So I get busy with it, go easy with it

Them nuh fit relate

Na me sanso me kyiri dede

Sɛ me sika delay, I carry machete

Then I go on a chase

No smile on my face, ɔhunu me, ɔr’shake

Awooso oh! Awooso oh!

Aaron was in high spirits that morning, cruising through town in his Toyota Camry, the bass from his speakers vibrating through the car as Black Sherif’s ‘Top Of The Morning’ played. He sang along and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, nodding along, feeling every bit the successful entrepreneur he believed himself to be. With his dark shades on, a freshly trimmed beard, and a well-fitted shirt, he looked the part — and he knew it.

Glancing at his dashboard, he noticed a reminder pop up: Lunch with investor – 4 PM.

He smiled. Phyllis’ father had secured a meeting for him with this gentleman interested in investing in the local food space.

Thus the reason he was so excited. Once this man agreed to invest, Tete Munchies could scale up very nicely within the next three to four months.

Things were falling into place. Just as he wanted.

Now Joella’s dream could live on and keep her memory alive.

*

Several cars behind him, a black Tico trailed at a safe distance. Inside sat a lean man in his late forties, his eyes sharp, and his demeanor calm but focused.

This was Kwame Akowuah, the private investigator Zack had hired.

He adjusted a mounted camera and snapped a few photos of Aaron’s car. On the seat next to him, a compact device glowed softly as it synced with a cloned phone SIM, connected to another device in his hand.

A loading bar showed steady progress: 72%.

“Come on,” he muttered, his eyes never leaving the road. “Just one relevant phone call. That’s all I need.”

He glanced at the clone device again, then back at Aaron’s Camry.

The man continued driving, looking content and smug while singing along to the music.

Mr. Akowuah nodded in satisfaction. Aaron was right where he wanted him.

Completely unaware of the digital net being cast around him.

*

The midday heat made its presence known against the glass walls of Aaron’s office as he stepped back in, loosening his collar with one hand and setting his phone and keys on the sleek mahogany desk. The AC blew a much-needed cool breeze across the room, calming the faint glisten of sweat on his forehead from the walk up.

“Oh lord, that was some good stuff!” he chuckled as he settled into his chair with a satisfied sigh, glancing at the clock. Lunch had been good — grilled tilapia and banku at his favourite spot. Now, it was back to business.

Outside Phidles Towers, in the Tico parked discreetly down the road, Mr. Akowuah remained alert. That morning had been unspectacular, to say the least. His earpiece had buzzed every time a call came through, but so far, they were all business calls: focused on meetings, invoices, and delivery schedules.

Nothing out of the ordinary.

His fingers drummed against his steering wheel impatiently. How he needed Aaron to expose himself quickly so he’d have something to send to Zack that evening!

“Come on,” he muttered. “Say something stupid. Fall into the net.”

And then, the tone shifted.

The device intercepted a new call — incoming.

*

The familiar name lit up on Aaron’s phone screen: Diana.

Aaron glanced at it, then answered with a grin in his voice.

“Hey you! What’s up?”

“Hey Aaron! Got some quick update for you. My period’s in three days. So if you want another heated round before I go off limits for the next 5 days, better make time tomorrow evening.”

Aaron chuckled. “Mmmmm… a golden opportunity to smash that wonderful ass of yours? How could I say no to that?”

“The only reason you would say no is if your wife took my advice and learned to get freaky with you. Which I highly doubt she’s done.”

Aaron scoffed. “Of course she hasn’t. She’d rather burn a Bible than follow your advice.”

Diana snickered. “Well, too bad for her. As for you… you get to have this ass throw it back on you.”

“Uh-huh. God knows how much I love it when you do that. So, same old guest house?”

“You know it.”

“Perfect. Tomorrow evening it is, then. See you.”

“See you, Aaron.”

 The line ended, and Aaron leaned back with a smug look on his face.

*

“Well, that’s something to prove he’s cheating,” Mr. Akowuah murmured to himself as he ended the recording. He took a deep breath and sat back, satisfied that there was something to send to Zack.

He picked up his phone to type a message…

… and suddenly, his monitor blinked again.

He looked.

Outgoing call to: Amos.

*

“Hello, Mr. Aaron?”

“Prophet! How are you doing?”

“Umm, I’m doing fine, sir. All is well with me by God’s grace. And you?”

“Oh, I’m doing wonderful,” Aaron replied smoothly. “Everything has been going so well. Thanks to you and your wonderful gift.”

“Umm… you’re… welcome, I guess?”

Aaron chuckled in amusement.

A moment of silence followed.

“Anyways,” Aaron continued, “I need another word from the Lord for her.”

There was another brief pause.

“Umm, okay, sir. I’m listening,” Amos replied.

