At Least I’M Free
XXVII

Lilya had just exited the elevator to the basement parking lot when a message from Arvin came in. In the deafening desolate gulp, the girl simply stared at her HP screen without any intention of opening it. Even so, half of the content of the message is visible from the notification, the,

"Lia, tomorrow the children mo there is a cooking show at Ersya's house..."

Without the intention to answer, Lilya indifferently turned off her HP until a few seconds later the notification sound was heard again.

"What does the boy want?!" Lilya was about to turn off her HP when it was seen that the name of the sender of the message was different from before.

"Sir Huga...?" Murmured Lilya while hastily opening the message.

"I'd be very happy to hear the information you've gathered. If there is time tomorrow we meet at the cafe Hiraeth at 1 pm, how?"

Lilya's mood instantly turned bright. At first he thought that Huga ignored his chat because there was no answer, but now it is no problem. Lilya quickly typed in the agreed answer and pressed the send button.

...* * *...

*The hole saw Huga in casual clothes*walking down the street on the outskirts of the mall which was quite crowded with people who wanted to entertain themselves on weekends. Although the intention of the heart did not want to attract attention, but the long black shirt worn by the 38-year-old man was so well attached to his body that the muscles in his upper body seemed to be formed behind the sheets of his shirt.

Some people, especially young women, were fixedly staring at Huga when they crossed paths, some even almost hit the person in front of her.

While still walking leisurely indifferently with what was going on around, Huga examined the circular silver watch on her right wrist. 12.34, he deliberately came half an hour earlier than the appointment because it was customary. Even so...

"Who? How come Mr Huga is here?" Dazedly Lilya stood up from her chair on the outside of the cafe. "One hour is 25 minutes away?"

Huga smiled kindly as she pulled the chair in front of Lilya and sat down on it. "That should be my question. What are you doing here? Will it be 1 o'clock?"

"Well that's it..." The girl who only wore a t-shirt and jeans was seen trying hard to cover her clumsiness. Because, in fact, he had come even before this cafe was open. It was all done in an attempt to avoid Arvin and his cooking at Ersya's house. Because of the distance of their house that is relatively close, it is not impossible that Arvin will come to the house of Lilya and force him to come along.

"Have it, it doesn't matter. Why choose a place in this cafe? Rame Gini is okay with the case?" Tanya Lilya who as usual was lousy in switching the subject.

"It would be more suspicious if we chat in a quiet place," explained Huga relaxed, then raised his hand to call the waiter to order.

"Yes too yak. Udah later accused of violating the rules of confidentiality of the case, Mr. Huga will also be accused of perversion," kekeh Lilya without feeling guilty. "It's weird to see Mr. Huga doesn't wear his long coat."

Suga wanted to chimed in, but a cafe waiter had already come over.

"Please, what message would you like?" Ask the young lady who was like an apprentice. He handed them a menu book in front of them.

"I want Ice Matcha Cream just one!" lilya said with great enthusiasm.

Quickly the servant noted the Lilya pesana then turned to look at Huga with a red hue met on her cheek. "If the papih wants what message?"

Hearing that instantly Lilya covered her mouth with both hands holding back laughter.

"Espresso" said Huga briefly while giving a sweet smile.

It was clear that the waiter had recorded Huga's order with nervous hand gestures. "B-well, one Ice Matcha Cream and an Espresso huh. Please wait a minute."

After the servant left, Lilya's laughter broke.

As if undisturbed, he casually reached into cigarettes and a lighter from his pants pocket. He waited for Lilya to stop laughing while enjoying a cigarette.

"Other times use the coat sir. Free, wear gini clothes instead cake stock charm." Finally Lilya stopped laughing while rubbing the end of her watery eyes.

Huga breathed smoke from her mouth upwards. "If you're done with the laugh, let's discuss the information that you already have."

"Ok ok." Lilya straightened her body and changed her expression seriously. "On the news he said the victim's car had met, right? And there's fiber in the offender's clothes left in the steering chair?"

"I don't think there is any need to confirm the truth of the news that is definitely accurate. You can just get to the point" said Huga.

"If you can tell me more details about the fiber? If my assumption is correct, this will be an important clue."

For a moment Huga was silent with a smile in response to Lilya's entrapping remark. He knew exactly what the girl in front of him was doing. Basically the only person who was supposed to provide information was Lilya, but the girl instead lured Huga into an indirect exchange of information that seemed profitable. Though the real intention was reversed, it was Lilya who wanted to extract information that the police hid from the public.

"Some days you don't see each other, you get bolder..." Huga switched off her cigarette to the ashtray, then linked her hands together over her elbows and smiled. "That's fiber woll. Possibility of falling off the perpetrator's jacket or sweater."

And as Huga had guessed, Lilya was actually not really convinced by her previous remarks. The girl looked pensive, before finally reaching for her HP.

"Jaket" said Lilya as if he was convincing himself. He then shows the HP screen in front of Huga. "Shearling jacket to be exact."

Huga leaned back, watching the HP Lilya screen showing a video in which Eesya and her boyfriend Renaldi were fighting behind a school cafeteria kiosk. There it is clear that Renaldi is wearing a brown shearling jacket, with the inside of the jacket made of cream-colored woll.

"I once met the nephew of the owner of this foundation. That was also to make sure the alibi Ersya who said she was watching a movie with her boyfriend when the murder happened was valid.” Casually Huga leaned against the back of the chair while looking at the satisfied Lilya. "And of course he didn't wear that jacket when he met me."

"That's why Renaldi brought the victim's car?!" Leeking Lilya was too excited that some people at the nearby table turned towards her. Realizing that, Lilya hurriedly shut her mouth and put both hands together, apologizing while grinning.

"Yes, not necessarily. We still need to match it in the lab, but it could also be the perpetrator and Renaldi happens to have a similar jacket,”, said Huga casually.

"Well, how can't you like the usual Mr. Huga?" Lilya folded her arms around her chest while looking at Huga full of criticism. "Obviously that's impossible. Shearling jackets are not cheap jackets that everyone can buy. Renaldi is the nephew of the school foundation owner, so it is natural that his taste is excessive for the size of school children. But for another disciple who was not from a family as rich as him? Rasaya impossible.”

"But still I need a sample jacket to fit in the lab.... You got any advice?"

Lilya chuckles. "From that, why do not you directly give the order 'Lilya please take Renaldi' jacket?"

Suga smiled brightly. "Because I don't have the authority to say that. All the actions you take, must be based on your own decisions. If not, I'll get in trouble."

"The order.." the waiter now approached the table with a tray containing the order that was recorded.

“This cunning base... this Mr. Huga really doesn't care for me in the slightest huh..?” With Lilya's pitiful tone and the expression of the nelangsa, Lilya hugged her stomach. “At least responsibility cake!”

The beautiful appearance full of ambiguity was successful in making the brains of the maidservant traveling for a moment, until finally staring at Huga with a gaze ‘what the f**?!’

Realizing the situation was being threatened, Huga let out a heavy sigh.

“Trust me mbak, the assumption mbak is wrong.” Said Huga who although a little upset, he was also amazed by the ability of Lilya to manipulate the situation.