Irise Delegnere (ALIVE'S Book 3)

by Faulina Arif

  Ichsan sighed short."They were sure that robbery is happened at 1 o'clock because from the item that was destroyed, they found one wall clock that was broken and the time stopped at 1 past 10 minutes."

  "But, do you believe this is a robbery case, Sir?" Sofian looked at Ichsan.

  "For me this case is indeed strange . . . "

  Sofian nod several times."Mr. Rudi had an assumption, at that night Mrs. Tika is not sleeping early. Mrs. Tika is watching a television channel and heard a sound in the living room, because of that Mrs. Tika go to check and suddenly she was slashed by a sharp weapon. The culprit is of course one of robber that in state of panic. After that Mrs. Tika successfully escaping and runs to her own room however she was followed and killed. Then without wasting any more time, they at that moment ransacking the house and taking all valuable stuff. A jewelry box that was empty, money and the other valuable items."

  Ichsan stay quiet and choose to hear Sofian explanation thoroughly.

  "Like I said at the beginning, If this case is indeed a planned robbery case, and that was mean the culprits is not a common criminal. There is one police car that sometimes parked in front of Mr. Fahri's house and they can see it. But they still targeting Mr. Fahri's house, even though this a rich people housing complex. Why did they not choosing another less risk target? It is too risky to attack the house of police department officer member." Sofian sighed short."Because of that reason, I choose not to believe if Mrs. Tika is slashed in panic. Moreover the slash wound is . . . , the wound in Mrs. Tika shoulder is not too deep and it location was more to the left as if it was near miss. I am sure the weapon they used is very sharp if we see the slash wound in her waist. If that person doing it in panic, the slash wound in her shoulder should be deep and an unaware Mrs. Tika would be dead on spot because she was shocked to see some people lurking inside her house that suddenly attacking her. But she had a time to escape into her room and passed away inside there. Isn't that illogical, Sir?" Sofian looked at Ichsan.

  "Sofian, did you ever meet with Tika before?" Ichsan asked.

  "Err . . . Yes, a few times."

  "How do you think? What kind of person she was?"

  "I have heard, Mrs. Tika is a highly educated person. She got a specialist title and finished her education in foreign country. But Mrs. Tika decided to be a housewife and sacrificing her dream. She is a kind hearted woman and also friendly. I always seen her smiled to me, whenever I visiting their house."

  "Yes. Tika is very attentive, she loved her daughter and husband. Then do you hear something related to their daughter? Where do you think she will be?"

  "Mr. Fahri said to Mr. Rudi if his daughter now is still in one of her friend’s house. His daughter stay the night there and Mr. Fahri don't let her to come home before everything went calm like before. Seems like Mr. Fahri worrying about his daughter wellbeing. He even didn't tell her if Mrs. Tika was passed away. I heard those mothers and daughter is very close."

  "Tika is indeed close with her daughter. Fahri's daughter is an introvert and smart girl, she was resemble her mother. Doesn't have many friends, very choosy for a friend and because of that she liked to spend her time inside the house with reading book or cooking with her mother than going outside moreover staying the night in friend's house."

  Sofian eyes wide open."W-what do you mean, Sir?" Sofian can't convey a bad feeling that appear at his brain.

  "Yes, I understand what I'm saying. It seems Fahri making that statement on purpose."

  "If that is what it was, then she should . . . , His daughter should be dead, right?" Sofian gulped.

  Ichsan didn't answer."Then, did you check the living room?" Ichsan asked after.

  "A living room, Sir?" Sofian frown his forehead and become a bit confused.

  "Not only kind, friendly and loved her family, Tika is also a neat person."

  Sofian nod in agreement."You are right sir, I newly remember it, Mrs. Tika always feel restless if seeing some item disorganized or not at the place where it should be. I ever saw it when I was visiting, she serving a cup of tea in front of me, Mrs. Tika move the tea cup several times so that I can easily reach it and drink it easily."

  Ichsan sighed."That is how she is."

