Ch 20: What is Absko upto?

Written by Kavya and Concept by Sidhant First go to previous blogs if you have not already....

As soon as Absko had left, Cloe quickly tore open the envelope, her pulse quickening. On the small sheet of paper was a crude drawing of the fort—a fort she had visited only the day before—and underneath, a message written in Swahili. Her fingers trembled slightly as she keyed the words into her translator.

"What are you doing here, Cloe? It is not safe."

Her heart skipped a beat. It was a warning. But who would send it?

She bolted to the mirror, her eyes scanning her reflection. In her rush, she had not noticed the single strand of blonde hair that had escaped from beneath her burqa. Her heart sank. No, it couldn't be. He recognized me?

And then, as if that weren't enough, her eyes fell to the bracelet she had worn at dinner—the same bracelet she had worn for the past few days, ever since she'd left London. Absko had recognized her. Her cover was blown, at least partially.

But more troubling still were the questions that swirled in her mind. What was Absko doing here? Why was he in Mombasa? And who were those two men in black who seemed to be watching his every move? What did they want?

The sense of urgency overwhelmed her. She needed to speak with Mr. Put—get some guidance. But her next scheduled meeting wasn’t until tomorrow. Cloe’s mind raced as she sat at the edge of her bed, her head cradled in her hands. She needed a plan, and she needed it fast.

Just as the tension in her mind reached its peak, the phone in her room rang, breaking her reverie.

“Hello, Ruksana,” a calm, familiar voice said.

It was Absko.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” he continued, “but I was thinking of visiting Mombasa’s Marine National Park tomorrow. It’s one of the busiest offshore reserves in Kenya. The place protects mangroves, seagrass beds, sandy beaches, and coral reefs. Diving and snorkeling are popular activities there. Would you like to join me?”

Her heart thudded in her chest. The invitation was casual, friendly. But beneath it, Cloe sensed an undercurrent—something in his tone, something in the way he phrased the words. It felt calculated. Yet she didn’t have the luxury of hesitation. If she could get close to Absko, perhaps he would reveal something—anything—that could shed light on what was going on.

"Yes, sure," she replied, trying to sound as normal as possible, despite the adrenaline rushing through her veins.

The next morning, Cloe met Absko in the hallway, their eyes briefly meeting before they made their way to the front of the resort.

“Ready?” Absko asked, giving her a smile. He was dressed in casual yet smart attire, his usual charm on full display.

They signed up for the snorkeling session, and the staff led them down to the shore. Cloe couldn’t help but notice the two men in black, who seemed to be shadowing Absko at a distance. As they geared up for the dive, she realized they would remain on land, leaving Cloe and Absko in the water—alone. It was the perfect opportunity.

The underwater world of Mombasa was vibrant, alive with the colors of coral, sponges, and fish. Cloe tried to focus on the beauty of the ocean, but her mind was elsewhere. Absko, too, seemed distracted, his eyes often darting around, as though waiting for something.

With the two bulky men watching from the shore, this was her chance to pass him something without being noticed. As they floated in the water, Cloe discreetly reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny waterproof box. She nudged it toward him, careful not to draw attention.

Absko accepted the box with a nod, slipping it quickly into the pocket of his wetsuit. It was a small exchange, but Cloe knew its importance.

After the dive, they headed back to the beach resort, where Absko excused himself to the washroom. Cloe watched him go, her mind racing. The suite was the only place in the resort where there were no cameras—only microphones. It was the perfect place to exchange a message, if that was indeed what he was planning to do.

In the privacy of his suite, Absko took out the small box. Inside was a chocolate. He seemed puzzled for a moment, turning the box over in his hands. Slowly, he peeled the chocolate away, revealing a small circular disc, about the size of a button battery. It had a thin coating that, once removed, became sticky.

He studied the disc for a moment, unsure of its purpose. What could it be? A hidden camera? A microphone? A tracking device?

The two men in black were waiting for him outside, their eyes trained on the door. Absko needed to act quickly.

With practiced ease, he bent down, pretending to pick up a pen he had dropped. In doing so, he placed the silver disc under the edge of the bed, ensuring that neither of the bodyguards noticed anything amiss.

With a sigh of relief, Absko stood up, straightened himself, and turned to his guards. “I’m going to bed now. Please, switch off the lights,” he said, casually heading for the bed.

The men complied without question, and Absko lay down, his thoughts swirling as he stared into the dark ceiling. What was going on? He had to be careful. He had to be smart.

As soon as he left, Cloe closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing. She had no time to waste.

Cloe, now back in the resort was still trying to figure things out. Her fingers hovered over the phone, ready? to make contact with Mr. Put, but then she stopped. Something was off. She looked down at her wrist—where her bracelet glimmered in the dim light.

It was time for the next move. What was Absko planning? And who were the men in black?

The answers were just beyond reach—yet Cloe could feel them closing in.