Murder In The Old Castle
170. Chess

On the outskirts of the city that is not so crowded, there are shophouse buildings lined on the side of the main road. The average shophouse consists of two floors, and is built with colorful shades. Some shophouses sell glasses, women's clothes, and cake shops. Some also provide salon services and massage parlors. Everything is neatly lined up, with a parking lot that is quite spacious.

Reno parked her vehicle, then looked into one of the shophouses located between the cake shop and the glasses shop. Apparently the shophouse rents vehicle rental services. The name on the signpost is quite clearly read ‘Andika Car Rental’. This name is in accordance with the name of the car owner indicated by the police to him.

Reno entered the quiet-looking shophouse. There was only a haired girl in the mouth who was sitting behind the table. Seeing Reno coming, the girl smiled as she greeted him.

“Please, Sir. Can we help you?” bargained for.

The greeting is a standard greeting to offer services to prospective consumers. Reno looked around. There are many photos of cars on the wall, confirming that this place does provide car rental services.

“Sorry Ma'am. I want to meet the owner of this car rental, can I?” ask Reno firmly.

“Sorry, Sir. Have you made an appointment before?” ask the girl.

“It's an important affair, Ma'am. No need to make an appointment beforehand. Is there?”

“If you may know, Father from where?”

“I'm from the police,” said Reno.

“Oh, ba-okay, sir!”

Hearing the word ‘police’, the girl was a bit scared. Soon he picked up the phone and informed the car rental owner that a guest would be visiting. A moment later, he smiled kindly.

“Please Sir. Just go straight up to the second floor,” said the girl kindly. He invited Reno to go to the second floor of the shophouse building.

Reno immediately climbed up the narrow stairs, towards a room at the end of the hallway. The door was closed, and the impression of the room was so quiet. He knocked slowly, until someone in the room let him in.

Reno entered the room designed as an office space, with a work desk and chairs to receive guests. While behind the table there are shelves containing neatly arranged archives. The room felt cold because it used air conditioning that was set at low temperatures. While on the other side there is a window that is not closed curtains, so that the highway below there is clearly visible.

Reno was greeted by a man about 40 years old, round-faced, but looking cold. He frowned to see Reno coming. His staff said that there would be a police guest who would visit him. This was somewhat surprising, because he had never come into contact with legal matters before.

“Sorry, Sir. I am Reno from the police, want to confirm something to Mr.” Reno said kindly.

The car owner looked wrong. He immediately invited her to sit down, even though in his heart he felt anxious. He was curious, what business did this cop go to his car rental?

“Please Sir. What can we help you with?” the rental owner.

“Begini Sir. This is related to a car accident that happened a few days ago. We managed to get the plate number. The number indicates that the owner of the car is Mr. Andika. 2015 White Honda Civic car with license plate number B 1234 LB, do you recognize the car?” ask Reno.

“Oh right .. right. I am the owner of that car. The car was registered in my name, sir. What happened to that car, sir?” ask Mr. Andika curious.

“As we informed earlier that the car that you have had an accident at the bottom of the ravine outside the city. The car is currently being evacuated from the scene. We have not found the driver of the car, as the car was found empty. Can you help who last used the car, sir?” ask Reno.

“Oh yes sure. About a few weeks ago a woman rented the car, and paid off in advance. So I released the key to the woman, Mr.”

“Father records the identity of the woman, and what does she use as collateral?”

“Oh, yes Sir. I recorded all the identities of the car borrowers in our place, because we were worried that there would be bad things, so for sure we recorded. A minute sir.”

Mr. Andika called his staff below to bring the car loan data book. Before long, the girl who was on the lower floor earlier entered, while carrying a large book wrapped in batik.

“Her face is here Sir, complete with a photocopy of ID card that he brought,” replied Mr. Andika.

Reno immediately looked at the data that Mr. Andika showed. The data made him very surprised!

***

Night surrounds a Dutch-style house. The mood changed. Anxiety crept in the minds of its inhabitants. Darkness can be interpreted as evil, because it could be the perpetrators of crime hiding behind the darkness. The atmosphere became gloomy. Even the stars refuse to show themselves.

After dinner, the residents chose to chat for a while while enjoying the dessert that Bu Mariyati had provided. No one goes into a room, waiting for someone to break the silence. The atmosphere was silent, without sound.

