AMAKA IN NEW YORK

*Season 1 Episode 7: Big E’s Deadline*

Big E’s smile said he knew everything.

Amaka grabbed Daniel’s sleeve. “He’s with police. If he tells them the photos are fake, we’re finished.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. He pulled Amaka behind a taxi. “He can’t prove anything without evidence. Right now it’s his word against ours.”

“But he sold me the fake visa,” Amaka whispered. “He has my passport copy. My fingerprint.”

Daniel turned to her, voice low. “Then we have 12 hours to make him disappear. Or make him talk.”

Amaka shook her head. “Disappear how? Daniel, I don’t do crime.”

“I don’t mean kill him,” Daniel said fast. “I mean trap him. Record him admitting he sells fake visas. Then we have leverage. He can’t report us if we can report him.”

Amaka thought of her mother’s hospital bed in Lagos. Of ICE handcuffs. Of prison.

“Okay,” she whispered. “How?”

Daniel pulled out his phone. “He wants $15,000. We tell him we have it. We meet him tonight at Bronx pier. You wear a wire. I call NYPD from distance. The moment he says ‘I sell fake visas’ on recording... we win.”

Amaka’s hands shook. “Wear a wire? Daniel, I’m not FBI.”

“You won’t be alone,” Daniel said. He touched her shoulder. “I’ll be watching from the car. If anything goes wrong, I’ll run in. I promise.”

Amaka wanted to believe him. But 2 days ago she didn’t know his full name. Now she was supposed to trust him with police and criminals?

Her phone buzzed. Big E: _“10 hours left, Amaka. Meet me 11pm. Bronx pier. Come alone. Or I send your file to ICE now.”_

11pm. 6 hours from now.

Daniel hailed a cab. “First, we need a wire. My lawyer friend can get one. Then we practice what you’ll say.”

In the cab, Daniel taught her lines: “Ask him ‘So you can get me real papers this time?’ Make him say yes. Make him say ‘fake visa’ clearly.”

Amaka repeated the lines. Voice shaking.

Daniel watched her. “You’re scared.”

“Of course I’m scared,” Amaka snapped. “You met me 2 days ago and now I’m bait for a criminal!”

Daniel was quiet for a moment. Then he said: “I know. I’m sorry I pulled you into this. But Amaka... 5 years ago I couldn’t save my sister. I can save you. Let me do this one thing right.”

The cab stopped at Daniel’s lawyer’s office. The lawyer gave Amaka a small black device. “Clip it inside your bra. Don’t let it get wet. Don’t let him touch it.”

11pm. Bronx pier. Cold wind. Water smelled like rust.

Big E was waiting. No police this time. Just him, a duffel bag, and a gun on his waist.

Amaka walked forward, heart pounding. Wire hot against her skin.

“Money?” Big E said.

Amaka swallowed. “Do you have real papers this time? Not fake ones?”

Big E laughed. “Fake? The one I sold you worked for 8 months, didn’t it? Until ICE came. I’m the best in Bronx. $15,000 for real green card. No more lies.”

“Fake visa,” Amaka said clearly, as Daniel taught her. “You sell fake visas?”

Big E stepped closer. “Yeah I sell fake visas. I sell anything you poor girls need. Now money.”

Amaka pressed the wire. Got it.

Then Big E’s phone rang. He answered. Listened. Face changed.

He looked at Amaka. Then behind her.

“Daniel Carter,” Big E spat. “I should’ve known you were involved. You’re the same oyibo who got my brother deported 5 years ago.”

Amaka turned around.

Daniel was standing 10 meters away. Not in the car. He came out.

“Your brother was smuggling girls,” Daniel said calmly. “I was 19. I didn’t know. When I found out, I reported him. I’m sorry.”

Big E pulled the gun. Pointed it at Daniel.

“You’re sorry? My brother died in detention. Now you want to set me up too?”

The wire was still recording. Amaka’s breath stopped.

Daniel raised his hands. “Put the gun down, Big E. Police are 2 minutes away. I called them when you said ‘I sell fake visas’.”

Big E laughed bitterly. “Police? Nobody cares about us. You think they’ll save her?” He pointed gun at Amaka now. “Give me the money or I shoot her first. Then you.”

Amaka closed her eyes. This was it. She came for American dream. She might die at Bronx pier.

Then sirens. Red and blue lights flooded the pier.

Daniel didn’t look away from Big E. “You’re finished, E. It’s over.”

Big E screamed and fired one shot into the air...

*TO BE CONTINUED...*