The Struggles of Lamine

chapter 10

The night air was thick with tension as Mamadou's goons approached Ndiaye's house. They moved swiftly, their faces hidden under dark hoods, their intentions clear. But the house was empty when they broke in-Ndiaye had been expecting them. She had left earlier, slipping away under the cover of darkness. From a distance, she watched as the figures moved through her home, searching for her. Her breath was steady, but her hands trembled with the weight of what she had to do next.

By the time Ndiaye returned to her house, dawn was breaking. She walked through the rooms, scanning for any signs of what the goons might have done. Then, in the corner of her study, she spotted it-a small black device, a dropped cell phone, still recording. She picked it up and scrolled through the audio files. The voices were unmistakable, one of them calling Mamadou's name, confirming the orders.

A grim smile touched her lips. She knew exactly what to do with this evidence.

---

That afternoon, Ndiaye arrived at the police station, clutching the device. The officer at the desk listened as she explained the attempted attack and handed over the recording. By the time she left, warrants had been issued for Mamadou and Awa's arrest.

A day later, the police raided their home. Lamine watched in shock as officers cuffed Mamadou and Awa, leading them away from their front yard while neighbors whispered and took videos with their phones. Awa pleaded with the officers, but Mamadou's expression was cold, a mask of defiance that only crumbled when the charges were read aloud. Attempted murder. Conspiracy. And enough financial crimes to strip them of their property.

Mamadou's last words to Lamine before being driven away echoed in his ears: "Be careful who you trust, Lamine. This is far from over."

---

Lamine barely had time to process his parents' arrest when Aïssata called him. They arranged to meet at a park, and under the shade of an old oak tree, Lamine told her everything that had happened.

"It's over for them," he said, but the uncertainty lingered in his voice. "But there's still too much we don't know. Why did Ndiaye create a fake social worker for my adoption? And what does she really want from us?"

Aïssata nodded, her expression as determined as ever. "Let's find out."

They drove together to Ndiaye's new hiding place-a small, run-down motel on the outskirts of town. Ndiaye opened the door after a few knocks, her face weary but resolute. She gestured for them to sit.

"I know why you're here," she began, her voice steady. "You think I lied to you about Fatou Sylla. And I did, in a way. But you need to understand-I don't know anything about your past, Lamine. I never did."

Lamine's eyes widened, frustration boiling over. "Then why the lies? Why pretend you had all the answers?"

Ndiaye looked at him, her expression softening with something that resembled regret. "Because I thought it would keep you away from your adoptive parents, from Mamadou. I thought you'd be safer that way, especially after what I found out about them. But I never had the truth you were looking for."

Aïssata leaned forward, her voice cutting through the tension. "You must know something. Anything that could help us."

Ndiaye turned her gaze to Aïssata, a shadow passing over her features. "I do know something about you, Aïssata. Your mother... she was someone I once knew. A strong woman, but she vanished years ago, without a trace. I've tried to find out what happened to her, but every lead went cold."

Aïssata's expression shifted, a mix of hope and pain. "So, you're saying my mother could still be alive?"

Ndiaye shook her head. "I don't know. But if she is, she's hiding for a reason, and I suspect it has to do with the people who tried to control your life. The same people who made sure no trace of your real connection to Lamine ever came to light."

---

The chapter closes with Lamine and Aïssata leaving the motel, burdened with more questions than answers but with a new thread to follow. As they drive away, Lamine glances at Aïssata, seeing a glimmer of determination in her eyes. He knows that their search for the truth is far from over, and the stakes are only getting higher.