SHADOWS OF DECEIT

Tug Of War

"Tasmina, check who it is," Maame Yaa yelled from the kitchen when the doorbell rang. She was busy preparing porridge for breakfast and anticipated a visit to the hospital afterwards to check on her daughter Victoria's health.

Now, she found herself excusing her absence from her husband's funeral preparations in Cape Coast using Victoria's accident as a convenient reason. She didn't even want to go in the first place. She informed the family that Victoria had fallen down the stairs and was suffering a severe head injury, which had made her slip into a coma.

Although the doctors had assured her that her daughter would be fine but may suffer from a loss of memories when she is conscious.
Maame Yaa couldn't help but be thankful that her son's temper hadn't escalated to the worst during the incident with his sister. Lost in her thoughts, she was brought back to reality when she heard Tasmina softly calling her.

"Mum," Tasmina's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hmm," Maame Yaa replied absentmindedly.

"It's Inspector Evans; he wants to see you," Tasmina informed her from the kitchen entrance.

Maame Yaa, wiping her hands on a napkin, headed to meet the inspector, questioning the reason for this early morning visit.

As she opened the door, she was met with Inspector Evans and four uniformed police officers. Concerned, she asked, "Is everything okay?"

Inspector Evans, hesitating for a moment, stared at Maame Yaa, grappling with the revelation from Detective Philip's audio. The suspicion that both mother and son might be involved in the murder left him determined to get answers.

"Evans," Maame Yaa prompted again, confused about the unexpected visit.

Tasmina, standing behind her mother, was equally puzzled. "You are to follow us to the prison with your son, ma'am; the two of you are suspected of the murder of your husband," Inspector Evans declared.

Maame Yaa and Tasmina exclaimed simultaneously, "What?"

Silence lingered until Tasmina spoke up, "Inspector Evans, I think you're mistaken. My moth-"

"We are not mistaken, Maame Yaa. We have evidence. Cameras were installed, and we've seen the conversation you had with your son regarding the murder. We find it suspicious and ask that the two of you follow us," Inspector Evans explained.

Dumbfounded, Maame Yaa felt goosebumps on her entire body, struggling to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

"What conversation is he talking about, Ma?" Tasmina asked, seeking clarification.

Thomas, now awakened by the commotion, descended the stairs, inquiring, "What's going on here? What conversation are you talking about?"

Inspector Evans addressed Thomas, "We came to take you and your mother with us. We instruct that you come quietly to discuss the issue." The confusion on Thomas's face prompted him to turn to his mother for an explanation, further deepening the mystery surrounding them.

Inspector Evans, with a stern expression, declared, "I can't explain now, but the two of you have to follow us. Whatever you do or say will be used against you." His words hung heavily in the air, creating an atmosphere of tension.

"I would prefer not to use handcuffs on you, so please make this easy for me," he added, his tone carrying a subtle plea for cooperation. The gravity of the situation etched lines of worry on Maame Yaa's face, while Tasmina's eyes widened with disbelief.

Thomas, still confused with the sudden turn of events, was prepared to argue with the inspector. However, any retort was silenced when Inspector Evans continued, "I mean what I said, Thomas," almost as if he could anticipate Thomas's thoughts and preemptively address his potential resistance. The weight of the inspector's words pressed down on Thomas.

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Baby Ama, the little explorer, ventured from the corner of the room to her brother Jesse, who lay sound asleep. Jesse, who had been entrusted with putting Baby Ama to sleep, found himself on the receiving end of her wake-up call. He had dozed off while caring for her, leaving the baby to her own devices in the room.

Unperturbed, Baby Ama attempted to rouse her slumbering brother. Jesse, wrapped in a realm of dreams, remained oblivious to his sister's efforts. Their mother, having risen early, had already nourished Baby Ama with porridge and woken Jesse, informing him of her trip to the market to sell vegetables.

Jesse's recent return home had been marred by numerous stares and judgment from the community, rendering him housebound. Despite his resilience, his mother insisted he stay indoors until the ongoing issues were resolved.

Upon realizing Jesse wouldn't awaken willingly, Baby Ama, undeterred, crawled closer and pinched her brother's soft cheeks with a surprisingly strong grip. "Ouch!" Jesse jolted awake, met by his little sister's mischievous grin.

Sighing, Jesse gently moved Baby Ama onto the floor and, feeling a twinge of hunger, ventured to the small balcony. Fortunately, his mother had saved him some food. Returning to the room, Jesse found Baby Ama, now clutching his recently acquired budget cell phone. The previous one had been confiscated by Officer Tod during his arrest, prompting the need for a replacement.

It was their mother who insisted on the new phone, enabling her to stay in touch with Jesse.
Jesse, bemused by his sister's antics, couldn't help but smile at the sight of Baby Ama, who was now putting the small phone in her mouth.

"Don't put it in your mouth," Jesse murmured, gently moving towards Baby Ama to retrieve the phone. However, the determined young one wasn't willing to part with her newfound treasure. A playful tug-of-war ensued between the two siblings, each holding onto the phone from opposite ends.

Their impromptu game took an unexpected turn when the phone suddenly started vibrating. Surprised, both Jesse and Baby Ama released their grips simultaneously, causing the device to tumble to the floor. As it lay there, Baby Ama made a move to reclaim it, but Jesse, quick on his feet, beat her to it.

Standing up from his bending position, Jesse picked up the phone, still buzzing with a call. Without missing a beat, he answered the call, curiosity and amusement evident in his expression as he wondered who might be on the other end of the line since nobody had this number.