Chapter 63: A Resurfacing Mystery
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For many months, no news arrived from Kunle. This unusual person who before made their lives dangerous sent a message at last - just one text saying: "I need to see you."
A part of her wanted to ignore it, pretend he was not there. But another side, curious and brave, felt attracted to the mystery surrounding him.
The meeting happened in a calm café, not noisy like regular city spots. Kunle seemed changed; his face used to be tough but now looked gentler with the time that went by. He had dressed nicely and behaved calmly too.
"Eki," he started, his voice soft but strong like distant thunder, "I am aware I do not deserve another chance, yet please listen to what I have to say."
The truth in his eyes, had much power and was oddly persuasive. Eki thought she should listen to him carefully, even if some doubts stayed with her.
Kunle talked about feeling sad and having many mistakes in his past. He showed a side that Eki had never seen before, a man who is bothered by the things he did. And then, he put on the news story.
"I do know about the spirit," he said in a calm voice. "She was an artist, a lady named Adetutu." She painted very well and was ahead of her time in many things. But, Olumide treated her badly and did wrong things to her. He's a family person from my far side, yet his deeds were not good.
Eki's mind was crowded with many ideas. Adetutu, this name feels familiar to me but I cannot recall the reason why. The strong soul they chased is a woman? And Kunle's family treated her poorly?
Eki, with a gentle voice, asked: "Why are you telling me this now?" Although Eki seemed calm on the outside, inside she was feeling very confused.
Kunle stopped speaking and said, "I think she wants you to understand. She wants you to continue telling her story."
The talk changed, becoming a mix of new findings and blame. Kunle started to talk about his family's secret past, talking about greed and control over people. Eki absorbed this knowledge, her thoughts working hard to comprehend everything quickly.
When they said goodbye, Eki felt weird. Kunle shared an interesting story, but some parts of what he told seemed not true to her. She thinks maybe he only wants to trick or use her, just trying to get something for himself from their meeting.
Many weeks went by. Eki kept on her journey to learn about the Olumide family's history, finding a hidden world full of riches and influence but also having many areas filled with darkness and deceit. When she found more things, her feeling that Kunle had secrets he didn't tell got even stronger.
One evening when she was in the National Archives studying, she discovered a paper that made her very scared. It looked like it was an agreement or contract between the Olumide family and some big foreign company. The conditions were difficult for her to grasp, but it seemed they demonstrated: using natural resources recklessly without thinking about the people living nearby.
Eki's heart thumped. Could this be related to what Adetutu had narrated? Is Kunle possibly participating in something larger than they had thought?
As she walks away from the archives, her resolve grows even stronger. She knows it is not just for herself that she must find out the truth but also for all who could be impacted by what remains of the Olumide family secrets.
Even if the path was risky, Eki did not feel afraid. She thought she could deal with any issues that appeared because before, she had met and beaten tough obstacles.
When she went home, the city lights felt like they had a scary shine. The streets that are usual to her now seem different and strange as if she walks into a place not any more familiar for her.
The mystery was more difficult to understand, and the risks grew bigger. Eki, with much bravery and strong will, prepared himself for what was coming next.
Eki felt a deep heaviness with her discovery. It was not just any paper; it also served as an essential tool revealing a secret chapter of her city's past. The Olumide family, in the past, were very respected; but now people see them as creators of a dark legacy.
The more she looked into the family's past, the more things become complicated and full of details. There were stories about being kind and supporting culture, but also rumours of forcing others or taking advantage of their gaines tutu who is an artist appeared like a victim from this hidden side.
She felt fear growing inside her. If Kunle was part of this, he must be more dangerous than she believed before. If he knew about her inquiry, then she was in danger.
She made contact with Dapo, her voice sounding a little shaky. "We need to talk," she spoke fast and urgently.
Dapo came to the apartment, his face full of worry. Eki handed him the document with her hands shaking very much. He read it bit by bit, his look getting more serious with every word.
"This is much more terrible than we thought," he says, voice getting lower. "Kunle has walked into something big, very dangerous."
They spent many hours checking the document, trying a lot to make its pieces fit together. The more they looked into it, the deeper and more confusing everything became. They found out that this Olumide family has links to a big global company known for using questionable business methods.
A chill of fear brushed them; they realized that the enemies were much stronger than they could comprehend. Still, stepping back was not an option for them. The truth had to be revealed.
Eki, she goes to the police station. This is dangerous, but she needs to think about herself and city safety. She talks with a detective who is very experienced in this work and is known for being an honest man. His face shows doubt, but a little spark of curiosity appears in his eyes when he listens to her story.
"Ms. Adebayo, this is a serious case," he said carefully. "We require proof."
Eki knew this job needed a lot of patience and much hard work. But she was very determined; she would find the proof.
Same time, Kunle was getting ready to move. He had been observing Eki very closely, trying to guess what she might do next. He noticed she was almost discovering the truth, and this made him very uneasy about trying to stop her.
He sent her a message with a frightening warning: "Eki, stay out of this. It's better for you."
The warning was clear, but it did not make her scared; instead, she felt more determined than before. She decided not to let anyone make her quiet.
With each day passing, becoming weeks, Eki and Dapo gave their best efforts. The investigation began to dominate their lives completely. The boundary between their personal life and work life became unclear, putting their relationship to a big test.
But in the middle of everything, their love for each other grows stronger. They stay together, facing the unknown with bravery and strong will.
One night, when they stayed working late, a phone call came from someone who did not say their name. This person said they had information about the Olumide family and the secret company. It seemed to be a clue, a small light in the dark path.
Eki and Dapo looked at each other with hope in their eyes. They were very near to discovering the real truth. Yet, they understood that the path forward could be risky.
When the call finished, a feeling of excitement was in the air. The puzzle became harder, but at the same moment their determination grew stronger - they were prepared to handle any problems coming next.
