CHAPTER FIVE
Paul and Leo's relationship had fractured long before danger found them. No matter how hard Paul tried to set his younger brother on the right path, Leo squandered every dime meant for his progress. His reckless living and refusal to follow Paul's guidance pushed him further away. In his mind, Paul had never cared to ask what he wanted out of life. So he left and stayed gone.
Now, Chike had discovered Leo's true identity. Fearing that Leo might expose the Embassy, he kept a close watch on his movements. Meanwhile, Detective Hassan had finally unraveled the secrets of the Pentarchs and the criminal trail hidden behind their influence.
Paul was in his office when his secretary informed him that an anonymous caller requested to speak with him privately. He accepted and dialed back.
"Hello, this is Mr. Paul, CEO of Paul's Holdings. How may I..."
"Brother… it's me. Leo."
"Leo?" Paul shot to his feet, his eyes wide. He hadn't expected to hear that voice again.
"Your life is in danger. Meet me at Sandbay Resort by 10 p.m. I'll explain everything."
The line went dead.
Paul's heart thudded. Danger? From whom? Why now? Was Leo playing another trick? The questions tore at him until the late hours of the night when he eventually drove to Sandbay Resort.
Unbeknownst to the brothers, Chike had followed Leo to the location. Hassan, too, was nearby, observing Paul from a discreet distance. As soon as Chike relayed the update, Edwin rushed down to Sandbay Resort. Paul Effiong had become their immediate target.
Detective Hassan arrived moments before Paul and secretly placed a recording chip on their table. He sat a few meters away, pretending to sip his drink while his eyes stayed locked on the brothers.
His focus broke when a young, handsome stranger suddenly appeared before him.
"Hi," the man said with a disarming smile, extending his hand. "My name is Edwin. Do you mind if I join you?"
Hassan hesitated. "Sure… yes, you can."
They shook hands. Edwin sat, masking his watchful gaze by engaging Hassan in harmless conversation, all while keeping track of Leo and Paul.
Across the street, from a darkened building, Chike watched through a scoped rifle. The view was perfect.
Leo wasted no time. He told Paul everything, the Embassy, the assassinations, the scheme behind the Pentarchs and sent him the images of Edwin and the rest of the crew. He knew nothing solid about Agent Shadow except a chilling physical description.
Paul's blood ran cold. His hands trembled beneath the table. When Leo stood to leave, Paul's heart felt heavier than ever before.
He remained seated for a long moment, staring blankly at his phone. Eventually, he paid his bill and called Desmond to relay the disturbing revelations, forwarding the images Leo had sent. Desmond didn't recognize any of the faces, but something about Edwin unsettled him deeply.
Paul rose to leave.
That was Chike's moment.
A single suppressed shot split the night. The bullet hit Paul square in the forehead. He collapsed instantly.
Chaos erupted. Guests screamed. Chairs toppled. Amid the confusion, Edwin slipped silently to the brothers' table, placed a folded note beside Paul's body, and vanished into the panicked crowd.
Hassan lunged for the recorder chip but it was gone. Paul's phone was missing too. Only the note remained. A sick certainty washed over him: the killer hadn't acted alone. An accomplice had been right there, hidden in plain sight. And as he scanned the chaos, he realized Edwin had disappeared without a trace.
Soon the police flooded the scene. They found no weapon, no shell casing, only the corpse, and a shaken eyewitness who vaguely recalled a man who had earlier sat with Paul.
As Hassan stepped out of Sandbay Resort, he was approached by a neatly dressed man.
"Good evening," he said, flashing a badge. "I'm Tim Alfred, head of State Security Service. Mind if we talk?"
Meanwhile, Edwin's phone buzzed. It was a message from Chike:
"We have a mole in the team. Take him out."
Edwin typed back quickly:
"I saw your detective friend. He's onto us. Handle him before it's too late."
Chike read the message, his expression darkening. He pocketed his gear and slipped away into the night.