For a long moment, no one spoke.
The screen had gone black, but its final image burned in their minds, Kaira, helpless and terrified. The timer still counted down in Adaobi's memory like a curse: 46 hours.
David paced the room like a trapped animal. "We can't just sit here."
Amira stood frozen, her lips trembling but her voice calm. "We save my sister."
"How?" David snapped. "We're not soldiers. We don't know how to do this."
Adaobi closed her laptop. "We don't need to be soldiers. We need to be smart."
"Smart?" Amira looked at her. "They said come alone. If I go without the drive, they'll kill her. If I go with it, they'll kill both of us."
"And if we don't go," David added, "they might kill her anyway."
The room fell silent again.
Ella stepped forward, her expression dark. "We won't win by playing their game. We need a plan."
Amira turned to her. "You worked for them. Do you know where they could be keeping her?"
Ella nodded slowly. "I know a few safe houses they've used in the past. But they move locations like ghosts."
"Then we need help," Adaobi said firmly. "Real help."
David blinked. "From who? The police? They'd ask too many questions."
Ella looked at Amira. "You said there was someone. That guy you met in the alley before we lost the first flash drive."
Amira's eyes widened. "Lekan."
David's face twisted. "The ex-DSS agent who sells secrets for sport?"
"He's dangerous," Adaobi said. "But he hates Sterling. He's our best chance."
Later That Night
They found him in an underground club in Ikeja, surrounded by bodyguards and blue lights. Lekan was drinking palm wine from a champagne glass, as usual.
He smirked when he saw them. "Ah, the chaos twins return. And you brought more friends."
David didn't smile. "We need your help."
"You always do."
Lekan's face turned serious as they showed him the video.
When it ended, he leaned back in his chair, eyes distant.
"I've seen that man before," he said. "He's called Scorpion. He does Sterling's dirty work. If Scorpion's involved, this isn't just leverage. It's a final warning."
"So what do we do?" Amira asked.
"You don't do anything," he replied. "You're not built for this."
David stepped forward, anger rising. "She's her sister."
"And if she rushes in," Lekan said, "she becomes a corpse beside her."
Lekan exhaled. "I can find the location. But it'll cost me. Contacts, favors, reputation."
"We'll owe you," Amira said.
"No," Lekan replied. "You already do."
He handed her a burner phone. "Stay ready. If I call, you pick up. No matter what."
Back at the Safehouse
They returned in silence, the air heavy with fear and hope.
Amira stood by the window, staring into the night. David joined her.
"You really trust him?" he asked.
"No," she said quietly. "But I trust that he hates the people who took Kaira more than he likes us."
David nodded slowly.
"We can't do this on our own," he admitted.
"Maybe not," Amira whispered. "But we won't stop trying."
Suddenly,
The burner phone rang.
Everyone jumped.
Amira picked it up.
Lekan's voice was low and urgent: "They're moving her."
Her heart stopped.
"To where?"
"I don't know. But if you want her back, meet me at Mile 12 in one hour. Come alone."
The line went dead.
Amira looked at the others.
Then whispered, "I'm going."
David grabbed her arm. "Not alone."
She looked him in the eyes. "I'm not asking for permission."