Chereads / Whispers Across the Horizon / Chapter 24 - Chapter Twenty-Four: A Dangerous Encounter

Chapter 24 - Chapter Twenty-Four: A Dangerous Encounter

The meeting was set at a neutral location: an upscale café in downtown Nairobi. Zarah and Ayodele arrived early, choosing a table near the back with a clear view of the entrance. Zarah's laptop was open, connected to a hidden microphone she had placed under the table.

Tunde arrived late, his demeanor as confident as ever. He greeted them with a wide smile, but Zarah noticed the way his eyes darted nervously around the room.

"So," Tunde said, taking a seat. "I heard the operation in the Amazon was a success. You've got the evidence you need to bury them."

Ayodele leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. "We also know someone's been feeding them information. Someone close to us."

Tunde's smile faltered. "And you think it's me?"

Zarah didn't wait for Ayodele to respond. She slid her laptop across the table, displaying the logs of Tunde's recent communications. "We traced the threats back to a server connected to your associates. Care to explain?"

For a moment, Tunde was silent. Then, he sighed and leaned back in his chair. "You don't understand what you're up against. These people don't just ruin lives—they erase them. If you think I'm playing both sides, you're right. But it's not for the reasons you think."

Zarah's hands curled into fists. "Enlighten us."

Tunde glanced around the café before lowering his voice. "They have leverage on me—my family. They threatened to kill them if I didn't cooperate. So, yes, I've been feeding them just enough to keep them off my back. But I also led you to that site in the Amazon because I knew it would hurt them."

Ayodele's jaw tightened. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because you wouldn't trust me. And I couldn't risk my family's lives," Tunde said, his voice breaking slightly. "But I swear to you, everything I've done has been to weaken them from the inside."

Zarah studied him carefully. His words seemed sincere, but trust didn't come easily anymore. "If that's true, then help us finish this."

Tunde nodded. "I will. But we need to act fast. They know about your next move."

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