Murder In The Old Castle
LXIV. The Twin's Secret
The morning was still a little dark as Hans was already preparing in the side yard, in his adventure costume. He wears a long-sleeved shirt, hat, and sneakers. Maira who wants to be adventurous also looks different. He was wearing a red t-shirt, and a training pants. He tied his hair in ponytails, so as not to get sultry when on the move.
“You're ready for an adventure today, Maira?” ask Hans.
“Very ready, Hans! Your story about the waterfall is uplifting. I can't wait to see it!” maira said with sparkling eyes.
From the direction inside the castle, Michael approached with a restless face, like something was weighing on the mind. He looked at Hans and Maira sharply.
“You won't stay with those kids right?” ask Michael.
“Maybe not. Let's see it later! I think staying in the wild is fun. Especially being able to make love under the moonlight. Wow, must be exciting!” gelak Hans's.
“Can you not lead towards making love, Hans? I wonder, your life is not far from making love and women. Don't you think there's anything more interesting than that?” moaning Michael.
“There's Michael! I like money! If there is money in this castle, then I will gladly bring it home! A lady? Who doesn't like women?”
Michael snorts. Hans and Maira immediately stepped out towards the front yard, leaving behind Michael. Before reaching the gate, Aldo and Elina ran after them. Aldo is ready with an adventurous costume, while Elina also appears sporty, with a camera that is clad in the neck.
“Wait! I'm coming!” shout Aldo.
Hans and Maira stopped their steps, staring at the couple lazily. Maira also slightly objected that Aldo and Elina were adventuring.
“We want to find interesting objects for photos. I thought it would be nice if we left together,” Aldo said.
“I don't think so, Aldo. We don't like to look for photo objects. So later please you guys find the photo object by yourself, because we want to find a secluded place to make love,” sneer Hans.
Elina was riled to hear Hans say. He threw his face the other way. Aldo, who had been upset with Hans's behavior, was not so piqued. They walked out of the gate, turning the castle towards a small walkway flanked by tea plantations. The morning still leaves drops of dew on the tea leaves, and a thin mist that still refuses to evaporate.
Astonishingly, this vast expanse of tea is as if it is no man's master, as it is rare for the owner or gardener to visit. It's just that during the tea harvest season, the place was suddenly crowded visited. Unfortunately, the area around the castle remained deserted. The mystical aura of the old castle seemed to be a turning force for people to visit there.
Elina was busy taking photos of the horizon of the eastern horizon that began to redden, a sign that the sun will soon be on the throne. He greatly admired the natural beauty offered there. Aldo faithfully awaited him. Meanwhile, Hans and Maira get impatient.
“You wasted our precious time. Just finish your business, we will walk alone!” lament Hans.
“Shortly Hans! It's worth to miss!” elina answered, while continuing to focus on observing the panorama from the small hole in her camera.
“We don't know the way to that waterfall, Hans. Wait a minute!” Aldo added.
Hans and Maira shrugged their shoulders. Maira whispered to Hans,”I think it's a big mistake to bring them with us. It'll take a while. How about we just leave them quietly?”
“Good idea. They are not children, they cannot get lost. Mumpung they're still busy, let's go!” said Hans.
Hans and Maira soon settles quietly leaving the couple who are engrossed in taking the photo object.
***
It wasn't too late when Michael tried to calm his mind in the kitchen. He needs a glass of cold water, in order to refresh the brain that feels hot. Helen did not meet there, but so early she usually prepared breakfast. Perhaps he knew that some of the castle's inhabitants were out of place, so he only had bread and cheese on the kitchen table. Michael wasn't hungry. He just wants to refresh his throat.
Suddenly, he saw a window connecting with the basement open. Helen came out from inside the basement carrying a package. The middle-aged woman was somewhat surprised to see Michael's presence in the kitchen. Hurriedly he behaved normally, glancing towards Michael at a glance.
“Helen? Where are you from?” asked Michael curiously.
“Eh, anu .. I just saw the condition of the basement for a bit. Because the conditions inside are very dirty. A lot of rats have been running around lately so I'm figuring out what's causing it,” Helen said hesitantly.
“Tikus? I've never met a rat down there,” Michael said.
“Then what do you bring it?” micheael asked full of questions.
“This? Oh, this is food scraps. I found it down there. Whether there's a rat that brought it there or something else, I don't understand.”
“Helen, do you know the ins and outs of the dark passage under this castle?” ask Michael again.
“Dark passageway? Sorry I don't quite understand. All I know is that in the hallway there are many colonial-era rooms. It's kind of creepy indeed. Sometimes we can get lost if we are not careful,” said Helen.
Michael nodded, frowning.
“Sorry, I have to send breakfast to Mr. Ammar's room,”.
The movement is swift, preparing several pieces of bread, jam bottles, a glass of milk, and cheese. He did not even care when Michael was there, watching every move made.
Once all was ready, he took the food to Ammar's room leaning against the wall while reading an obsolete biography of Anggara Laksono. Helen didn't want to interrupt. He just put the food on the table.
“If you need anything, do not hesitate to call me,” said Helen.
“Iya Helen's. Thank ye. I wasn't so hungry this morning. Maybe I'll just drink some milk. By the way, long enough we don't talk, right? We did meet often, even before this murder case was in the castle. But we rarely talk,” said Amar.
“There's something you want to ask, sir?” ask Helen.
“Not many Helen. I know you were a loyal servant serving Uncle Anggara Laksono, even towards his last day. Surely you know him very well personally, don't you?” ask Ammar.
“Eh, yes Sir. Of course I know Mr. Anggara very well,” replied Helen.
“What do you think?”
“Healthy well. But a bit quiet, likes to be alone in his reading room. He likes coffee without sugar. There's also a lot of unexplained things about him, sir. Sometimes he told me to stay late at night in his study. He told me about...” Helen thought for a moment.
“About what, Helen?”
“About his wife, Anastasia Pratiwi.”
“Hmm. Then who's the woman holding the child, Helen? Do you know about him?” urge Ammar to be excited.
“Dia .. she is a good woman. Good women who are hurt. Sorry I can't tell you about that, sir.” Said Helen timidly.
“Then where is he now? Is it still alive? What about her son, Helen?”
“Do I have to answer this question, Sir?”
“Yes. You have to answer, Helen! Consider it an interrogation.”
“What I know, Anggara Laksono has twins, unfortunately I don't know his whereabouts sir. I also do not know the whereabouts of Anjani,” replied Helen.
“Twin? But only one child in the photo I see!”
“They're almost the same face, sir. He once told me that he did not want twins in his life. So he decided to take pictures with one of them,” said Helen.
Ammar fell silent, digesting all of Helen's words. At least he has a picture that might lead to this big case. He hoped, so that his guess did not miss.
***