Murder In The Old Castle
181. Old Stories

Dimas drove the car at medium speed on the west side of the city which is a densely populated residential area. After dealing with the archives and files, he decided to head to Mother Gem Kindergarten, where the young people had attended school in the past. A fact shows that they had a relationship in the past, because they attended the same school.

Dimas's car got into a small unevenly paved street, with houses all around it. He looked left and right, looking for the address of the TK building in question. He got the address of the school with the help of a search engine, although in fact he still doubted its accuracy.

“Jalan Carnation 17 ...” He muttered.

His car stopped in front of a collapsed building that seemed unkempt. In the yard, there are two mango trees that are quite large. Is this really the Mother Gem? It looks like this building was not used for a long time and deliberately destroyed. In front of the building there is a sign that says that a supermarket will be built in this place. Dimas wasn't sure there was anyone to question. However, suddenly his eyes caught a fifty-year-old man sweeping away the mango leaves that were strewn around.

Dimas parked his car, then approached the man. Smiling kindly, Dimas asked her.

“Sorry Sir, is this really TK Permata Bunda?” asked Dimas politely.

The man stopped his sweeping activities, while closely observing Dimas. He was astonished, because a well-dressed man approached him.

“Who are you?” ask the father without further ado, full of suspicion.

“Oh, sorry Sir. My name is Dimas. In the past, my sister went to school at TK Permata Bunda. I want to know about the teachers who teach here. Do you know?”

From his pocket, Dimas took out a photograph of Gerry, which was drawn by a group of Kindergarten children with his teacher. He showed the photo to the sweeper father of the page. The man scrunched his forehead, like remembering something.

“Not this photo Bu Delia?” muttered the father.

“Bu Delia? Sorry sir, I would love to meet him, do you know this Bu Delia?” ask Dimas.

The father nodded as his eyes looked far away.

“Ya, yes. Of course I know him,” said the father.

“Bapak can show me his house, Sir?”

“Sure .. sure. She is my wife!”

“Oh, what a coincidence!”

Dimas smiled with relief. The father put down the broom used to clean the yard, then hinted Dimas to follow in his footsteps. The father stepped towards a path located behind the TK building, splitting a cassava garden. It turns out that behind the cassava garden there is a simple house. Apparently that's where the father lived with his wife.

Dimas is welcome to enter the living room that is not how spacious, but looks clean. Although small and simple, the atmosphere of the house feels comfortable and neatly arranged, so Dimas feels comfortable to be there. Moreover, the windows are opened wide, so that the wind blowing from the cassava garden can enter the house freely.

Before long, a dull hooded middle-aged woman came out from inside the house. He was a little surprised to see Dimas coming. Immediately he sat down near the chair that Dimas used to sit.

“Who is it?” ask the woman named Bu Delia.

“Oh, I'm Dimas Bu. Sorry to interrupt Mom's time, I'm here to ask you some questions if you don't mind,” Dimas said politely.

“Question? What question?”

Dimas immediately took out the photo that had been shown to Bu Delia's husband. He gave the photo to Bu Delia, so that the woman could be more careful in observing.

“Where did you get this photo?” ask Miss Delia.

“To be honest Ma'am, I am a police officer. I'm investigating a murder case involving some of the children in this photo. We ask with great help Mother to provide information about these children,” said Dimas.

“Oh, sorry for my insolence, sir. I don't know if you are a policeman,” said Bu Delia with a shy face.

“Not a problem Mom. I beg your help if you don't mind .... “

“Which kids do you mean?”

Dimas pointed to some of the child figures depicted in the photo. Miss Delia nodded. He was silent for a moment before he started telling stories. His mind drifted to events that happened in the past, when he was still young.

“This photo was taken a few days before they graduated school. At that time, we agreed to take a picture, and showed the happiest expression we ever had. The children you were referring to, they were close friends. Look it! Gerry Lorenzo, I still have his full name. He is the only son of a wealthy couple. His mother left him to me at that time. He gave me a ring that I still keep.

Then this cheerful smiling girl was Lena ... Lena who is it? I kind of forgot his full name. She is a bright and brave girl. He is good at fighting and likes to challenge boys. He even made some boys cry because of him. Then this girl who was pussy and beautiful was Jenny Veronica. This little girl is very good at dancing and very happy to take pictures. Then, the little girl wearing this hat was Miranti. A bit reserved and timid, but actually a jolly person. And boy ... What's his name? If it's not wrong named Rudi. Yes, I remember! His name is Rudi.”

Bu Delia's eyes twinkled, her memories of the past making her feel happy, as if she could still see the children directly.

“Rudi is a brave pretentious boy. He likes to fight with other children, so sometimes I have to break up. And this ... This gloomy looking boy is Ferdy. Yeah I remember, his name was Ferdy. He's shy and quiet, but he's actually nice. His father and mother were selling in the market, so sometimes he was late to be picked up. I heard that .. his father and mother died when the market caught fire, but they did not have time to escape from it. Oh my God, it's so sad,” said Ms. Delia.

“Oh ... is that true, Bu?”

“Yes, Ferdy's father and mother died in the fire. I feel so sorry for him, thankfully there are people who are kind to him, then make him an adopted child.”

“Child lift?” Dimas was getting curious to hear the story of Bu Delia.

“Absolutely. He was appointed as an adopted child by the family of Gerry,”, said Bu Delia.

“Not them mopping?” ask Dimas.

“Not, no. They are not cousins. But every time people ask, they say that Ferdy is Gerry's cousin, I don't know why. However, there is actually no blood relationship between Ferdy and Gerry,” said Bu Delia.

