Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 21. IDENTITY OF CORPSE REVEALED

"Is aunt sure it's Ramira?" jilena's gaze alternately stared between the laptop screen and the tantenya. Could it?

“Yes, I'm pretty sure. Ask him yourself, if you don't believe me.”

“Tante knows what this means, right?”

A puzzled expression was seen on the face of Aunt Goddess.

“No, I don't understand. Where did you get that picture?”

"These pendants were found among the remains of skull bones in the lake."

"You mean the rotting body you wrote in that article?"tanya Aunt Goddess straightened her back.

“Yes, aunt. Exactly right. That's what I meant. So, it means that the dead woman is Ramira's mother!”

“Mariana? Yeah, God. Are you sure?"

Jilena shrugged her shoulders. "Who else would have kept a picture of Ramira in her locket if it wasn't her mother?"

"RIGHT." The Aunt Goddess nodded, her expression turning serious. "How are we gonna tell him?”

"Not us."

"What's? Why not?"ask Aunt Goddess. "Ramira deserves to know!"

“At least not yet, aunt. We won't say anything until I get confirmation from the lab.”

“Of course, it's the best. There's no point in telling the girl her mother is dead if you're wrong about all this" Aunt Goddess reasoned.

“But if it is true that the remains of the skull are Aunt Mariana, meaning that Ramira's mother never left it all this time,” said Jilena. “She hasn't come back because she's dead. At least I have to prove myself.”

"Jilena Margaretha! You don't be rash." His aunt held tightly to his arm, a gesture that forced him to stop.

“The woman has been dead for ten or twelve years you said. Waiting a few more hours or days will not change anything.”

"But I have to tell the detective what my suspicions are about" said Jilena, releasing the aunt's hand on her arm, "I have to get the latest story to be written as soon as possible, I want this story published tomorrow. And-"

“Slow-slow, baby. Articles can wait a day or two. You haven't even been confirmed about lab results.”

"I know, but I have to—"

"No." The woman insisted. “Besok is your father's funeral, Jilena. We have to forget about this case for a while. Tomorrow is a day of mourning in honor of your father, my brother. If you put out her article in the newspaper tomorrow, the city will be full of your story, ” Hands of aunty fluttering in the air in style, “People will gossip ugly things about murder victims. Let them gossip on another day—don't tomorrow.”

“What about the police? I have to tell Detective Wira right away. Otherwise, it's the same as if I'm withholding evidence in a murder investigation. ”

“My dear, that detective can definitely wait a few hours to be notified. Unlike Mariana who died and waited years for her body to be found and traces of the killer may have been lost, if indeed the skeleton was—Mariana”

Jilena sat on the kitchen chair and dropped her purse on the table, rolling her eyes like a teenager. “I forgot how small this city is.” He shook his head. “Alright, I'll wait until tonight to contact the detective, assuming—the old man hasn't pulled out his false teeth and slept.”

“Ha ha ha and I've forgotten how clever your mouth is, miss,” reply aunt goddess, raise her eyebrows and flick her finger at her nephew, who looks unhappy.

"Sorry." Jilena grimaced and shrugged her shoulders.

“It's forgiven. Now help your aunt pick out the best photos of your papa for tomorrow's show."

...**...

Almost six o'clock when Ramira and Sarah arrive at the aunt goddess' house for dinner, after closing The Upper Spot. On the table was dinner, there was a salad with slices of grilled chicken, cream soup and steak.

"Evening is ready," jilena called them, they stepped into the dining room area, Sarah gave a kiss on the aunt goddess's cheek.

"Ohh, I'm so hungry" said Ramira, putting her bag on the table and—pulling a bench. "Everything looks good." Aunt Goddess and Sarah moved towards the table and watched as Jilena put the finishing touches on each salad.

"Please pour some water, we're ready to eat." jilena took some salad and brought it to the table. “Sarah, can you get two plates?”

"Don't be too bossy" replied Sarah.

Something pierced Jilena's neck. Can't they have a nice dinner? without argument? “Sarah, can you get me the other two plates?

Does that sound better?"

"Huh," that's all Sarah answered before taking the plate and bringing it to the table. Before long, they all sat around the dining table leisurely, enjoying a good meal. It sounds like everyone is having a light conversation, but Jilena keeps a close eye on the tant, hoping to get a signal that it's time to start talking about Ramira's mother's discovery.

