Chapter 8

"What is she concealing?" As he stared at the name that was blazing on his laptop screen, Yemi whispered to himself, "Dee Okoro."

Ever since their furious altercation outside her house, he had been asking himself that question. There was more to the story than Dee was revealing, and he could tell by the way her voice quiver with barely disguised terror and her resistance.

He leaned back in his chair and murmured, "Dee Okoro," the weight of her name both familiar and mysterious. He scowled at the scant information when he clicked on a search result: no social media presence, no work history other than a hazy consultancy position. She appeared to have purposefully deleted her digital footprint.

"Dee, what are you fleeing from?"

His cell rang. An old acquaintance in Lagos who was skilled at uncovering the impossible sent this message:

"I got a lead. I'll send it shortly.

Yemi let out a deep breath and put the phone down. Years of negotiating in business had taught him patience, but this was something else. This was about her and the twins, not just about finding the truth.

Yemi was parked near a little school building three days later. He wasn't reckless enough to make a disturbance, and he didn't intend to approach anyone. However, he couldn't help but watch, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dee or her kids.

He was spared a long wait. Children poured out as the bell rang, their laughter resonating around the room. Yemi was the first to notice David, whose solemn demeanor stood in stark contrast to the lively atmosphere surrounding him. Then Daniella, running to meet her brother with a radiant smile on her face.

Dee trailed behind, her eyes darting about as though she thought danger might strike at any moment. Her motions were swift and protective as she knelt to fix Daniella's backpack. Yemi's chest constricted. She appeared worn out—drained in a manner he hadn't observed at their previous meeting.

"Why won't you allow me to assist you?" To himself, he whispered.

Yemi sat in his office later that night, going through the papers his friend had forwarded. They were pieces of a puzzle: a series of temporary employment, unpaid debts, and a notice of eviction from three years prior.

His throat tightened with remorse, he whispered, "She's been struggling." It was a gut punch to have the proof exposed, even if he already knew that parenting twins by himself wasn't easy.

He glanced at one document: a hospital bill. The twins' birth year coincided with the day. He looked over the information, furrowing his brow at the emergency contact's name. Okoro, Grace. Dee's mom.

"Why didn't I attend?" With a mixture of remorse and rage churning inside him, the question raged in his head. Had something—or someone else—gotten in the way, or had Dee purposefully kept him in the dark?

Yemi made the decision to continue his probe the following day. He spotted Grace Okoro's number hidden in one of the reports and called her. Before an old woman's voice answered, the phone rang three times.

"Hello?"

“My name is Yemi, Mrs. Okoro. I've known your daughter Dee for a long time.

A long pause ensued. "What are you looking for?" She spoke in a cautious tone.

Yemi carefully considered his words before saying, "I'm trying to understand what happened back then." Why didn't she say anything before leaving? Why the twins were never mentioned to me

Grace let out a sigh that was thick with years of stress. "I'm not talking to you on the phone about that."

Then, Yemi insisted, "let's meet."

Another pause, this one longer. "All right. in 10 a.m. tomorrow, in St. Paul's café.

When Yemi arrived, the café was silent. He saw Grace right away; she was a dignified woman with silver-streaked hair and piercing eyes that made him think of Dee. As he got closer, she simply pointed to the seat across from her without getting up.

"You have five minutes," she stated plainly.

Yemi nodded, admiring her direct approach. "What kept Dee from telling me about the twins?"

Grace's mouth became thinner. "Because she believed it to be optimal." To answer your question, I did support her choice. She didn't want your sympathy, and you weren't in a position to assist her.

He clenched his jaw. "I was entitled to know."

“Maybe,” Grace murmured, her eyes fixed on his. "However, my daughter was left to pick up the pieces of a broken life while you were busy creating an empire."

"What are you discussing?" Yemi leaned forward and demanded.

With a small softening of her severe visage, Grace sighed. "You're not really sure, are you? What about the bribes and threats?

Yemi's heart fell. “From whom are the threats?”

Grace gave a headshake. Dee will have to provide you with that information herself. if she ever makes the decision. She picked up her purse and stood up. "Yemi, leave her alone. She has put a lot of effort into creating a life for those children. Keep her out of the commotion.

Her words reverberated in his memory as he watched her leave. dangers. bribes. Anarchy.

Yemi had trouble falling asleep that night. He repeatedly listened to Grace's comments in an attempt to fill in the blanks in the narrative.

And at last he decided. He would look for answers elsewhere if Dee refused to speak to him.

He delved farther into her background using all the tools at his disposal. From the tiny town where the twins were born to the city she now called home, he followed her every move over the years. He was stunned by what he discovered.

Dee had been running in addition to struggling. from those who collect debt. from a man named Kola Adeyemi, whose identity was included in court filings along with charges of extortion and harassment.

Yemi whispered, "Kola," as the name evoked a faraway memory. The man, a smooth-talking businessman known for breaking the law, was someone he had met before.

Dee's anxiety, her secrecy, and her hesitancy to allow him back into her life all began to make sense. She was defending the twins as much as she was herself.

With the intention of confronting Dee, Yemi drove to her home the following morning. However, when he got closer, he saw something that caused him to use the brakes hard.

Across the street, a black SUV with tinted windows was parked. Two males were seated inside, staring at Dee's front door.

Yemi's blood froze.

A block away, he stopped and dialed Dee. After repeatedly ringing, the phone went to voicemail.

It's me, Dee. As soon as you have this, give me a call. It's crucial.

He hung up and considered his next course of action. Those men, whatever they were, weren't there by accident. And he wasn't going to stand by and watch if Dee was in danger.

With his heart racing, Yemi got out of his car and headed for the SUV. However, the car's engine sprang to life and it drove off down the street before he could approach.

His phone rang with a fresh message as he stood there.

"You'll regret it if you stay out of it."