The scent of stale coffee filled the air as Ayo sat in the dimly lit station, his mind racing. The revelation about Victor Adeyemi being a former intelligence officer changed everything. This wasn't just about a missing CEO it was about a ghost, a man trained to manipulate, deceive, and disappear.
Bimpe entered the room, dropping a thick file onto the desk. "I had some contacts in the intelligence community dig deeper. Victor Adeyemi wasn't just an officer. He was one of their best specializing in psychological warfare and counter-surveillance."
Ayo exhaled sharply. "Which means every step we take, he already predicted."
Inspector Goke joined them, arms crossed. "That also means he has a bigger plan than we realize. We need to get ahead of him before he disappears again."
Ayo nodded, flipping through the file. "There's one thing that doesn't make sense. If Victor had all these resources and skills, why fake his disappearance? Why surface now?"
Bimpe hesitated. "Because he's trying to send a message. He didn't just want us to find him. He wanted to make sure we understood who we're dealing with."
Goke tapped his fingers on the desk. "So what's his next move?"
Ayo closed the file. "He left us a breadcrumb trail. That means he wants us to follow."
They drove through the dark streets of Lagos, heading toward the address Victor had subtly embedded in the hotel security footage. It was an old construction site on the outskirts of town, abandoned years ago. The perfect place for someone like Victor to operate from the shadows.
Goke parked the car a block away, pulling out his gun. "We do this smartly. No unnecessary risks."
Ayo and Bimpe nodded, stepping out cautiously. The site was silent, the skeletal remains of an unfinished building looming over them. They moved in pairs, scanning every corner.
Ayo whispered, "He knows we're here."
As if on cue, a voice echoed through a nearby speaker. "Detective Ayo, you don't disappoint."
Ayo's grip on his gun tightened. "Come out and face us, Victor."
A low chuckle. "Now, why would I do that? This isn't about catching me, Detective. This is about understanding why you're here."
Bimpe muttered, "He's stalling."
Then, a beep. A red light blinked near the floor. Ayo's eyes widened. "Bomb! Take cover!"
They barely hit the ground before the explosion rocked the structure. Dust and debris filled the air as Ayo pushed himself up, coughing. "Everyone okay?"
Goke groaned. "Damn it. He's toying with us."
Bimpe looked around, eyes sharp. "No, he's proving a point. He wants us to know that as long as we chase him, we'll always be a step behind."
Ayo clenched his jaw. "Then it's time we stop chasing. We make him come to us."
Back at the station, they regrouped. The explosion hadn't injured them, but it sent a clear message Victor was in control.
Goke slammed his fist on the table. "We need something, anything that gives us an edge."
Ayo ran a hand through his hair. "Victor thinks he knows us. That we'll react exactly as he plans. What if we do something unpredictable?"
Bimpe leaned forward. "Like what?"
Ayo took a deep breath. "We go public."
Goke's eyes widened. "You want to expose him?"
Ayo nodded. "Victor operates in secrecy. He's untouchable because no one knows he exists. But if we release what we have his real identity, his connection to intelligence he'll be forced to make a move."
Bimpe considered it. "It's risky. If he's really that powerful, he could silence anyone who threatens his anonymity."
Ayo met her gaze. "That's why we don't just release it. We leak it to the right people—the ones even Victor can't control."
Goke nodded slowly. "The press. The international agencies. If they get wind of this, Victor loses his advantage."
Ayo smirked. "Exactly. And when he's forced into the open, that's when we take him down."
Bimpe exhaled. "Then let's make some noise."
They worked through the night, compiling everything they had on Victor. By dawn, Ayo handed over a classified dossier to a trusted journalist. The report went live hours later, setting off a firestorm in the media. International agencies began sniffing around, and soon, Victor's name was everywhere.
Goke paced the room, phone in hand. "We've stirred the hornet's nest. Interpol just contacted me they want to cooperate."
Ayo nodded. "Good. Victor's running out of places to hide."
Bimpe's phone buzzed. She checked it and frowned. "Ayo, you need to see this."
She handed him the screen. It was a live broadcast. The headline sent a chill down Ayo's spine.
"Victor Adeyemi Speaks Out: 'I'm Not the Enemy'"
The footage showed Victor in a dimly lit room, speaking calmly into the camera.
"You believe I'm the villain in this story," he said. "But what if I told you everything you've been told is a lie? That the real enemy is closer than you think?"
Bimpe's voice was low. "He's flipping the narrative."
Goke gritted his teeth. "We need to shut this down before people start believing him."
Ayo shook his head. "No. We listen."
Goke's eyes widened. "What?"
Ayo's expression was unreadable. "Victor is a master of deception. But if he's going public, that means he's desperate. And desperation leads to mistakes."
Bimpe's eyes sharpened. "You think we can trap him?"
Ayo nodded. "We let him talk. And when he does, we find his weakness."
The screen flickered as Victor continued, his gaze unwavering. "This isn't over," he said. "This is only the beginning."
Just then, another alert popped up. A video had surfaced of Ayo speaking privately to a source twisted out of context. The headlines followed.
"Is Detective Ayo Hiding the Truth?"
Goke cursed. "He's turning the public against us."
Ayo clenched his fists. "Then we fight back. We don't just expose him. We outmaneuver him."
Bimpe's phone rang. She answered, her face turning pale. "Ayo… we have a problem."
Ayo's pulse quickened. "What is it?"
"They found our journalist. He's missing."
Silence filled the room. Then, Ayo grabbed his gun. "It's time we finish this."
Because now, the war wasn't just psychological. It was personal.