Murder In The Old Castle
XXVII. Second Interview
Anxiety crept in all corners of the castle. The atmosphere of dinner became quiet, almost inaudible the sound of conversation among the residents. They just fell silent, looking at each other suspiciously. Maira who usually chattered also drowned in her delusion. No one opened the conversation.
Unlike usual, this dinner menu Helen serves sea food. For seafood lovers, of course they will be happy, but for those who are allergic, it will certainly be a nightmare. They choose not to touch the food.
Adrianna.
The young lady chose silence, while staring at all the residents who were so enjoying her dinner. He only asked to make omelette eggs filled with vegetables by Helen. The smell of shrimp makes its stomach churn. Only one desired at this time, immediately return to the room.
After dinner, Ammar was ready at Anggara Laksono's desk. Tonight is the turn of Aldo Riyanda, a quiet young man who holds many mysteries. So far Aldo Riyanda is known as a writer of motivational stories that are quite smart. Many life lessons were written in his barely peppered work of romance scenes. The handsome man did not indulge much in private life in public. He just wants to be known for his work not for the thrill of personal life.
“Sit,” greet Ammar Marutami.
Aldo Riyanda's face looked calm, there was no worry he showed. Even confidently, he crossed his legs as his eyeballs slid all over the room. While at the castle, this time he first entered the workspace Anggara Laksono. Unexpectedly, the architect of this building was so exotic. Aldo Riyanda was amazed.
“New first time we face up close like this, Aldin. Uh, that's your real name, right?”
“Fast. My real name is Aldin Riyanda. For many years I used the name Aldo Riyanda as a pen name. In fact, the name brings a lot of luck in the world of my literature,” replied Aldo Riyanda.
“Good name choice.”
“Where do you know my real name? I don't remember telling anyone.”
“One year ago I read a popular health journal from a young doctor named Aldin Riyanda. When I saw the photo in the journal, I realized it was you. It is inexhaustible how a doctor then switched professions to become a writer. Financially, of course the position of the doctor is more promising than the author.”
“This of course has nothing to do with income. It is a matter of contentment that cannot be measured by matter. Being a writer makes me like God. I have the right to determine the fate of the character I will create. I am very satisfied to be someone else in my novel character,” Aldo said confidently.
“How can you be in this castle?”
“I just finished my writing when the apartment door was knocked. An expedition officer sent an invitation from a stranger. Who does not know Anggara Laksono? I took that precious opportunity. Didn't expect my work to be liked by a millionaire like him.”
“Hmm. That sounds crazy. Uncle Anggara invited famous writers just to be witnesses of his death. This is totally absurd! What do you think is the motive behind all these murders? Is there someone you suspect here?” ask Ammar Marutami.
“All have good reason to commit this murder. Including myself. I grew up in a broken-home family. My mother died by suicide in front of my eyes and head. My dad went somewhere. For years I lived with my grandfather on a farm. That event really left a dark trauma in my life,” explained Aldo Riyanda.
“I'm sorry. Maybe it also affects your quiet personality, but actually you plan something in silence. There is a wound that you are deep in. ”
“You know personally the figure of Yoga and Karina?”
“Yoga, I've only known him for a while. Not much to say, just to know. He rarely interacts with us. But I think he's a little delinquent. I'm sure he has a lot of lovers out there. As for Karina, I deeply regret that she died that tragic death. She's so beautiful and smart. I don't know what reason someone would finish him off. Maybe this is some kind of envy or personal grudge. I don't know. I dare not guess!”
“Your opinion is very interesting, Aldo. The death of the two of them was really sudden without any element of red thread connecting. It was as if the two of them were randomly chosen by the assassin. Maybe the culprit is someone who is mentally ill or depressed. Or even a killing machine like Jason Vorhees in Friday The 13th. There are so many allegations in my record, unfortunately there is no common thread that connects,” said Ammar.
“Do you suspect me?”
“Maybe. A dark family background sometimes triggers a person to have a killing instinct. But it's too early to call yourself a suspect. Sometimes a person kills for no apparent reason, just as a gratification. This is what I call a true psychopath.” Ammar explains in detail.
There was not much that the two men talked about. Fundamental information has been recorded in Ammar's agenda book. Aldo Riyanda was welcome to come out when the clockwork started docked at eleven in the evening.
Ammar Marutami was shaken by anxiety. He felt he had no reason to make Aldo Riyanda a suspect. Even so, he still noted Aldo as a person who is smart and maybe full of deceit. In the history of cases he has dealt with, many geniuses kill to obtain inner satisfaction. Sometimes they need a confession of a crime committed.
While the other residents prepare for the contest, Maira Susanti is still awake in the reading room. He was so excited to read a surprising novel. A murder puzzle novel titled ‘Mask The Murderer’ by Michael Smith Artenton. The novel became one of a collection of novels arranged on the shelves of a collection of favorite fiction books Anggara Laksono.
It was the first detective novel he had ever read. The plot is stunning, making Maira continue to tingle reading sheet by sheet of the novel without flinching. According to him, Michael was so smart to concoct the murder case into a series of thrilling sentences.
Instantly he was surprised!
“Gosh! The storyline of this novel is almost the same as the story of the murder that has occurred. Ten television stars were invited into the luxurious mansion. The first murder was drowned in the pool, the second murder was done by stabbing the stomach many times, the third murder was carried out by beheading. This was clearly in keeping with the events in this castle! How can this happen?” thought Maira.
More curious, he opened the next sheet quickly. He wanted to know what would happen with the fourth murder. His heart was pounding, not expecting to find the similarity of the contents of Michael's novel with the murder that was happening.
His heart was about to stop beating when he read carefully that the fourth murder was committed in a reading room by being snared by his neck!
“Here? Jeez!”
The castle lights are out!
***