Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 47. NOAH ARSYANENDRA ARRESTED

Keenan expects to meet him at sixty-thirty to prepare the news for the morning paper.

Keenans. Jilena imagines Keenan and Ramira walking hand in hand on the streets of this strange little town carrying a vortex of warmth to her heart. Ramira deserves a good man. Maybe their first date will turn into a lifelong love affair. Jilena wishes it was for her friend, especially now.

Why not want it for yourself too? There was a time when he loved Noah Arsyanendra so much that Jilena thought he couldn't live without him. Then an unplanned pregnancy took away the dream, they separated—yah, and the dream was extinguished. Jonathan was in his dream. They've fallen even they've made love.

Why did Noah have to make that weird love statement to her at the cafe that night? And in front of Sarah, who heard Noah's words. His head started to throb. What's he thinking? Of course he no longer loved her, not after all the pain and years that had passed since that important night at the lake house.

Perhaps his indifference to her seemed like a — challenge as if now she—wants what she can't have. Isn't that like him? Logan Alexander always gets what he wants—doesn't he? Like a father like a son.

As Jilena pushed her chair back and stood up, a pen fell off the table and— rolled under it. While crawling, he went under the table to—take it. That's when he saw it—the key taped to the bottom of the drawer.

"Jeez." Could that be the key?

Picking up the tape with his nails, he unlocked it. He put the key on the front of the drawer and voila!—successfully. His heart began to pound with anticipation. What's so important in that drawer? Papa has locked it and hidden the key? Excited, he opened the drawer and found an envelope lying on top of a lot of office supplies. He pulled the envelope out and placed it on the table. His finger nimbly opened and took out its contents — documents.

Jilena opens page by page, reads documents— Ramira's birth certificate, agreement between Mr. Arsyanendra and Mariana, copies of canceled checks, and more. He studied the treaty, which stated Arsyanendra would pay Mariana twenty-five million a month, each month, as long as he kept the name of Ramira's biological father secret. If Mariana goes public with that information, even informing Ramira of her own father's identity,—the payments will stop. So what's going on? Why did Mariana go and leave Ramira once she graduated High School? Did he let Ramira know who his father was? If so, Arsyanendra would have to figure out how to get him to stop making payments to him. Did Ramira really know all this time? Did he just pretend to be shocked when Jilena told him?

Jilena's imagination turns wild with all the possibilities. No, Ramira couldn't have known. She would never have agreed to go on a date with Noah back then if she had known. Except ... can he find out right after that night Arsyanendra took Noah by the side of the house and told him? Was Noah the one who said that to her?

Or did Mariana come back to see Ramira one night and everything spilled out? Did Ramira fight with his mother and accidentally kill her? Maybe she took Mariana's body to the lake and buried it in the woods behind her father's lakefront home, a beautiful lake house she never forgot. Jilena shook her head violently, as if she was taking those terrible suspicions out of her mind.

But Noah said he heard his father and stepmother arguing about the large amount of money the woman asked him to keep quiet. Noah thinks they're talking about Mariana. What if they're talking about Ramira? No, that's totally crazy. Ramira would never do such a thing to her mother.

...*...

Jilena rolled around all night, playing around in her mind various scenarios about what might happen to Mariana. Finally, tired of wrestling with his thoughts, he dragged himself out of bed and into the bathroom. Standing in front of her bathroom mirror, she dried her long, dark hair, thinking about what she should do that day. She has three obituaries for morning news and a scheduled interview with the high school principal about the student fundraising efforts for the auditorium renovation. Ratih Arsyanendra's ongoing auction is expected to get enough funding, but the principal thinks it would be good for students to get involved as well. Ah, small town life.

The ringing of her phone at the dresser interfered with her way of thinking.

"Good morning, Keenan."

“Jilena, go to jail immediately. We have an amazing story. Noah Arsyanendra has been arrested for the murder of Mariana.”

"Oh my God." The news that bothered him made his chest tight and he shuddered—the pain that spread across both arms. "But why?"

“That's what you need to find out. Contact me if you have something. ” said Keenan.

“I have three news and an appointment with the principal of the high school this morning I have to reschedule.”

“I'll do the obit and have Alice call the principal. You got my permission to go to jail,.”

"Understand me, boss."

The next call was from Detective Wira.

"I can't talk right now, Miss Jilena," the detective said.

"Give me a minute." He was supposed to wait for her approval, but Jilena did not give him the chance to turn off his call. “I've been informed of Noah Arsyanendra's arrest for Mariana's murder. Is that true?"

“What prompted you to do that? New evidence?”

The hero lowered his voice and it sounded as if he had cupped his hands

his cellphone. “His DNA results were obtained this morning. The blood you're carrying is compatible with the DNA on the comb, at least close enough to connect it to Noah.”

Noah must have had a motive, a chance, and now, with his DNA found with the body, the District Attorney will definitely try to corner him.

“Thank you, Mr. Wira.” Jilena tucked the phone into her pocket as she ran down the stairs to pick up the bag before she came out. He turns on the Roadster and drives to the police station, hoping he—can go in to see Noah before he is brought to trial for arraignment.

Once inside the police station, he walks over to the reception desk and asks to meet Detective Hero. The middle-aged receptionist called her and told her that she had a guest in front. “What's your name, Son?” he asked, glancing towards Jilena.

"Jilena Margaretha" she answered briefly.

The woman repeated it to the detective. "Uh huh." He's stopped. "Okay, Detective."

"Has he come?" ask Jilena. A sense of nervousness arose within him and he struggled to remain calm.

"He told you to wait there." The woman pointed to a row of chairs along the wall.

“What about Detective Jonathan? Does he exist?” He couldn't just sit and wait. The receptionist lowered her chin and glared at Jilena from behind her glasses.

“Hmm, try me see.” He picked up the phone again, turned around and waited. “Sorry, just connect to voicemail.” He put down the phone. “Is there anyone else you want me to call?"

"No." Jilena reluctantly took a seat. After a few minutes, the gray-haired detective comes out to the receptionist, followed by Detective Jonathan. “What can we do for you, Miss Jilena?”

He started smiling at Jonathan, but held back. Detective Wira is likely unaware of his personal relationship with the junior detective. He must maintain decency. “I wonder if I can see Noah Arsyanendra, as a friend.”

"He won't speak" Jonathan said, "on the advice of his lawyer and his father."

"Are they with him?" she asked.

"You miss them" said Wira.

"Fortunate for me."If she doesn't want to talk to me then I'll go, but just ask her, Please."

"Alright," the Hero agreed reluctantly. "I'll be right back." He stepped away. Jonathan took a chair beside Jilena. “Why do you want to talk to him? He was arrested for killing your best friend's mother.

"I know, but it's my job—what can I say?" He shrugged his shoulders. “I hope to meet because we are old friends.” But more than that, he wants Noah to look him in the eye and tell him that he didn't. He should know he doesn't have a child with a killer.

Jonathan sat back in the chair and crossed his arms. No answers, no arguments. They sat in an awkward silence until the Hero returned.

“It looks like today is your lucky day,” Detective said.

"Noah agreed to meet you."

Good luck comes twice in one day. Jonathan stands. “I'll take you there.” Her voice was quite pleasant, but her facial expression showed different things.