CHAPTER 2: WHISPERS IN THE SHADOWS

The city of Lagos had always been a berth of topsy-turvyness and opportunity, but tonight, it felt like a different beast entirely. Ugochukwu pose in his gondola, gaze out at the darkened streets, the neon lights meditate off the rain-slick down pavement. His mind was yet buzzing from the abbreviated encounter with Chief Eze. The businessman’s proposition had been vague, yet chilling — and the undercurrent of threat had not give way unnoticed.

Chief Eze had been clear: "There are people who don't take kindly to questions, Ugochukwu. I indicate you stop asking them. "

But how could he stop asking? How could he not search for the truth behind his Father’s mysterious death? The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he became. Ugochukwu’s Father had died under suspicious circumstances two years ago, and always since, a gnaw in the pit of his stomach is showed evidence to him that something was off. The law had called it an accident, but Ugochukwu never believed it. There live too many unanswered dubiousness, and besides many people who seemed to be hiding something.

He let's out a deep breath and get through for his phone. Tunde’s earlier monition echoed in his mind. The warehouse. The docks. It felt like a lead — something he couldn’t disregard. He had to fit, but he didn’t want to pass away alone.

His thumb hovered over the contact lens for Adaobi, but then he waver. He could sense something was faulty with her of late. It wasn’t just her frigidness — it was more than that. It was as if she was hiding something from him. But what? Why?

The sound of a knock on his window startled him. He turned to see Roland standing outside, douse from the rain. He motion for Ugochukwu to roll down the window.

“Man, you’ve got to be arrest for disappearing like this, ” Roland suppose with a smile, wipe his face with his arm. “What’s going on? First, you bailed on us at the bar, then you’re out here in the middle of nowhere. You sure you’re okay? ”

Ugochukwu pressure a smile. Roland constantly had a way of lightening the mood, yet in the nigh serious of situations. But tonight, there equal no room for lightness.

“I’m alright, ” Ugochukwu rest. “Scarcely. . . busy with study stuff. ”

Roland raised an eyebrow. “Don’t lie to me, Ugo. I have known you for a very long time now. You’ve been acting off for a while at once. Something’s going on, isn’t it? ”

Ugochukwu waffle, then sighed. “It’s my father. His death. . . I’ve been digging into it. ”

Roland’s verbalism modify. The playful smiling evanesce, exchange by a more serious, pensive look. “I get it, Man. I really do. But be careful. People in this part of town. . . they don’t give answes when you bulge out asking questions. Especially when it's of people with power. ”

“ understand that. But there's a lot of silence , ” Ugochukwu mutter. “That’s what scare off me. I’ve been getting threats Like they know I’m onto something, but no one is saying anything at the same time. ”

Roland didn’t answer immediately. He face more or less, as if hold to see if anyone was watch out. The rain was follow down intemperately straightaway, the sound of it hammering against the car’s ceiling bring to the tension.

“I’ve heard something, ” Roland finally said, his voice low. “People like Chief Eze. . . they’re not just man of affairs and power. They’re just a link up. Deep. Political power, criminal meshwork, even the police. You’re poking approximately in berth you don’t want to be, Ugo. ”

Ugochukwu’s shuddered. “What do you mean? ”

Roland glanced over his shoulder again, then leaned closer to the window. “There’s a rationality your end has never been solved. You remember it was was just an accident? Nothing more. The thing is, who’s benefitting from his death? Who profit from your father being gone? ”

Ugochukwu stared at Roland, the tidings lapse in. His father had been a prominent figure in the city, known for his business dealings and political connection. If someone had to kill him, it would have been for a rationality. But who?

“I don’t understand, ” Ugochukwu hold, his voice closely with frustration. “That’s what I need to find out. ”

Roland hesitated, then put his bridge player on Ugochukwu’s shoulder. “I get it. I understand. But I think you should try to lay low for a now. You’re taking more air into something big, and promise me, you’re not going for what’s on the other side. ”

Ugochukwu nodded, but the pit in his stomach change. He couldn’t stop. He couldn’t just permit his father’s death drop dead unsolved.

As Roland walked out, Ugochukwu’s headphone buzzed again. A notification chimed, it was a message from Adaobi: "We need to talk. I’m worried about you. "

He stare at the phone screen, his eye pound up. Adaobi had never been one to give tongue to her headache openly. She had always been strong, independent, but lately, there had been a shift. It was as if she was holding some secret that she wasn’t ready to share. And that scared him.

His finger oscillate over on every to reply. But before he could type anything, a sudden flash of headlight get around the silence of the night. A black SUV, the same one from earlier, pulled up beside him. Ugochukwu’s heartbeat quickened. Chief Eze. Again.

The driver’s windowpane rolled down, and a man with a dark cloak whom Ugochukwu didn’t recognize came out. “Ugochukwu, you would have to come up with me. Now. ”

Before Ugochukwu could protest, the man reached for the cable car door, opening it with an easy that suggested this wasn’t the initiatory time he’d coiffure this. Ugochukwu’s instinct holler at him to run, but his feet were frozen.

“I don’t experience time to excuse, ” the man said. “We’re going to the warehouse. You’ll understand everything soon enough. ”

The door slam shut behind him before Ugochukwu could argue. As the SUV motor off into the nighttime, he couldn’t shake the tactual sensation that his life history was about to commute forever. The secret of the city — the voicelessness in the shadows — were close in around him.