“Someone can play chess?” ask Dimas.

“I!”

“I!”

Ferdy, Alex, and Lena answered almost simultaneously. The three of them looked at each other, not expecting that it turned out that each of them had the ability to play chess. All this time they only know each other limited to ordinary friendships, not even know the hidden abilities of each.

“Chess game is not easy. It is a game full of strategy and needs some thought. No wonder, chess players are usually smart and tactical. The Russians are strategists at chess, but I believe more Indonesians are smarter than them. So who's the best among you? I'll fight him later!” challenge Dimas.

“I think it will take a long time, sir. We may not sleep,” said Lena.

“I'm ready not to sleep tonight!” said Ferdy.

“I too!” alex added enthusiastically.

Dimas looked towards the clock that was coiled around his wrist, smiling.

“Now it's eight o'clock. We will play until twelve. On top of that you should have entered the room and rested. Tomorrow morning, I will inform you about the daily schedule that you can carry out so that your life is not too boring. How?” bright Dimas.

Ferdy nodded, looking at Dimas confidently, as if to show that he would defeat the policeman in a game of chess easily. Dimas knew the meaning of that gaze, he only smiled faintly. Dimas still remembers, when he was in high school, he was the king of chess in school. Even his teachers were brought to his knees. Ferdy's look that seemed to belittle him was certainly not a threat. Even in his heart, Dimas was very ambitious to subdue Ferdy.

While Alex looked cold as if he did not react, but Dimas knew that Alex had abilities that could not be taken lightly. The calm water washed away, as the proverb says. Dimas realized, that Alex might be a chess expert who did not want to be so self-assertive.

“So those of us who don't like chess what?” chirps Rasty.

“You can rest or take a walk around the house. Remember that! Not outside the house. Just around the house and stay within surveillance range. It's for your own security!” dimas Message.

“OK!”

Rasty and Adinda chose to get out of the house immediately in search of a cool night air that night. Adinda wanted to spend some time with Ferdy, but the young man preferred to play chess with a few other friends.

“Can I join you guys?”

Rudi who felt alone, finally decided to join Rasty and Adinda. He thought that the game of chess was very boring and a waste of time. He did not like to sit and squeeze the brain, while glaring at the chess pieces arranged in a mess in black-and-white pieces, waiting to be moved.

“Who will compete first?” ask Ferdy impatiently.

“How about you fight me first?” challenge Lena.

“Ready!”

The four of them moved into the living room, moving the table in such a way as to make it more comfortable to play. Chess pawns have been arranged on the table, while Bu Mariyati has also prepared coffee to accompany the game until late.

Ferdy looked at Lena full of threats to get the girl's mentality down. Unfortunately, Lena wasn't the girl yesterday afternoon who was afraid of threats. He returned with full confidence. The two are already sitting face to face, while Dimas and Alex will look at their game, as they use the strategy.

“After you play, then I will play with Alex. Each winner will return to the match. If there is not enough time today, it will continue another day. Unfortunately tomorrow morning is the schedule of Reno. So maybe we'll meet the next day!”

All agreed with the unwritten rules made by Dimas.

“Wait! Is this just a game?” ask Ferdy.

“What do you mean?” Back to asking.

“Maybe you can provide some kind of encouragement, like a gift. I think it's necessary so we can play more optimally. No need for expensive prizes, but for this competition to be more interesting. How?” ferdy's proposal.

“Hmm ... “

Dimas took out a wallet, and took out a hundred thousand pieces of money, then put them on the table.

“If I think, what if the prize is not money? Maybe the prize can be in the form of previlege or benefits that can be enjoyed in this house. Like for example the opportunity to walk outside?” alex's proposal.

“It will not cause jealousy to others who can not play chess?” timpal Lena's.

“OK .. okay. Alex's proposal was good. Money is useless in this house of isolation. You need more than that. Okay, I'll give you an advantage for the winner of this chess competition. Anyone who wins will get the opportunity to shop at the nearest supermarket with supervision. For others, of course we will create another competition that suits their talents and ask for them. How?” said Dimas.

Without a second thought, they all agreed to Dimas' proposal. The smell of competition begins to smell, thus adding to the adrenaline of each of them. The competition is ready to start. Ferdy and Lena are already facing each other, threatening each other.

***