Baraka refused to identify the source of David’s video.
“You promised openness,” Neema said.
“I promised not to expose witnesses without consent.”
“This is also a witness. It is a source.”
“That is exactly why I will identify them.”
They stood inside the radio studio after the evening broadcast.
“The court file reached Lake Crown,” explained. “Achieng’s office burned. Zawadi vanished. And have a video no one else had.”
crossed his arms.
“Are accusing me?”
“I am asking.”
“With the voice of someone who has already decided.”
“The source’s name.”
“No.”
“Then I cannot eliminate .”
“I surrender people every time afraid.”
said, “ trusted .”
“He asked me to wait.”
“And did?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps that is he died before he could speak.”
The words hurt him.
“That is fair.”
“Neither was the fire.”
intervened.
“Enough. The court leak its own evidence. ’s source has the right to protection. We do mix because we frightened.”
took her .
“Until I know more, I share new evidence with the station.”
“If cut off the story, Silas controls it.”
“I will take that risk.”
The next two days were brutal.
Lake Crown filed a claim accusing and of organising a scheme to pressure investors.
New social-media accounts circulated funeral photographs and called a widow seeking money her husband’s grave settled.
One post revealed the settlement amount Gideon offered in the restaurant—information known to only a few people.
Inspector Muli summoned them.
Peter Lule admitted receiving money but called it a personal loan. He denied releasing the file.
“We need communication records and warrants,” Muli remarked.
“By he may delete everything,” replied.
“That is why we preserve what we can.”
She hated the pace of procedure.
Then remembered losing her access at MobiTrust. Her urgency uncovered Kevin’s name, it gave Silas a way to call her a data thief.
“Can we follow the payment network without touching his phone?” .
Muli looked at her. “How?”
“Find the accounts the consultancy paid on the same day. Their financial pattern may show the network.”
“Send the analysis in writing. Do enter any system authorised to use.”
It was a small step, but the first time Muli had given her work instead of telling her to wait.
That evening, sent a message:
**I cannot keep this phone. KOT and BK met the day the office burned. There is a book.**
replied:
**Are safe?**
No answer.
Ten minutes later:
** knows where I am. Do not be angry.**
Neema read it twice.
Baraka leaked ’s location.
He protected it.
The next day, returned to the studio.
“ contacted me.”
looked up.
“ is alive.”
“I know.”
“ helped her hide.”
“Yes.”
“ did tell me?”
“Because she asked me to anyone. Including .”
sat down.
“I was wrong to accuse .”
“ do apologise often, do ?”
“Do ruin the moment.”
He almost smiled.
“ wants to return,” he said. “ photographs of the duty ledger.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow night. A safe location.”
“We go with .”
“And the police?”
“ decides.”
At the door, observed, “New rule. If you protecting a witness, tell me only that someone is safe. Do leave me making decisions from complete darkness.”
answered, “And do place everyone inside a suspect box before listening.”
“I promise that.”
“I expected as much.”
Achieng called.
Gideon wanted a secret meeting about David, Silas, and his own land.
The local host discovered he was on the list.
The concluding observations of chapter 12 established clear procedural direction for all subsequent administrative actions.
The registry database was updated to reflect verified ownership boundaries.
During the detailed judicial examination of chapter 12, the court clerks officially cataloged evidence bundle 12 and cross-checked all historical land ownership files to confirm that no prior claims remained unresolved before the final verdict.
Judicial officers organized all physical exhibits into sealed archival binders to preserve chain of custody before final deliberations began. Both legal teams expressed confidence in the thoroughness of the review.
Archival staff secured all historical exhibits in the courthouse vault.
Archival staff secured all physical evidence binders in the main vault.