The location was a small office complex tucked between a pharmacy and a boutique in Maitama, quiet, too quiet.
Jason parked a few steps away from the building, his eyes scanning the surroundings like he was expecting trouble. I could feel the tension radiating from him, my stomach churned, I hope we are safe.
When we got to the front door, a security guard let us in, but as soon as we reached the second floor, another man stopped us.
“Sorry,” he said. “Only Miss Tiara is allowed beyond this point.”
Jason immediately stepped forward. “She’s not going in there alone.”
“I understand,” the man replied calmly. “But..."
“I’m not asking,” Jason cut in.
Just then, a door opened down the hall and a tall, dark-skinned man in a navy suit stepped out. He looked like he belonged in a courtroom or behind a camera. His expression was serious, but there was something warm in his eyes.
“It’s alright,” he said, nodding at the man by the door. “He can come in.”
He walked toward us, hand extended. “Tiara, I’m Toba Davis. I was a close friend of your mother’s… and I’m a private investigator.”
Jason and I exchanged a glance.
“I know this is a lot to take in,” he continued, ushering us into a small, plain room with a desk and two chairs. “But your mum trusted me, and what I’m about to tell you… she never got the chance to hear.”
I sat down, my fingers clenched tight on my lap.
“After your father's death and your mum took over the company, rightfully so, as his wife and co-founder, she noticed things weren’t adding up.”
I leaned in. My heart thudded so hard I was sure Jason could hear it.
“Your uncle, Henry, had been secretly trying to take over. Bribing board members, moving funds, falsifying documents. When your mum started asking questions, he pushed back hard.”
I swallowed. “She told me once that the board was acting weird, but I didn’t know it was this bad.”
“She was determined to find out the truth. That’s when she hired me. And… Tiara, what I found was disturbing. While I was following the money, trying to piece together evidence to nail your Uncle, I found something, your uncle transferred a large sum of money to a foreign account, and when I traced it, I discovered it went to a private physician overseas.”
Jason tensed beside me. “Around the time her dad was there?”
Toba nodded grimly. “Exactly. I had a contact over there, a tech specialist. We hacked into the doctor’s computer. Found a voice note he had kept for safety. That audio file? The one where Henry ordered the doctor to make sure your dad didn’t survive? That’s it.”
I couldn’t breathe.
I leaned back in the chair, staring at the floor, blinking through the sudden sting in my eyes. My chest hurt like it had been split open.
“He killed my dad,” I whispered. “And now my mum…”
Toba sighed. “I was going to show her everything the weekend of the accident. She never got the chance.”
My eyes snapped to his. “So the footage of him tampering with her car...”
“I placed secret cameras in your compound. Only your mum and I knew about them. I suspected he’d try something drastic eventually.”
Jason’s jaw clenched. “Then we need to go to the police. We have evidence, he can’t get away with this.”
Toba looked at us both, then shook his head slowly. “I already consulted a lawyer friend. The problem is, your uncle has money and influence. If he gets a good lawyer, he’ll say the videos were doctored. That the voice recording is fake. Without more, it might not hold up in court.”
“So what do we do?” I asked, frustration tightening my voice. “Sit back and do nothing?”
“Not exactly,” he said. “I believe Henry will make another move, especially now that your mum is still alive. He won’t want her waking up and talking. So I’ve arranged silent surveillance in her hospital room. Hidden cameras, pressure sensors, everything. The hospital is in on it, especially your doctor. Mrs Afolabi, She’s a family friend, and she’s working with me to make sure your mum is safe.”
“But is she really safe?” I asked, my voice cracking.
Toba met my eyes. “Yes. I promise. As long as she’s in that room, she’s protected. If Henry tries anything, we’ll catch him red-handed.”
Jason was quiet, then nodded. “It’s a good plan. But what about Tiara? She’s a threat to him now, too.”
“I was getting to that,” Toba said. “Tiara, I need you to go home and pretend like you know nothing. Act normal.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know if I can. I’m scared. And furious. He’s been smiling in my face while planning all this? He hurt my family. I don’t know how to sit across from him and pretend like everything is fine.”
“You’re brave, Tiara,” Toba said gently. “You can do this. Just a little longer.”
I bit my lip and glanced at Jason.
Toba turned to him. “Watch her. If anything feels off, call me immediately.”
Jason nodded firmly. “I will.”
I stood slowly, my whole body heavy. As we walked back to the car, my hands still trembled, but there was a fire in me too.
He killed my father. He tried to kill my mother.
I won’t rest until he pays for both.