  "So, what exactly do you mean, Sir? I mean what the relation about her habit and the living room?"

  "One of sofa in the living room is shifted to the left and not at the place where it should be before. With Tika's character, she will not let that happened. A person that always neat must also thorough. Easily she will be aware and she will directly put it position back to where it was."

  Sofian is awestruck. He was now understand, a proof could be found by only observing that person habit and character. Sofian becomes more and more admiring Ichsan. His partner always can make him amazed and surprised.

  "If we relate that with the guest that coming at that night, it is possible if they were the culprit. Isn't there no car engine sound after 11 o'clock? Or any strange things happened after that?"

  Sofian shocked to hear Ichsan assumption. Sofian falls silent for a while before refuting."But, from the footprint that was left, their shoe size is 45 until 47 in diameter. The investigator said all of them is a man with big figure. It is impossible if Mrs. Tika let them in without saving any suspicion."

  "Yes, except they all are Fahri or Tika acquaintance. They coming in as a guest and then she let them in. When she invited them to take a seat, suddenly one of them intentionally try to frighten her with slashing Tika's shoulder. But Tika that was surprised instinctively dodge that slash until she was fall to the side, because of that her wound is not deep and she had a chance to escape to her room and murdered there. If that is how the story was went, how do you think then Sofian?" Ichsan take a little glance toward Sofian.

  "T-then, why did she not running away to outside the house and instead running to her room?"

  "It is possible that one of them blocking the path of exit. And her only choice is to run toward her room and escaping from the window. That is the things she will think in state of panic."

  Sofian gulped."If that was right, this means . . . This case is a planned murder. They come not for the family valuable item, but . . . “Sofian fell silent and once again gulped."How about Mr. Fahri's daughter? Didn't you say before that she more liked to spend the time inside the house? Does she . . . Also been mu . . . Mur-murde, murdered?" Sofian had a hard time to finish his sentences.

  "Did you smell something when standing beside Fahri? Even though it was faint, I can still smell an alcohol in that old man. It means, he was returning home at dawn after doing his partying habit. When he was coming home and saw his wife was murdered, he was panicked. Especially when he can't found his daughter."Ichsan take a deep breath."That old man should be furious when seeing his wife had been murdered and trying to investigate this case even he must go into the hell itself. But Fahri is only stay silent, shocked, and confused. For once in a while his body is trembling and whenever he was asked he let out a tears and fear was drawn obviously in his face, he can only bowed in silence while looking at the floor. I had never saw Fahri become that hopeless, like he don't know what to do. Unlike Fahri that I know."

  Sofian falls silent. That young man obviously didn’t believe if what happened with Fahri's family is only a common robbery. However Sofian did not think up to that level, this case will be changed drastically into a murder case if he sees it with Ichsan perspective. Of course Sofian still feel confused and so much question appeared through his mind. How can Ichsan be that confident when he explaining his own perspective and conjecture about this case? Sofian was sure there is something important and logical behind Ichsan statement. Moreover Ichsan was never wrong. He is the one that Sofian always admires and appreciates. He can always solve any case in a fast time more than anyone else.

  "Sofian, quickly take your car!" Ichsan ordering

  Sofian is awakened from his reverie and for a while looked at Ichsan. He then exiting the car and go to the
workshop that now is closed. Sofian car is parked in front of the workshop as if it was ready to be returned to its owner.

  Sofian stopped in front of the workshop."Excuse me . . . !" He loudly yell.

  A young woman with beautiful and stunning face coming out from behind the door and for a moment making Sofian amazed in disbelief.

  "Are you Sofian?" Asked that young woman without any smile.

  Sofian nod."I . . . wanted to . . . take my car." Sofian pointed his index finger toward his car without letting go of his sight to that beautiful young woman."Faisal said that it already been repaired."

  "Right." That young woman giving him the key and payment bill toward Sofian.

  After looked at the bill that he receive, Sofian taking out some money from inside his wallet and then giving it to the young woman in front of him.

  "Does we . . . Ever meet?" Asked Sofian in doubt."I mean, before in here."

