Amaka looked at Tom. He turned to look at her. She smiled. He smiled back. She got her phone and called the hotel, keeping her eyes on Tom. The phone rang out so she composed a text message to Aunty Baby.
Amadi walked in. ‘I’m so sorry about that. I promise you, no more calls until we’ve had our meal.’
She pressed the send button and deleted the message she had sent.
He settled back into his chair and inspected his cutlery. He adjusted a knife using the tip of his forefinger, looked at it, and adjusted it again.
‘Where were we?’
‘You were about to tell me what you do with pretty girls.’
‘Well, my dear, I don’t know what you think you know about me, or what gossip you might have heard, but I assure you that I am the gentlest man you will ever meet.’
‘Is that right?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’ His phone vibrated on the table. He ignored it. ‘My dear, you seem to believe you know something about me. Why don’t you tell me what you’ve heard and I’ll tell you whether it’s true or not?’
His phone beeped twice as a message arrived. He read the text.
‘My darling,’ he said without glancing up from the phone, ‘I have to see to this right away. I’m so sorry we keep getting disturbed like this.’
‘I thought you promised no more interruptions,’ she said. Her mouth was dry.
‘I know, I know. Please forgive me. Some things just need to be dealt with immediately.’
As he left, he patted Tom on the shoulder and turned to wink at her.
He went to his study and closed the door behind him before making a call.
‘Hello?’
‘Yes, Chief, my message scared you, abi? I am on my way to Panti now. All the reporters in Lagos will be there to hear how you kill innocent people and use them for juju.’
‘I thought you said you were professional.’
‘I am very professional. That is why the boys that you sent to my house couldn’t kill me.’
‘I did not send any boys to kill you. I don’t even know where you live.’
‘Please don’t lie to me. Catch-Fire has told me all your tactics.’
‘Where is he right now?’
‘Catch-Fire? He is with my boys. I have told them to take him to Panti if you try any nonsense games. You think you are the only one who has sense? We have invited all the radio and television people, dem. They are just waiting to know what we want to expose to them. It is finished for you.’
‘That was not our agreement.’
‘So you now think it was not our agreement? After you sent your boys to kill me?’
‘Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if Catch-Fire talks to anyone, even you will not be safe.’
‘Me I will be safe. Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself. You murderer.’
‘Calm down.’
‘Don’t tell me to calm down. Who are you to tell me to calm down? Just bring me my money.’
‘Where are you now?’
‘You think I will tell you where I am so that you can send your boys to kill me? Tell me where you want me to meet you and I will be there. If anything happens to me, my boys will take Catch-Fire to the radio station then they will take him to Panti. Even now-now, reporters are waiting for them there. We have even recorded him. He has confessed everything. I have the video.’
‘I don’t have ten million naira with me. I have dollars. I will give you a hundred thousand dollars, that’s more than you asked for. But you must give me proof that Catch-Fire is dead.’
‘Dollars is good. Just bring it. After I collect the money, I will return to my people and we will kill the boy.’
‘OK. Listen carefully. I did not send anybody to you. All I wanted was for you to take care of Catch-Fire. I don’t know what he has told you or how he has convinced you that I tried to kill you, but I will give you the money only on the condition that you do what we agreed and kill him.’
‘No conditions. And stop trying to mess with my brain. Just bring the money and don’t try any of your tricks.’
‘OK. I will get the money ready and I will call you back to tell you where to meet.’
‘One hundred thousand dollars?’
‘Yes, one hundred thousand dollars. And there is more where that is coming from. Wait for my call.’
Chief Amadi had hoped Catch-Fire would be dead by now, and with him, the problem he posed. But now there was no telling who the idiot had spoken to, or who he was still speaking to. If Catch-Fire as much as mentioned Amadi’s name to the police, or to hungry reporters, all sorts of digging would be done. He had known this day would come and he was ready for it. The Voice had made sure of that. He knew exactly what to do.
He went to his room and closed the door. By his bed he got on his knees and reached for his bag. He opened it and paused. The notebook was no longer in the middle, perfectly aligned with the neatly stacked bundles of cash.