Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 39. THE THREAT OF MR. ARSYANENDRA

Now the clock is showing at eleven and Jilena is curled up in bed when her phone rings. Call in from Ramira, maybe she just came home from her date with Keenan. Jilena quickly grabbed her phone and answered the call.

“Halo, Jil. It was the most beautiful dinner I've ever had,” Ramira said excitedly.

"Tell me about it" Jilena said.

Ramira tells her that Keenan invited her to dinner at a nice steakhouse and their conversation went smoothly. He tells her about his childhood, which made Ramira laugh. He talked about losing his wife, which made him shed tears.

“I always wonder what people mean when they say they find a soulmate. Now I think I understand, ” said Ramira.

“He's interesting and funny, and he wants to know what I think about things. He listened when I spoke—can you believe it?” ask Ramira.

“That's how it should be.”

"And I felt sparks as he held my hand."

"Did she kiss you good night?" ask Jilena.

"Yes, he kissed me." Ramira chuckles. “I'm not so experienced about that, as you know, but I can't imagine anyone doing it better. I'm really fascinated, or maybe I've fallen in love.”

Jilena can tell him about Mr Arsyanendra now, but why ruin everything? He let Ramira enjoy tonight and dream about Keenan's kiss.

...*...

Early Monday, Jilena's phone rang, as it often does. He was Keenan Hadinata, asking her to meet him at the office at ten o'clock.

“Have a good story for me to cover?” she asked.

"Not really. I'll tell you when you get here. ”

Before Jilena left the house, the hero detective called her and told her that the forensic team estimated the woman had been dead for ten or eleven years based on carbon dating tests conducted by bone forensic anthropologists. That's all the information they can get. They can't go into more detail.

“So it could happen anytime between the time Mariana left the town of Lembayung and up to about a year later, ”renung Jilena, who will try to associate all the clues she got until after Ramira graduated, will try to tie up all the leads, until the moment Noah finds out the truth about Ramira.

“That sounds right. We will look for ways to investigate further with regards to when the woman was murdered,” said. “I will go back and try to determine when the last call entered on his phone, if the phone company still has that record.”

"Or they're still in business."

"RIGHT."

“And don't forget about his banking information. When was the last time he wrote a check or took a cash withdrawal from an ATM?” ask Jilena.

"I've been thinking about getting there, miss," the detective said. "You know, Miss Jilena, I appreciate your willingness to help me, so I'll share with you what I can, but I want you to keep what I tell you as our secret only.”

"I understand, and don't worry, I never reveal my source."

“No, that's not what I meant. I'm talking about not printing anything I told you until we caught the suspect and I'm giving you all the accurate information.

"Understand me" he agreed. “Hopefully managed to hunt down his old girlfriend, Hendra Baskoro?”

“Not yet, but we'll keep looking. He is not a good man, it is possible that he could be the one who killed Mariana and buried her body in the lake,” Wira speculates.

“That could have happened, it's possible that he never made it out of this city at all, that he— was killed by Hendra right after he said goodbye to Ramira.” If that's the case, it's clear that Noah wasn't the killer, right?

...*...

Jilena walked towards The Lembayung Post and greeted the receptionist. “Beautiful morning, isn't it, Alice?”

The woman pointed her thin finger at Keenan's office.

"Someone is in trouble," he said in a soft tone. "They've been waiting for you."

Them?

Who is meant? ask in the heart. Jilena knocked slowly on Keenan Hadinata's office door before pushing it open. "You want to meet me, boss?"

"Yes, come in and sit down." He pointed towards the two seats that were closer across from his desk. The other seats are occupied.

"You must have known Mr. Arsyanendra, right?" Keenan asked, nodding deeply towards the man.

Jilena's back stiffened and her legs felt stiff. He didn't have the chance to brace himself for this meeting, but that's how Mr. Arsyanendra—he always ambushes his enemies before they have time to prepare for defence.

Jilena took a deep breath, silently to calm herself down and gather her strength, focusing her gaze on the chair. "Yes, of course."

It was very important for him to sit quietly in his chair and not talk much before Arsyanendra started the attack. He forced himself to step onto the chair and sat down quietly. Head up and shoulders back. Don't let him look scared.

Keenan leaned his elbow on the table and flicked his finger. "It looks like we have a little problem, Jilena.”

"What's the problem?" he asked with his most innocent voice, keeping his eyes on Keenan.

"Trs. Arsyanendra says that you have abused his family and he wants you to stop."

Jilena forced herself to turn her head towards Arsyanendra and look him in the eye, doing her best to cover up the signs of her fear. He thought of his words for Ramira the night before about exuding confidence, and right now he was in dire need. He won't let Mr. Arsyanendra make him a frightened little bunny again. Uprighten your body and don't give up Jilena!

"What's the problem, Mr Arsyanendra?" He wanted his gaze to meet his angry eyes.

“Interrogate my wife and then question my ex-wife about my personal life. The next thing I know you're planning on interrogating my son. I ask you to stop harassing my family and stop stirring up my personal affairs. If you keep trying to dig up shit on my family, I'll fire you and then I'll sue you on harassment and slander charges, and anything else I can think of.”

"You won't be able to intimidate and threaten me. I'm not afraid, because I won't lose anything" Jilena said.

Jilena's gaze shifted from Arsyanendra, he momentarily turned to Keenan. He shook his head and a sarcastic smile spread across his face. "I have nothing but the clothes I wear."

“What about the little sports car you drive and your parents' house? Now they both have gone—"

Jilena flinched and gazed back at Arsyanendra and her gaze locked on the man again.

“All that is not mine. I only use it for a while.” replied Jilena.

Arsyanendra leaned forward, resting his elbow on one of his knees, as if he had not been threatening enough. “I'm sure your parents left at least part of their estate for you in your father's will. I warn you, I'll take all that and more if you don't stop. So you better stop!”

"If you are still stubborn and continue to disturb the peace of my family, you will regret it later" said Arsyanendra while looking at Jilena with a sharp gaze.