Doppelganger: Detective Frans' Adventure
The verdwijnen 2

I immediately shouted to Frans who was in the bathroom. I'm telling you everything I saw, Hartanti, the client who just met her, is now being kidnapped. Early in the morning, Frans' life was full of surprises. After being held captive by a herd of criminals. Now he has to deal with the kidnapper again. My heart was beating so hard, I can't wait to see what the adventure will be like this time. Although actually I sometimes worry a little, gamang do a job like this—but want how else, already risk myself being Frans' annoying colleague.

Moments later she opened the bathroom door and ran down the stairs. My eyes almost jumped out, what did I see? Frans only wears shorts. He was already wearing a shirt, although the towel was still wrapped around his neck. Stupidly he was, wearing tight shorts in front of a woman. I held back a laugh even though I ended up smiling embarrassedly.

“Quick! We go after the kidnapper, get the car ready! You see the number plate isn't it?”

I'm sure my face is red. “You want to chase them without wearing pants? Too bad I didn't see the plate number.”

He looked down at the lower body and then glared. “Huah! My pants are gone!” Frans made me smile even more when I saw his stupid face.

“Basic! You're not wearing pants yet.”

“Iya-iya, prepare the car! I'll take the pants first.” Frans came back up the stairs. His barefoot steps thumped as he ran up the stairs.

I'm setting up the car like an instruction from Frans. Even like this woman, I'm good at driving. I pulled the car out of the garage. Frans appeared while running, he entered the car and I immediately gasped towards the intersection following the direction of the jeep car was leaving. Once at the crossroad, we didn't know which way to go, Frans opened a small note from his pants pocket.

“Roof left!” he commanded.

I slammed the steering wheel into his words. I don't know what he read, maybe the address given by Hartanti. The road is full of vehicles passing by. During working hours, this big city is really sickening. The road has no gaps.

“Where are we going? Jeep car was not seen in front.”

Frans stay focused, “Just follow my lead. Later you will know for yourself.”

There is nothing I can do but obey. Rather than arguing I better believe him. Hopefully we can find a clue, given Frans' reasoning and his more often accurate arguments. I feel like my life has been really ridiculous since I met Frans. In addition to volunteering, he more often refused rewards. Sometimes he forgot to pay me. Every time he forgot, I would stay at his house until he remembered that I had not received a commission from my sacrifice. Often he realizes that Frida is reminding him.

Being a private detective really sucks. Clients come only as an escape or alternative if the police cannot investigate the case they are experiencing. I actually have another job. Perhaps his earnings are more profitable than handling a case that must be brain-twisting, even having to bet lives. I run an online business and open a boutique in my home. Lucky though not always crowded, but can add income.

The most annoying thing about handling a case is when I have to work with the police. I didn't like the police since I was a kid. Care demon! There are many police people who are willing and stubborn. I had a bitter experience because there were police officers who harassed me. The policy of******* is really demeaning to my pride. Not all police are, but most are.

In addition to the abuse I experienced, other stupid incidents I also had. I was passing on the highway in a car, suddenly told to stop by a policeman. Whether it was a fake cop or not—, which was clearly an Indonesian cop, he denied me asking for a sum of money without being able to explain what was my fault, what I had violated. I asked him to explain, and I also asked for a duty letter and a ticket. He said nothing, then let me through. I'm wearing it all my way! Just imagine how stupid he is.

“Frans, hopefully we can solve this case without police interference. Let the police catch the culprit at the end, without coming to investigate.”

“Hopefully we can both finish.”

Frans' reply sounded flat, maybe he sympathized with a case I've been through because of the police. Hopefully the past doesn't interfere with the investigation this time.

Frans pointed to the left, he told me to turn towards the alley in front. A small road, just enough for one car and one motorcycle. Straight said Frans, I obeyed. It's like being a personal driver, how good your life is, Frans, my inner self.

The car got to the end of a narrower road, unable to squeeze in. There was something surprising that we found. Next to the hut house was a parked jeep. The yard is still ground, visible traces of tires that cross. We got out of the car and headed for the house. I'm sure it was the jeep that brought Hartanti earlier.

“Why did you know they were here?” I asked full of astonishment.

While walking, Frans took out a small paper earlier. “This is Bu Hartanti's home address details, she gave it to me earlier.”

“Then who are they?” many wonder.

“Will we find out now.”

We walked slowly and slightly down. Docked to a concrete wall that is quite old and covered, the sun starts very high and the alleys look a lot around the hut house. Rarely a shack house in an era like now, this is the first time I met the hut house. It was dark, quiet, as if the contents of the house had become uninhabited. Now began to sound the sound of chickens crowing and some bird singing.

Frans walked about half a meter in front of me, until we arrived at the courtyard of the house that was not too wide. The ground's overgrown with bully grass. The hut house is whitewashed and has begun to fade—maybe not wood paint or expensive wall paint used, but the wall of the labur—kapur, the precariousness looks there is a sagging some.

Suddenly from inside the house came the sound of screaming like people in pain. The sound was so loud, like the howling of a wolf. What a sorrowful cry, it first sounded very loud a few seconds, but slowly shrieked and became increasingly shuddering groans when he heard it. Frans was surprised.

“What's that sound, Frans?”

He shook. “Man, maybe Hartanti's husband. We'll check now.” He was ready to run to the house because it was only a few meters away. What happened in that house? I can't guess at all, I hope nothing bad happens.