LOGINThe convoy was still fifteen kilometres from Kilele Estate when Obadiah's satellite phone rang.Only four people possessed that number.He glanced at the screen.His expression changed."Stephen."Patricia looked up immediately."My father?"Obadiah answered the call."Stephen."The voice on the other end sounded exhausted."I've just landed."Nearly fourteen thousand kilometres away...Twenty-two hours earlier...Stephen Wao had been addressing diplomats at the Kenyan High Commission in Sydney.His speech had barely begun when his personal assistant entered quietly and slipped him a folded note.The assistant never interrupted meetings.Never.Stephen excused himself.He opened the note.URGENT. CONTACT NAIROBI IMMEDIATELY. FAMILY SECURITY.Within thirty minutes he was inside a secure government office.A senior intelligence liaison waited for him.The man closed the door."Your family is making international headlines."Stephen frowned."What has happened?"The officer slid a tablet
The gloved hand stopped barely an inch from Glen's shoulder.Another hand seized the man's wrist.Hard.The two figures froze.Neither had expected the other.Hidden behind a thicket of dripping cypress, Moses stared into the eyes of a stranger dressed in dark waterproof clothing.For a split second, neither moved.Then Moses twisted the man's arm violently.The operative grunted in pain."Glen!"Moses roared."Run!"The boy instinctively scrambled away from the concrete hatch, clutching his sketchbook to his chest.The operative lashed out with his free elbow, striking Moses across the jaw.Both men crashed into the soaked undergrowth.The forest exploded into movement.At the main house...Rose heard the shout.Then another."North fence!"Every security guard on the estate reacted instantly.Weapons came up.Boots thundered across the wet compound.Faith looked toward the door."Was that Uncle Moses?"Rose's heart skipped.She forced herself to smile."It probably was."But her han
The rain dripped steadily from the cypress branches.Eight armed operatives stood frozen, their drilling equipment abandoned on the forest floor.No one expected Fiona Lawama.Least of all her own men.The leader slowly lowered the waterproof map."You've chosen the wrong side."Fiona smiled faintly."I stopped believing there were only two sides a long time ago."Richie Keyo moved silently to higher ground, covering every angle with his rifle.The leader noticed."You brought only one marksman?""I only need one."Fiona replied calmly."You've already exposed yourselves."The operative closest to the drilling rig took half a step forward."Who do you work for?"Fiona looked at him."Myself."He laughed."Nobody survives this game alone."Her expression hardened."That's where you're mistaken."She pointed toward the map in the leader's hands."You've been given an outdated tunnel layout."The men exchanged uncertain glances.The leader didn't."You expect me to believe that?""No.""
The vibration beneath the earth lasted only a second.Then...Nothing.The six security men stood motionless, their eyes fixed on the patch of soaked ground.Rainwater continued flowing gently across the grass as though nothing had happened.Moses slowly raised a clenched fist.No one spoke.One of the younger guards whispered,"Was it an earthquake?"Moses shook his head."No."He crouched again, pressing both palms against the wet soil.Earthquakes didn't stop that abruptly.This...Had rhythm.Someone...Or something...Had moved beneath them.Nearly thirty kilometres away, the engines of Obadiah's convoy came to life.Alex climbed into the front passenger seat of the lead Land Cruiser alongside David.Patricia and Alison occupied the second row.Inspector Bethwel entered another vehicle with two trusted detectives who had remained loyal throughout the investigation.Joel and Dr. Margaret travelled with Ezekiel.Obadiah remained in the final vehicle.He had insisted on it."If we'r
The rain had eased to a fine mist.Dark clouds still hung low over the quarry, but the violent storm had passed, leaving the ground slick with mud and scattered pools of water.Patricia stood beside Obadiah's lead vehicle.Her mind was no longer in the quarry.It was already at Kilele Estate.With Glen.With Faith.She closed her eyes for a moment.Please don't let me be too late.Inspector Bethwel Kanda walked over."I understand why you want to leave."Patricia looked at him."But I need you to trust me for another five minutes."She searched his face."Five minutes?"He nodded."If Alex is right—and he usually is—someone is trying to force us into making a mistake."Patricia exhaled slowly."I know."She looked down at her hands."But I'm their mother, Inspector.""My heart isn't thinking like an investigator."Bethwel smiled sympathetically."I wouldn't expect it to."A few metres away, Alison watched Patricia in silence.Until now, she had admired Patricia's courage.Now she saw
The realization settled over the quarry with frightening clarity.Obadiah's estate...Had never simply been a safe house.It had been built above another entrance to the underground network.For several long seconds, only the rain could be heard.Then Bethwel spoke."Did you know?"His question was directed at Obadiah.The billionaire answered without hesitation."No."Joel looked at him carefully."I believe him."Korir, however, laughed."That's the irony."Everyone turned toward him."You've all spent years believing Obadiah Waore was one of the architects of this conspiracy."He smiled mockingly."When in truth...""...he has been living on top of it."Obadiah's face darkened."If you're trying to unsettle me..."Korir interrupted."I'm trying to educate you."He slowly walked toward the edge of the quarry."Do you know why your grandfather was allowed to purchase Kilele Estate in 1952?"Obadiah frowned."It was auctioned."Korir nodded."Officially."He looked back."Unofficially
The rain continued falling.Cold.Relentless.Merciless.Patricia knelt beside Joel Aliet's lifeless body, unable to move.Unable to think.Unable to breathe.His final words echoed through her mind.You're Obadiah's daughter.Not granddaughter.Daughter.The revelation shattered everything she tho
Patricia stared at the envelope.Her hands trembled.The words written across the front seemed unreal.My Daughter.For several seconds, she couldn't breathe.Couldn't think.Couldn't move.The bustling hospital cafeteria faded into the background.The voices.The footsteps.The clatter of cups.Ev
Fiona Lawama stared at the phone.For the first time in years, genuine panic gripped her.The voice on the other end repeated itself."The flash drive has been activated."Her fingers tightened around the device."That's impossible.""It isn't."The line crackled briefly.Then the caller added the
The room fell silent.Even the sounds from the hospital corridor seemed distant.Muted.Unreal.Patricia stared at Alex.Certain she had misheard him."The flash drive belongs to me?"Alex nodded weakly."Yes.""No."Her voice shook."You're lying.""I wish I was."Patricia stepped backward.The wa