Dimas. He now knows hidden stories that he never knew before, including secrets that may never have been raised on the surface. He finds out that Ferdy and Gerry are not real cousins, although they always say they are cousins.

***

Gilda felt uncomfortable being in the room constantly. The first day he was in an isolation house, he immediately invited Wandi to go around to see the situation. Although he was given the freedom to cover the news about everything in the house, he was not satisfied because he was not allowed to publish the news out.

“Are we going to be cooped up here forever, Wan?” ask Gilda to Wandi.

“Yes is not Ma'am. We are not suspects here,” replied Wandi.

Gilda snorts. After from the front yard, he went to a side yard that was planted with many ornamental plants. He is not so painstaking with things like that, because he thinks it is a waste of time and boring. He just passed by the side yard full of ornamental plants, directly to the backyard.

“There really is nothing interesting in this house to cover!” his gerrick.

“Then what kind of interesting, Ma'am?” ask Wandi.

“I wish there was a murder here. Kan exclamation. If anyone dies here, we continue to take pictures exclusively, of course it will be really cool right?” gilda said with a cynical smile.

“Waduh, yes don't let there be another murder. Poor those young people. If the killer can be quickly arrested, so we are also not long here, Ma'am. Ma'am Gilda wants to stay longer in this place?” Wandi asked back.

“Yes no, Wan. But it would be exciting if there are unusual events here!”

“Do not Mbak. That's his evil name .... “

“Loh, we will indeed live from the results of the crimes of others, Wan. We get news from other people who have committed crimes, and then we sell the news. Yes inevitably indeed our livelihood from all these crimes,” said Gilda.

“But Mbak .. yes if the killed were them, how about Mbak Gilda who was killed for example. Is it still interesting to cover?” asked Wandi in a plain tone.

“Dih, what the hell are you? You expect me to be killed? You're just saying it carelessly Wan. Amit-amit dah!” gertu Gilda while walking quickly left Wandi.

Gilda went inside the house, headed to the dining room because it was now a lunch hour for the residents of the isolation house. He has been studying the schedule set by the police. When he entered the dining room, he saw that the dining room was still quiet, no one had come yet. However, Ms. Mariyati was seen busy preparing food on the table. Gilda immediately looked for a seat there.

“Bu Mariyati who cooked all this by herself?” ask Gilda.

“Iya Non. I cooked all this myself,” replied Bu Mariyati while preparing everything on the table.

Gilda saw the look of cuisine that Bu Mariyati served so interesting, so she was interested in tasting. Just as he was about to taste the food, some of the residents began to come to the place to eat. Gilda broke her intention. One by one they filled the empty seats, without a word they prepared for lunch.

The mood that afternoon was a little awkward. The presence of Gilda who is not at all expected to make the atmosphere less comfortable and free. Next to Gilda was Ferdy who sat like a sweet child, without intending a word.

“Hai Fer, how are you?” whiskey Gilda.

“Eh, fine, Ma'am!” ferdy replied a little surprised.

Ferdy once filled out a talk show hosted by Gilda, so they were certainly more familiar than the others.

“So how? You feel at home here?” ask Gilda to Ferdy.

“Yes don't want to, Ma'am. Said not to feel at home. But this is something that must be undertaken so that this case can be resolved immediately. Let's just follow it,” replied Ferdy.

“Who is the mastermind of all these events?” ask Gilda.

“Pastinya do not know yes, Ma'am. How am I doing anyway?” Ferdy replied with a smile.

Gilda smiled too. Seeing Gilda and Ferdy whispering, making Adinda who was sitting a little far away from them become unable to hold back the curiosity. Somehow he was a little jealous when he saw the familiarity between Gilda and Ferdy. He glanced towards them closely.

Once all is complete, lunch is ready to begin. Reno who led directly to pray before eating. They ate solemnly, without making a sound. Reno hopes that the atmosphere remains conducive until night. The level of each resident of the isolation house. He knew they were bored.

“Sore there will be a surprise for you!” reno said while enjoying his lunch.

“I hope a pleasant surprise ya!” chirps Lena.

“Yes, this is fun. We know you're bored. This afternoon the police will send various entertainment facilities that will make you not bored. Whatever the facility is, we'll see. At the very least, your free time is not wasted by staying in the room,” Reno explained.

“That must have been what Mr. Dimas said yesterday,” said Lena.

“Emang Mr Dimas said what?” ask Rudi.

“Pak Dimas said it will provide entertainment facitas so we do not feel bored here. That's it,” replied Lena.

“I hope there are sports facilities too. And I hope the sports aren't chess. Chess game makes dizziness,” said Rudi.

“Chess trains the brain to think and not make dizzy. Maybe only a lazy person thinks that chess is boring!” Alex defended himself.

“Ya like me dong! Also called opinion. If I say boring chess is legitimate. It is the same if you say fitness is a useless sport. That simple one is all!” Rudi said while grinning.

“Buset! My appetite so down because you guys are arguing about the trivial!” chirps Rasty.

All speechless. Gilda could only smile sneering at the small commotion at the dining table. He knew that young blood was still exploding. They still have a high ego, so it is only natural that they choose to defend their opinions with a little insistent.

“By the way, yesterday's chess match wasn't finished yet! I'm still looking forward to a worthy opponent for me!” said Ferdy.

“Udah stop talking about chess! We are eating!” rudi Protest.

“Not you started earlier?” ask Ferdy.

Rudi fell silent. Apparently he's not comfortable. He just fell silent. It was clearly drawn on his face, if he was holding back anger.

***