  That young woman shrugs her shoulder."Well, I worked here, so . . . Perhaps" That young woman let out a faint smile but it still can bewitch Sofian.

  "Hey! Sofian, stop your seduction and hurry! We still had a lot to do!" Ichsan yelling inside his car.

  Sofian sighed hard."Yes-Yes!" Sofian answered in weak voice, he looked at Ichsan behind him.

  Ichsan elevate his car window without care.

  Sofian looked back at that young woman in front of him."Thank y-" Sofian fell quiet.

  That stunning beauty is not standing in front of Sofian anymore, she getting back inside the workshop. Sofian can only grin in sadness and quickly approaching his car. He entering his car in hurry turning its engine on, and then chasing Ichsan that was leaving him a while ago.

  Sofian frowned his forehead and driving while having a thought. He ever saw that stunning beautiful young woman before. However he was forget where he saw and how can they meet. Don’t want to be leaving behind by Ichsan, Sofian ignoring his thought and focus to chase Ichsan car that still far in front of his car.

  In the meantime, Ichsan driving his car while taking a deep breath. Ichsan seems can't stop to think this incident that befall his superior. No matter how much he see or think, he was sure and can only say this case is not a common robbery.

  He was remembering about when he was meeting with Tika for a few times, there is one memory that sticks in his mind. At that time Ichsan visiting Fahri's house to take an important document on Fahri's order. Without asking a lot of question, Tika opening the secret safe-deposit box that located behind the wall painting at the living room and taking the important document that Fahri meant from inside the safe and then giving it to Ichsan. Apart from saving an important document, that safe-deposit box is also used to save a valuable item that extremely expensive, it included a diamond ring that priced more than 300.000.000 owned by Tika.

  Fahri for once complained in front of Ichsan about Tika that didn't want to wear that diamond ring which he gave because it is too expensive for Tika. Even though Fahri giving it to her as to making up his regret in the past because he can't gave her a wedding ring. But rather than wearing it, Tika which is very happy to accept that gift prefer to save the ring inside the safe.

  And at that noon when Ichsan had a conversation with Tika, there is a word that Tika said that making Ichsan very interested and can't forget it even he wanted to. Ichsan asked why did Tika willing to get married with a troublesome man like Fahri and willing to sacrifice her dream to be a doctor. With her educational background and her achievement that she got, she can easily got a job. And surely in a short time she will be a successful doctor. However she is laughed and answered.

  "A wealth can be sought, however the happiness is the only one we can't buy no matter how much wealth we had. My role as a wife or as a mother is made me feel to be a perfect woman, Ichsan."

  At that time there is a faint smile in Ichsan's lip. A woman in front of him is indeed amazing. Sincerity is drawn boldly in her face when she said those words. Ichsan feel moved and think, how lucky Fahri was when he had a great woman like Tika in his side.

  If those people is indeed a robber that since long time ago targeting Fahri's family, surely they will not wasting their chance to ask where their safe-deposit box location. A wealthy family like Fahri is of course having one or two secret safe box inside his house. But all of the wall painting in his house was seen untouched, and surely the safe box inside is also untouched. With Tika character that cared to her family more than anything else, she will even without any threat, surely will gave everything inside their safe box willingly so that Tika and her daughter life will be spared.

  An item inside Tika wardrobe was less valuable than what was saved inside the safe box. They were not a professional robber that had a courage to targeting one high ranked police officer when they was forgot to ask the valuable inside the house, and they killed Tika instead because of panic.

  As one of high ranked police officer, surely he had many people that feel a grudge toward Fahri. It is possible if they was mafia, prosecutor, drug dealer, or corrupt government official. Ichsan sighed deep. So which one of them is the culprit behind everything in this case?

  Action

  At 17.30, Aria and the others is joined with other employees from the delivery service company. They were in the ship and on the way to the island. They need at least 90 minutes to be arrived there because the ship sailed at low speed.

