“What the fuck, Lycipus?! What the actual fuck! Did you have to blow her brains out?”

“Yes, Kosys! Yes, I had to blow her fucking brains out. You know what you get with me when it comes to matters about Jo: chat shit, get banged.”

Kosys covered his masked face with his hands, the frustration under his mask slightly obvious. He and the other two had briefly stepped out to check on their other troops. They heard the gunshots, but assumed Lycipus was putting the fear of God in the hostages with some warning shots. Coming back to discover that one of them had actually been offed and another badly injured did not make him happy at all.

“That was not necessary, Lycipus. Yeah, she might have been parroting the bullshit they spread about Jo, but for fuck’s sake, couldn’t you have simply knocked her out?”

“Kosys, you didn’t hear the horseshit from the bitch’s mouth! You and the others stepped out! She was on some fucking stupid rant like she knows him in and out! I swear, you would have popped one into her brain!”

“No I wouldn’t!” a frustrated Kosys shot back. “There’s a plan we have in place, for the love of God! We’re following a strategy. There’s a certain time we kill each of them. Now, you’ve thrown a wrench into everything we’ve planned. For fuck’s sake, Lycipus!”

Lycipus crossed her arms, an unrepentant look in her eyes. “Listen, Kosys, I know about the plan. But guess what? We’re not here to play nice. Anybody fucks up, they get a bullet. Simple as that.”

Kosys’ voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Lycipus. You crossed a line. We’re supposed to be smarter than this. We’re supposed to be controlled. Calculated. Not reckless.”

Lycipus stepped forward, her voice rising in anger. “Massa, don’t you dare call me reckless! I’ve bled for this mission, Kosys. More than you. More than anyone else. I made a call, and I fucking stand by it.”

Kosys jabbed a finger at her chest, his voice booming. “Your ‘call’ was a fucking stupid one! You don’t get to make those decisions on your own!”

“Are you calling me stupid?”

“Yes, I fucking am!”

“I’ll make you regret that, you dickhead!”

“Not if I make you regret your stupidity first!”

The fury in each others’ eyes blazed, as an air of unspoken violence crackled between them. The two hotheaded violent personalities they were, this fight was moments away from getting physical.

Just as Kosys took another step, ready to throw the first punch, Stefeus entered the room, and immediately stepped between them, his broad frame forcing them apart.

“Enough!” he barked. He placed a firm hand on Kosys’ shoulder, pushing him back, then turned to Lycipus. “Both of you. This isn’t helping.”

Kosys tried to sidestep him, but Stefeus shoved him back again, much harder this time. “I said stop! Stop it, Kosys! We’ve got enough enemies outside without turning on each other in here.”

Lycipus let out a bitter laugh as she backed away. “Tell that to your strong and fearless leader, wai. Maybe he’ll learn to trust the people he claims to lead.”

Kosys glared at her but stayed silent, his chest heaving.

Stefeus turned to her, shooting her a warning look. “He’s right, though. You need to learn control. We don’t succeed by tearing each other apart. We’re in this together. We have a plan; let’s stick to it.”

Lycipus snorted but said nothing, the ‘whatever’ on the tip of her tongue losing its ability to jump off and be heard.

Kosys inhaled and exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “Fine. You’re right, Stefeus. But this isn’t over, Lyci…”

He was interrupted by a groan from the other side of the room. Fidelis was awake.

Lycipus stared at him, then reached for the stun gun, that familiar ominous smile spreading across her face.

The angry look in Kosys’ eyes dimmed as he watched her reaction. He nodded.

The fight could be shoved aside. There was a tormented attorney to deal with.

***

Fidelis stirred awake, his head throbbing and his body aching from the rough handling. He was still firmly tied to the chair, and the pain continued to pulsate through his frame.

He shook his head. This is horrible, he thought mournfully. Just horrible. God, how did I get into this…

“Good to see you’re awake now. We were just about to jolt you back to reality.”

The voice of Kosys snapped him out of his sad soliloquy. Along with another terrifying sound.

The sharp crackle of the stun gun that had been used to shock him multiple times.

Watching Lycipus get closer to him, that look of delight at his pain glowing in her pupils, filled him with a new wave of horror.

“Please…please, don’t!” he cried. I’ll… I’ll talk, I swear!”

Lycipus tilted her head, amused by his sudden declaration. “Oh, saaa, now you’ll talk?” Looking at Kosys and Stefeus, who stretched out their hands to elect to listen to him, she stepped back reluctantly. “Let’s hope it’s something worth listening to,” she muttered.

Tears welled in Fidelis’s eyes, his voice trembling as he spoke. “I admit it! I did everything you said. It’s all true. I covered up scandals, I sabotaged investigations, I did a whole lot! I-” His voice cracked, and he looked away, looking ashamed.

“Keep going,” Kosys demanded, folding his arms. “Details, Peprah. Give us details. We want the truth.”

Sniffing, Fidelis continued. “The Justina Kyei matter. The investigative journalist. Yes, I did all you mentioned. Th-the land deal with Dr. Kwarteng… yes, I helped bury the report about the illegal acquisition. The media didn’t find out because of me; I got everything buried. And the dubious contract for the oil fields—there were bribes, kickbacks, all of it. I made sure the investigative body got…rerouted.”

Kosys shook his head as he stepped closer to him. “And Jo Hanta? What did you do to him?”

Fidelis hesitated for a moment, his voice dropping to a whisper. “The… the president said Hanta was a threat and a nuisance. He wanted him silenced, so… we cooked up the charges at the Attorney-General’s department. I… I arranged for Dr. Woode to fabricate a report, accusing him of sexual abuse. I… I-I got Yamez off the hook so Hanta could be blamed. I met with the judge personally to ensure a swift trial and sentencing. I’m sorry, but… it-it… it wasn’t my choice—I was following orders!”

Kosys snorted in disgust. “Orders? That’s the excuse you have? That’s what helps you sleep at night?”

Fidelis’s tears spilled over, his composure crumbling. “You-you don’t understand! This president…he’s not just a man; he’s an entire force. He demands loyalty, obedience. If I refused—if anyone refuses—there are consequences.”

“Consequences?” Kosys snapped, his voice rising. “Do you think the people whose lives you destroyed care about your so-called ‘consequences’? You think Hanta’s family, or the thousands of others who’ve suffered under this corrupt regime, give a shit about your excuses?”

Stefeus chimed in. “You had a choice, Peprah. You chose power. You chose comfort. You chose all this over doing right by the average Ghanaian. And in doing so, you crushed anyone who stood in your way.”

“I had no choice! Believe me, I had no choice!” Fidelis pleaded, his voice breaking. “I was trapped, just like everyone else! I—”

The stun gun crackled again, its sharp sound silencing him.

Kosys leaned in close, his masked face just inches from Fidelis’s. “You had choices. You chose the wrong ones. And now, you’re going to face the consequences. No amount of tears or excuses will save you.”

Fidelis broke down completely, his sobs echoing in the room. The captors stood unmoved, their cold silence a stark contrast to his pitiful cries.

“You’ve destroyed too many lives, Fidelis,” Kosys said, his tone final. “And like I said earlier, you can’t fix it, but you will pay for it. Maybe in another life, you’ll make better choices.”

He stared at Lycipus and gave her a curt nod. “Zap the motherfucker.”

She moved in, the stun gun crackling once again, ready to do damage.

As she approached, Fidelis knew only a miracle from heaven would save him.

It never came.

Wow! So the government isn’t that innocent either. That’s so wrong. Doesn’t make it right, but… maybe that explains their actions…