Chapter 128: The Paper Trail
The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly as Amani and Halima made their way through the crowded streets of Mombasa’s government district.
Colonial-era buildings, their white facades yellowed with age and exhaust, housed the labyrinthine bureaucracy of Kenya’s land administration system.
The air was thick with humidity and the mingled scents of street food, vehicle emissions, and the nearby harbor. Amani wiped sweat from his brow, his mind racing with the implications of what they’d discovered at the Continental Hotel that morning.
"Are you sure you want to tell Fatuma everything?" Halima asked quietly as they approached the lawyer’s office. "About Victor Mwangi and the others? It might put her in danger too."
Amani considered this, his [Game Intelligence: A+] analyzing the potential consequences from multiple angles. "We have to," he finally decided. "She can’t help us effectively if she doesn’t know exactly what we’re up against. Besides," he added with a grim smile, "Fatuma doesn’t strike me as someone who scares easily."
The system concurred: [Strategic Assessment: Full Disclosure to Legal Counsel - Benefits outweigh risks - Probability of Enhanced Legal Strategy: 78%].
Fatuma was waiting for them, her office even more cluttered than during their previous visit. Documents were spread across her desk, and several thick folders were stacked on a side table.
Her expression was serious but not defeated. A professional facing a challenge rather than an insurmountable obstacle.
"Thank you for coming so quickly," she greeted them, gesturing to the chairs. "I’ve spent the morning at the land registry, and I have news some concerning, some potentially useful."
Before she could elaborate, Amani leaned forward. "We have news too. We know who Jumaane is meeting with at the Continental."
Fatuma’s eyebrows rose. "Oh? And how did you come by this information?" There was no judgment in her tone, only professional curiosity.