  In the end, Aria has to rely on Evan. Letting Evan to involve himself and introducing Aria to the company owner. With a reason as to need for a half-time job, Aria and Faisal can join to the company and disguised as the employee of that company, and they had the job to deliver the food ingredient to that island directly.

  Once before this day, exactly 2 weeks earlier Aria and Faisal has going to the ship. They must look at the situation inside the ship and finding a way to smuggle Reyn, Marsha, and Hafiz to the ship. Apart from that while being the delivery employee, they can look at the situation and location. Studying anything that the guards usually do and their patrolling route.

  Even though Marsha has done scouting the facility in that island with her drone, however Marsha's drone can't get into action whenever it's not a midnight. Marsha must wait so that the guards were tired and take a rest. Aside from that Marsha can only find out about the guards schedule, their uniform type, guard route, name and the building function, and along with the infiltration and extraction route. Then she must drown her drone to the sea.

  Not for a short time Marsha spending her time with her drone that she made but Reyn ordering her to dispose her loved drone into the sea. He was indeed didn’thave any feeling. Marsha can't hold her sad feeling and crying for a long time. Marsha was felt that Reyn is too cruel, as if he had asking Marsha to kill their own children while she didn't have power to refuse.

  After successfully infiltrating. Marsha, Reyn and Hafiz must hide in one of the stockroom that not in use inside that ship until they arrived at the island. Meanwhile, Aria and Faisal at the ship's deck, standing side to side while checking the situation around them.

  "Umm . . . My lady, can I ask you something?" Faisal asked with full of grace.

  Aria looked at Faisal."What is it?"

  "Are those photo was real? Is that werewolf really existed?"

  Aria nod."Well that was real."

  Faisal put out a wide smile feeling enthusiastic."Then, who had always kill them? Is that you, my lady?"

  "Why did you interested in them?" Aria throws a question to Faisal in return.

  Faisal shrug his shoulder."In truth I am curious. How could those monster like that exist in this world? And aside from them, what kind of mystery that unknown to us?"

  Aria falls silent. Those creature existences are no more that error, and that was the same as her. But Aria didn't say that toward Faisal, she can only say that in her mind.

  "Most of human didn't believe about their existence." Faisal sighed."In truth I didn't even care to other people, especially the one that didn't want to listen to me. But .
. . It is cruel to only stay silent. Regardless of all that, those monsters existence is extremely dangerous and threaten the safety of society."

  Aria nod a little, agreeing with Faisal word."You are right."

  "Then . . . Do you ever meet with another monster aside from those werewolves?"

  "For once I've been killing a creature which had a slimy skin and looked like an octopus."

  "Octopus?!" Faisal surprised

  "Yes, that is happened in this country. And in another country when I destroyed some facility, I ever meet and fighting with lizard man and lion man. And the rest I just fought with is only an ordinary human.

  "Really?!" Faisal become more surprised and feel enthusiastic at that time.

  Once again Aria nodded a little.

  Aria can still remember it, when the first time meeting those unusual creature. Aria is shocked and she had a hard time to fight them, But now Aria is accustomed to their strength and regard them as no more than a cockroach that can easily be killed.

  Exactly at 19.05 o'clock the ship is stopped and dropped an anchor to the sea around 2 km from the island seashore. Relying on her binocular, Marsha which now still in her hiding place could see the facility building in that island clearly. No harbor was built in that island and they must deliver the goods from the ship using only a motorized rubber boat.

  That facility is looked so grand and from far away it just looked like a nuclear power plant facility at general. There was 3 tower in that island and its tall is more than 50 until 60 meter. Meanwhile at around the tower there was some buildings in 50 meter distance from every building. With Marsha drone, she already checked every 6 building which at that island.

  The first building and the biggest facility in that island is the nuclear power plant complex. The 3 tower that can be seen with the naked eyes is the cooling tower which had a function to cool an electrical generator turbine. The second building is a facility which had a function to process a dangerous waste. The third building is a waste storage. The fourth building is a data processing and telecommunication networking facility which had a 4 floor.