I had built my name in Machakos as a skilled mechanic. Customers trusted me with their vehicles because I was fast, confident, and always ready with an explanation for any mechanical problem. But behind that reputation, I carried a habit that slowly poisoned my integrity.
Whenever a customer brought in an expensive vehicle, I secretly swapped original parts with cheaper, worn-out alternatives. I would resell the genuine parts quietly and pocket the difference.
I justified it by telling myself that everyone cheats in business and that survival required cleverness. For months, no one suspected me. Engines roared to life after my “repairs,” and customers drove away satisfied. My confidence grew, and so did my greed.
I became bold, even careless. Then one afternoon, a client returned angrily, claiming his vehicle was stalling mysteriously. I acted surprised and told him to leave it with me for further inspection. The next morning, as I tried to start the engine to diagnose the issue, something strange happened.
The car refused to start. The battery was fine. The wiring was intact. Everything seemed normal. My assistant stepped forward, confused, and turned the key. The engine started immediately. I brushed it off, thinking perhaps I had made a small mistake.