“Good. Now, I want you to deliver another prophecy to Phyllis. You can pass by the church on Friday evening or something. Bump into her. Ask her how she’s doing and all that. Then, tell her the Lord is displeased with her trying to challenge me at home. Make it very strong and stern. Let her know she’ll face divine punishment if she does it again.”

On the other end, Amos hesitated.

“Uhhhh… that’s… that’s quite heavy. Are you sure you want me to–”

“I’m not asking for your opinion, Prophet,” Aaron interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “I’m asking you to get it done. And to make sure the ‘word’ sounds divine enough to strike some fear into her.”

Another pause.

Then, reluctantly, Amos replied, “Alright. I’ll handle it.”

“Good. I’ll make it worth your while, as always. Another healthy increase like before. You’ll get the tranche the morning after it’s done.”

“O-Okay. Thank you.”

“Good. Later.”

Aaron ended the call without another word and sat back, pleased with himself.

*

“Ahh! Apicki!”

Mr. Akowuah grinned widely as he ended the recording.

Just what he had been hoping for.

The man had fallen into the net. Hook, line and sinker.

***

It was evening.

Zack was seated in the armchair by the window, his expression as steely as could be. His laptop sat open on the table, with Mr. Akowuah’s recorder connected to it by a thin cable.

The voices of Aaron and Amos played through the speakers.

“…I want you to deliver another prophecy to Phyllis. You can pass by the church on Friday evening or something. Bump into her. Ask her how she’s doing and all that. Then, tell her the Lord is displeased with her trying to challenge me…”

Zack’s jaw tightened, eyes unmoving. Yep, he had been spot on. The man truly had acquired the services of this foolish trickster to scare Phyllis into staying in a terrible marriage.

The devious bastard!

Mr. Akowuah, seated opposite him, gave a small nod of satisfaction.

“I’m working on scraping their MoMo transactions as well,” he added. “If I can find payments with names or references to any prophetic services, it’ll be ironclad. But even with this alone… it’s as clear as day, chale. It’s nothing but a scam they’re pulling on your sister.”

Zack nodded once, silently. He glanced at Mr. Akowuah, then got up, walked over to the bed, knelt by a zipped compartment of his suitcase, and pulled out a stack of crisp hundred-dollar bills. He stood, turned, and handed them to Mr. Akowuah without a word.

“Thanks, Zack! Appreciate the trust,” Mr. Akowuah said with a smile, tucking the money away in his pocket and standing up.

Zack gave a curt nod. “Sure. Keep me updated.”

As the door shut behind Mr. Akowuah, Zack turned back to the laptop. He opened his WhatsApp chat page, headed for a specific chat, and moved the audio file of Aaron and Amos’ conversation to that chat.

His finger hovered over the trackpad for a moment, then clicked Send.

The audio file, which he labeled simply “Listen.”  was on its way to Phyllis.

It was time she heard how much of a fool these two pieces of trash were taking her for.

He sat back and relaxed as the blue tick appeared.

A minute and a half passed before his phone lit up.

With an incoming call from Phyllis.

He answered.

“Phyl–“

“Zack, what the hell is wrong with you? What is the meaning of this?” she snapped before he could say a word. “You really went all the way to fabricate this audio? Just to win some petty argument? You think I’m that stupid?! Zack, be careful ooo! You forget that this is God you are dealing with! The day He rises up against you for slandering His vessels, it won’t be pretty. Stop this! You’re doing too much! Ah! Why are you now using AI to create an audio of Aaron and the prophet talking about this? Why do you feel you have to prove men of God are frauds? Huh? Zack, be careful oo! God doesn’t like this thing you are doing!”

Quite a fierce outburst from Phyllis there.

Zack shook his head.

He couldn’t say he was surprised, but he was disappointed. Clearly, this woman would rather go all the way to defend the religion oppressing her than use her brain to recognize how oppressed she was.

She was a lost cause. There was no point trying to reason with her.

“You are a fool,” he spat flatly. “Stupid girl.”

“Zack, Za–“

He hung up.

The phone rang again.

Once. Twice. Three times.

He ignored each one, pressing the Reject button each time. “Such a brainless idiot you raised, Mama,” he muttered. “Thanks for nothing.”

He stared at the screen a moment longer, then turned away, walking slowly to the desk.

His voice was low and thoughtful as he picked up his second phone.

“Forget that birdbrained buffoon I call a sister. I’ll handle this myself,” he murmured to himself. “Now, to find somebody who can help me secure the services of some cold-blooded gangsters. We’re done playing church now. It’s time for that scoundrel and his neanderthal of a fraud to get what’s coming to them.”

Phyllis is quite frustrating, to be honest, even though it’s not surprising. But… Zack’s new quest spells serious danger for Aaron and Amos now…