CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Grace was arranging flowers in the living room when the doorbell rang.
She expected a delivery, but when she opened the door, the man standing outside made her forget how to speak.
"James?"
The man looked older than she remembered. His face was thinner, and uncertainty filled his eyes.
"Grace, I know I have no right to show up here."
She stepped back, allowing him inside.
Aisha came downstairs moments later and stopped when she saw the stranger.
"Mum, who is he?"
Grace swallowed. "This is James. He used to work for Richard and Robert."
Aisha's expression changed immediately.
"Are you the person connected to the payment the investigators discovered?"
James nodded slowly.
"I came because I heard the investigation had started again. I should have spoken years ago, but I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?" Aisha asked.
"Robert had evidence that could destroy my career. He convinced me that if I spoke, I would be blamed for everything he had done."
Grace stared at him. "You knew I was innocent?"
"I knew you had been framed. I helped move some of the documents, but I never knew how far Robert intended to go."
Aisha felt anger rising inside her.
"You watched my mother suffer while you kept quiet."
James lowered his head.
"I did. And I will regret it for the rest of my life."
He produced a sealed envelope.
"These are copies of the instructions Robert gave me. I kept them because I knew one day I might need to prove what happened."
Aisha took the envelope carefully.
For years, her mother had carried a burden that was never hers to bear. Now, another piece of the truth had finally returned.
Grace looked at James with disappointment rather than hatred.
"You cannot change what you did," she said quietly. "But you can finally stop hiding from it."
James nodded.
"That is why I am here."
Aisha immediately contacted the detective.
The final piece of the puzzle had arrived.WHEN WE MEET AGAIN
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
Aisha sat beside Daniel in the detective's office, her fingers intertwined with his. The investigation had dragged on for weeks, and although several truths had finally come to light, one question remained unanswered.
Who had helped Robert hide the truth for so many years?
Detective Okafor placed a file on the table.
"We have reviewed the financial records, Peter Lawson's testimony, and the documents provided by Michael Adeyemi. They support the claim that the company records were deliberately altered."
Aisha leaned forward. "Then why is the investigation still going on?"
"Because we found evidence of another payment," the detective explained. "This one was made to an account connected to someone who worked closely with Robert."
Daniel frowned. "Who?"
"His former personal assistant, James."
The detective explained that James had resigned shortly after the accusations against Grace began. He had disappeared from public records and was believed to have left Nigeria.
Aisha exchanged a worried glance with Daniel.
"Can you find him?" she asked.
"We are trying. But I want you both to understand something. We will follow the evidence, not assumptions."
Outside the office, Daniel stopped beside the car.
"Every time we think we are finished, something else appears."
Aisha sighed. "I just want my mother to stop living under the shadow of something she never did."
Daniel gently squeezed her hand.
"Then we keep going until the truth is properly established."
She looked at him, grateful that he had stayed beside her through everything.
For the first time, however, she wondered whether the truth would cost them more than they expected.WHEN WE MEET AGAIN
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
Aisha sat beside Daniel in the detective's office, her fingers intertwined with his. The investigation had dragged on for weeks, and although several truths had finally come to light, one question remained unanswered.
Who had helped Robert hide the truth for so many years?
Detective Okafor placed a file on the table.
"We have reviewed the financial records, Peter Lawson's testimony, and the documents provided by Michael Adeyemi. They support the claim that the company records were deliberately altered."
Aisha leaned forward. "Then why is the investigation still going on?"
"Because we found evidence of another payment," the detective explained. "This one was made to an account connected to someone who worked closely with Robert."
Daniel frowned. "Who?"
"His former personal assistant, James."
The detective explained that James had resigned shortly after the accusations against Grace began. He had disappeared from public records and was believed to have left Nigeria.
Aisha exchanged a worried glance with Daniel.
"Can you find him?" she asked.
"We are trying. But I want you both to understand something. We will follow the evidence, not assumptions."
Outside the office, Daniel stopped beside the car.
"Every time we think we are finished, something else appears."
Aisha sighed. "I just want my mother to stop living under the shadow of something she never did."
Daniel gently squeezed her hand.
"Then we keep going until the truth is properly established."
She looked at him, grateful that he had stayed beside her through everything.
For the first time, however, she wondered whether the truth would cost them more than they expected.