When the Crow Flies

Adesuwa paced the empty bar, waiting for Tayo. She had sent him a message earlier, demanding that he meet her here and finally tell her everything he knew. Her patience had run out, and her trust in him was hanging by a thread. If he knew something—anything—about the people who had orchestrated her downfall, she needed to hear it now.

Tayo entered a few minutes later, his expression guarded. He looked around, making sure they were alone, then walked over to her. She wasted no time, her voice sharp and unyielding.

“Enough with the secrets, Tayo. I need the truth. No more half-answers, no more evasions. Just tell me what you know.”

He sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. “It’s not as simple as you think, Adesuwa. I didn’t want you to get involved in this. That’s why I kept quiet. I thought if I could just keep you safe, none of this would matter.”

“Safe?” she spat. “You think I’m safe now? Someone tried to kill me, Tayo. Twice. And you’re telling me you kept quiet to protect me?”

Tayo’s face twisted with guilt, and he looked down. “I didn’t have a choice. I’m involved, but not in the way you think. I’ve been working with… with people in town, people who don’t want you digging too deep. I tried to keep you from uncovering the truth, but not because I wanted to hurt you.”

Adesuwa stared at him, anger boiling beneath the surface. “So, you were part of the group that destroyed my life? You let them use you to keep me in the dark?”

He shook his head quickly. “No, Adesuwa, it’s not like that. I’ve been trying to protect you from the beginning. The people behind this—they’re powerful, more powerful than you can imagine. They don’t just control this town; they control everything in it. They framed you to keep their secrets safe, and I… I was too scared to fight them.”

Her chest tightened as she listened, a mixture of betrayal and understanding washing over her. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he wrestled with the guilt of his actions. For ten years, she had been rotting away, and he had stayed silent, paralyzed by fear.

“You didn’t even try to help me,” she said, her voice trembling. “You just let them do whatever they wanted.”

Tayo reached out, his eyes pleading. “I know. And I hate myself for it. I should have fought harder, should have done something. But I was scared, Adesuwa. They threatened my family, my business… my life. I thought staying quiet was the only way. And now, with you back, I can’t stand by and watch them hurt you again.”

She pulled away, her mind racing. She wanted to scream, to rage at him for his weakness, but part of her understood the pressure he must have faced. This group—these powerful townspeople—had used their influence to control everyone around them, to mold the town to their liking. And now they were coming after her again.

“Who are they?” she asked, her voice cold. “Who are these people who think they’re untouchable?”

Tayo hesitated, glancing around the room. “They’re people you’d never suspect. People who hold this town in the palm of their hands. It’s not just one person, Adesuwa—it’s a network, a group that protects its own interests. And they’ll do anything to keep their secrets hidden.”

“Tell me who they are,” she pressed. “I need names.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, a loud crack echoed through the bar. Tayo’s eyes widened in shock, and he staggered back, his hand flying to his chest. Blood blossomed from a wound just below his collarbone, and he collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.

“No!” Adesuwa screamed, dropping to her knees beside him. She pressed her hands to the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood, but it was no use. Tayo’s eyes met hers, filled with regret, fear, and something that looked like love.

He struggled to speak, his voice barely a whisper. “I’m… I’m sorry, Adesuwa. I tried…”

His words faded, and his eyes glazed over, leaving her alone in the silence, cradling his lifeless body in her arms. She felt the hot sting of tears as she looked up, scanning the bar for any sign of the shooter, but there was nothing. Just shadows, watching her, taunting her.

The realization hit her like a blow—she was next. They had killed Tayo to keep him from talking, and now they would come after her. But as she sat there, her hands stained with blood, a fierce resolve burned within her. Tayo had been too afraid to stand up to them, but she wasn’t. She would find out who was behind this, and she would bring them down, no matter the cost.