Amaka’s phone beeped in her hand. ‘He replied,’ she said. She read the message out loud: ‘I don’t want people to see me. I can take a taxi to meet you somewhere so that we can talk in your car.’
‘Good,’ Alex said. ‘He doesn’t seem to suspect anything.’
‘What if it’s really the girl?’ Ibrahim said.
‘She’s dead,’ Amaka said without looking up. She made a call and waited.
‘Who are you calling?’ Ibrahim asked.
‘Confirming she’s dead.’ She stayed on the phone. Ibrahim and Alex watched.
‘Is it ringing?’ Ibrahim asked.
Amaka put up a finger to shush him. ‘Hello? Hello? Florentine, can you hear me? Hello? Florentine, I can’t hear you but if you can hear me, listen carefully. You must not contact Malik or Ojo under any circumstance. I will explain when we see each other.’ She ended the call.
‘He’s also reading the messages wondering if I suspect anything. It would be odd if I didn’t try to call her.’ Her phone beeped with a message.
Amaka read the message first. ‘It’s him,’ she said. She read it out: ‘I could hear you but you could not hear me because my mouthpiece is broken. I will take a ferry to Fiki Marina Boat Club on Ozumba at 3 today. Let us meet there.’
‘Well played,’ Alex said.
‘Fiki Marina,’ Ibrahim said. ‘When robbers raid banks on VI, they escape through the lagoon.’
‘So that’s why he chose to meet there,’ Alex said. ‘Someone will be waiting for her. Once she’s spotted, they’ll open fire. A boat will be waiting for them.’
‘I’m really not too comfortable with this, Amaka,’ Ibrahim said.
‘You don’t have to be,’ Alex said. ‘I was sent to investigate what happened here. This is part of my investigation. You were told to give me any assistance I may require. I’m just doing my job and you are just following orders.’