Binary Hearts

68| Dr Lawrence 🩺

The relaunch of the Smoke Payment System was a monumental event, a return of a titan that had once ruled the financial landscape. As the system went live, the tech world took notice. News articles buzzed with the details of its comeback, praising the seamless integration of advanced security features, an intuitive user interface, and the innovative payment solutions that had once set it apart from the competition. Tunde watched the numbers climb on his monitor, his face a mask of satisfaction. The system was live, the servers humming smoothly without a glitch. It was a triumph born of relentless dedication and a will to restore what was lost.

Turning away from his desk at Spark Technologies, Tunde called out, "Adeola, we're leaving."

Adeola, ever the reliable assistant, quickly grabbed her belongings. There was a spring in her step, a shared sense of accomplishment between them. As they exited the building, her excitement was replaced by shock. A convoy of army vehicles, parked neatly in the lot, waited with engines idling. Soldiers, dressed in crisp uniforms, stood at attention, their faces set in disciplined lines as they saluted Tunde.

Adeola turned to him, her voice wavering between curiosity and unease, "Tunde, what's going on?"

His gaze remained fixed on the soldiers. "We're going to arrest Dr. Lawrence," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing nothing more serious than a routine task.

Her brows furrowed in confusion, "I asked you what he did the other day, but you didn't tell me."

Tunde's face darkened, a cold edge creeping into his voice. "He scammed my friend," he said, his words heavy with unspoken anger. "And I will make sure he pays for it."

Adeola sighed, a conflict brewing inside her. She valued her friendship with Tunde, but this... this was something she hadn't anticipated. "You know... I'm like a friend to his daughter, so I'm sorry, I can't lead you there," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret.

Tunde turned to look at her, his expression softening slightly, but before he could respond, she added quickly, "But I can tell you where he lives."

He nodded, a silent agreement passing between them. "That will do."

As the army convoy roared through the bustling streets of Lagos, the weight of what was about to happen pressed heavily on the air. Dr. Lawrence's residence in Obalende, Lagos, was a stately home, one that spoke of old money and a life of comfort. Inside, Dr. Lawrence was enjoying a quiet meal with his family, the clatter of cutlery and soft murmur of conversation filling the dining room. It was a scene of domestic tranquility, one that was about to be shattered.

The soldiers arrived without warning, surrounding the house with military precision. Their voices echoed through the quiet neighborhood as they commanded, "Step outside!"

Dr. Lawrence's fork froze mid-air, his face going pale as he realized the gravity of the situation. Hesitation flickered in his eyes, but the sight of armed men, their expressions unreadable, left no room for doubt. He slowly rose from his seat, his movements mechanical, and made his way to the door.

The moment Dr. Lawrence stepped outside, Tunde was upon him. The slap resounded through the air, a sharp crack that left the older man reeling. "Do you know who I am?" Tunde hissed, his voice low but deadly.

"No, sir," Dr. Lawrence stammered, his voice shaking, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.

His wife, drawn by the commotion, rushed outside, her eyes flashing with anger. "Who are you? How dare you barge into our home like this?" she demanded, her voice rising.

Tunde ignored her, his attention focused solely on Dr. Lawrence. The soldiers moved swiftly, bundling Dr. Lawrence into the trunk of one of the vehicles, his protests muffled as they slammed it shut. Without another word, they drove off, heading straight to the police station.