"Keenan was at the cafe this morning for coffee and breakfast as usual." Ramira poured a little soup into her bowl. “She said how happy she is with your work."

“Keenan?” ask jilena. "You mean Keenan Hadinata?"

“Of course, stupid. Who else do I mean?” Ramira laughs. “He thanked me for sending you to him. He's a good guy, isn't he, Jilena?”

“Sure, I guess.”

“Handsome too.” add Ramira. “Not him?” Ramira looked around the table, as if she was expecting everyone's approval.

Is Aunt Dewi trying to match Ramira with Keenan Hadinata? The man was almost ten years older than her. Although, Ramira does seem open to possibilities. "Isn't Keenan married?" jilena asked, recalling keenan mentioning that she had a son.

"No" answered Ramira. “Her wife died of breast cancer about three years ago."

"Yes that's right. Too bad, ”add Aunt Goddess. “Riska is a good woman."

"Ariel is a cute little boy" Ramira comments

“The child is no longer small,” Sarah chimed in. “She's about ten or twelve years old,—dia?"

"Yes, right," said Ramira. “It seems I remember Keenan ordering a cake for Ariel's birthday a few months ago, but I don't remember which one.”

Does Ariel have her father's thick brown hair and brown eyes, or does she look more like her mother? A burden on her chest as Jilena thought of Ariel who was roughly the same age as her son, wondering again if her own son would look like Noah.

“I wish I could get to know my father,” Ramira said in a sad tone in voice. “When I was a kid, I often imagined him coming to me someday.”

Ramira stared down at his plate as he picked up his last piece of lettuce. “In my dream he will invite me to stay with him in a beautiful palace and he will—give me a gift and make a great birthday party for me.”

The other three women stared at each other with uncomfortable gazes, unsure of how to respond to that.

"It's funny what the kids want" Ramira said, eventually looking up. Sarah ventured into commenting first. “Maybe your mother tried to protect you from your father. What if he's not the great guy you expected?”

"He couldn't be worse than my mother" Ramira replied. "Or all her girlfriends she's ever brought."

Jilena placed her hand on the hand of Ramira who was on the table. "You never know." She raises her eyes towards Aunt Goddess, wondering if now is the time to tell Ramira about her mother. Auntie Dewi shook her head slightly, meaning now was not the right time.

As Jilena drove her car back to her home that night, she called Detective Wira to tell him about her discovery.

"Hello," the detective replied, sounding like Jilena had woken her up.

"I know it's late and I'm sorry, but I thought you wanted to know—"

"Who is this?" he's asking.

“Oh, sorry, Detective, this is Jilena Margaretha, from The Lembayung Post. I've got something I think you need to know. ”

"Oh yeah? What'sthat?" From his voice, he was not sure he should disturb him at home.

"I'm sure I've found out who owns the remains" Jilena said

“If the TKP investigator has not determined, how-you know who it is?” he growls.

“I'm sure the victim's name is Mariana. She is Ramira's mother. You know Ramira, don't you?”

"Woman running your mother's cafe on that corner of the main street?"

“Yes, The Upper Spot.” Jilenas

“Yes, there it is. But what makes you think the bone belongs to her mother?"

"Isn't there a locket found with the body?"Jilenas

"Yes, but how do you know that?"

"I saw it. I was at TKP, remember?”

"I remember, the pain in—"

“There's a photo inside that locket. I have reason to believe that the picture was from Ramira when she was a child.” Jilene.

“How do you know that?”

"You know I can't reveal my source, Mr. Wira." Jilenas

"I'm a detective, remember that, Miss Jilena."

"Yes, Detective." Jilena fell silent, but she did not answer quickly.

“As I said before, if we cooperate, we can solve this case faster, and you will look like a city hero.”

“Yes, I remember you saying that, but I'm not sure. I will solve this case with a good police work.”

“Of course, Detective, but there's a little help not wrong isn't it? I just want to be the first one to crack the story when we find who killed him.” Jilenas

"Do you have any other needs or can I go back to sleep?" he grumbles.

"Great dream, Detective." Jilenas

...**...