The Murder of the Beloved
Chapter 63

Happy shopping's...

****___****

"So he has his own house. To my mother, he admitted that he had no home. Just contracting. When asked to leave this house he said he did not know where to stay," said Dinda with anxiety.

"To you he lied. But to Aunt he confessed. Maybe a tactic," Bagas concluded.

"She can predict that you are not like a mother who believes whatever she says. The proof, you're investigating him. You guys are pretty thorough."

"But to be lied to. Moreover, he harbored horrors. Yes, he's a terrible person," Bagas lamented with an anxious face.

"You must be careful Bagas," Johan half consoled. "Show-you theatricalize. Don't show me the taste of your country. He will suspect. He's a smart guy."

"Yes, I'll be careful om. Last night I couldn't sleep thinking about Aunt Hesti. She's like a mother to me."

"Did Bram know about your relationship with your daughter?"

"Of course Om. Aunt told me everything. He knew my familiarity with Auntie, then he tried to get close and take my heart."

"Then, you are very different from me in her eyes" said Dinda with heartache. "To me he showed hatred and ill intent. But to you otherwise. I am also familiar with my mother."

"Maybe it was Dinda's tactic. He behaves according to the character of the person he faces. You and I are different in age. In the eyes of your mother, you are certainly considered to be a child whose mind and hearing are far from mature. While I was looking at Auntie not so," Bagas concluded.

"Yes, we have to admit he's smart" Johan said.

"Smart-smart, at some point he will slip too," Dinda said confidently, half cursing.

"That's fine. I agree with you," welcome Bagas.

Then the conversation turned to the case of Firda's disappearance. Listen seriously and concentrate. "Yes. The disappearance is suspicious. People can't just disappear like they're swallowed up by the earth." Bagas confirmed Johan's conclusion, that Firda was most likely dead.

"But I have to admit, there is no evidence or evidence Bram has any connection to the case" Johan said. "The only thing that raises my suspicions is that only Frida can explain more about Bram. Frida's description of whether or not Lilis gambled was very detrimental. She must have had suspicions to me, too, that I seduced her into scraping MB's information and that if she didn't want to have any further contact with me, why would she promise? I have no right to force it. And if again he deliberately won't see me, why should he disappear until he loses his job and breaks contact with his friends and relatives?"

"Can't else, of course he told Bram about the approach that om did. Then Bram told him to say this or that" said Bagas.

"On the last day he was at the Tanah Abang flats, Frida was seen calling on a pay phone in the courtyard of the flats. Of course, no one knows who he is talking to. Then he went on a ride. No one knows where Frida went. He's not saying goodbye to anyone, because he's alone in his flat."

"Are you not asking her friends there, who is Frida's boyfriend who likes to come visit or pick her up?" ask Bagas.

"If you get a clue can I be told?"

"of course. We exchange information."

"Thank you om. Please help pray for my aunt, so she'll be safe, om and Dinda?" pinta Bagas with a concerned face that shook Dinda's feelings.

"Sure Bagas. We are not only praying, but also willing to help in any way that could be used."

Dinda just nodded with her esophagus blocked. From his own experience he knew how difficult it was to keep someone from being so close to him, to live together and sleep together, and to give abundant love.

****

Armed with a photo of Bram, Johan returned to the apartment Tanah Abang. He calls first to the disco where Erni and Desi, Frida's two girl friends, work at night. The goal is just to make an appointment, when he can meet with them to show the photo. Such a promise is important not to disturb the privacy and busyness of people.

The two girls observe Bram's photo alternately. Then they shook their heads. "We've never seen this man." Both agree. "But of course Johan understood. We don't understand Frida's life."

"Yes. I already suspected that. But I'll leave this photo to you both. Will you show it to neighbors around and also people who like to hang out on the page? Maybe they've seen him with Frida. Oh yeah, I'm just a photo of a face. So I need to add the description. His body is tall. About 180 inches and her stomach is a little distended, her skin dark."

"Alright mas" said Erni. "You'll do it soon. People here often ask about Frida. He was found and reported to the police. So they'd be happy to help."

"But if it's true that this guy likes to see Frida, what can be done about her, mas? Isn't there evidence of his involvement?" ask Desi.

Johan nodded. He knew that such a question would be repeated. "There is no evidence yet. But at least, further corroborating my conjecture and conclusion that he was indeed involved."

"What is your conclusion?" desi asked inquisitively.

"Well, I can't say it yet. If the evidence is new enough I can tell and of course all report it to the police. If it's just a conjecture, then I can be accused of slandering. But I promise that if it gets revealed later, I will tell you both completely."

The promise of Johan was enough to keep the two girls entertained. Although they were not familiar with Frida but as fellow women there was a sense of solidarity.

Two days later, Johan had word from Desi calling him. "Good news, mom! To date, I have had five people state with certainty that they have seen the person in the photo with Frida. One of them was a one-block neighbor who had seen him enter our flat with Frida. One leg saw him sitting next to his car waiting for Frida and they talked. The other three said they saw the two of them talking in the parking lot at night. The three of them supported each other because at that time they were together. And even though it was night, the lights were bright enough, that they could see the person quite clearly. According to these three people, the conversation between the two of them seemed exciting. It seems there is an important matter being debated."

***___****

further...