”

Lora was released 2 hours later. Charges dropped.

Auntie was already outside, crying.

They didn’t go to a hotel.

They went straight to the Nigerian Embassy.

Filed reports. Gave copies of the video and will.

At 3am, Lora sat on the embassy steps.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Text: _You think you won? The money in Ghana is frozen. My lawyers are better. And I’m not done._

Another text.

A photo.

Her new apartment in Abuja.

Door kicked in.

On the wall, spray painted: *COME HOME*

Lora deleted the texts.

She looked at Auntie.

“We’re going back,” she said. “To Abuja. And we’re ending this.”

Auntie nodded. “With the police. And the press.”

Lora held up the USB.

“With this.”

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