The Traces of Destiny
feuds

"So, are we just going to sit around like two guys who have no purpose here, or do you have other reasons you want to tell us?"

"Actually, this is my job. But I have to make you think right first so you don't rush into action."

"What's this talk about?"

As Garin asked, the waiter dropped off two dishes of chicken pecel with sambal and raw vegetables beside him, their usual order, and Sutrisno used the moment to calm his mind. He added more lime to the chili and a little pepper to his lettuce and cabbage.

After considering then deciding that there was no easy way to say it, he began to reveal the matter.

"Bara Putranto decided to drop the charges against Alex Numan."

Bara Putranto is a public prosecutor in Gajakarta. He had spoken to Sutrisno this morning and offered to tell Garin, but Sutrisno had decided it might be better if he handled Garin.

Garin looked at. "What?"

"The case will be closed. Niko Kurniawan is suddenly amnesic about what happened."

"But I was there—"

"You got there after the arrest attempt. You didn't see it from the beginning."

"But I've given enough evidence of all the gaffes found in the budget plan in recent years."

"I know, I know... But what should Bara do? Niko vowed and stated, the e-budgeting system has been running well and ensured if there is no intention of corruption in it. He said he was confused on the day of the arrest, but now that his mind was clear, he remembered everything."

Garin suddenly lost his appetite, he pushed his plate to the side. "Of all the funds disbursed, most of them have no proof of SPJ, you must also know it and—"

Sutrisno shook his head. "I know it hurts you, but what's the point? You know how many of Alex's relatives and brothers are in our department. They almost filled every line and they easily also said that there was no deviation of any— and who knows, maybe they were the ones who actually did it. Without Niko's testimony, what choice does Bara have? Besides, you know Alex. He'll do something else—gave it time."

"That's what I'm worried about."

Garin and Alex Numan have a long history between them. The conflict began when Garin first became a candidate eight years earlier.

He has arrested Aryo Numan, Alex's father, for assault when he pelted Garin's residence and was filmed on CCTV. Aryo has spent time in jail for it—though not for as long as he should have gotten—and for years, though, two of his five sons have spent time in prison as well for offences ranging from drug trafficking to mass provocation and campaign finance corruption cases.

For Garin, Alex poses the greatest danger just because he is the smartest.

Garin suspects Alex to be more than just a petty criminal like the rest of his family. For one thing, he doesn't look like that. Unlike her two brothers, she avoids tattoos and cuts her hair short and looks elegant, there are times when she actually does blusukan up to the corner of the district, provide direct assistance even down to the river to see the problems there. He doesn't look like a villain, but his appearance is deceptive.

His name is loosely associated with various crimes, and some residents of the town of Garin supporters often speculate that he was the one who directed the flow of drugs to Gajakarta, although Garin has no way of proving it. All the raids and their capture efforts paid no fruit, frustrating Garin.

Alex has a grudge.

Garin did not fully understand until after Raka was born. He arrested Alex's third brother after riots broke out in front of the sub-district office on the day of Garin's appointment.

The stone almost hit them, and the broken glass scratched Raka's cheek. Although he can't prove it, Garin knows that Alex is somehow responsible, and Garin appears in the Numan complex, a row of luxury clusters on the outskirts of Gajakarta— with three members of the local Police Service, guns are withdrawn. The Numan family came out peacefully and, without a word, reached out to be handcuffed and taken into the car.

In the end, no charges were filed for lack of evidence. Garin is furious, and after Aryo is released, he confronts Bara Putranto outside his office. They argue and almost quarrel before Garin is finally dragged away.

In the years that followed, there were other things, a beating attempt as Garin descended into the crowd, a mysterious fire in Garin's garage, an incident more akin to a juvenile prank. But again, without witnesses, Garin could do nothing.

Since Maudy's death, things have been relatively calm.

Until the last arrest.

Sutrisno looked up from his food, his expression serious. "Listen, you and I both know he's very guilty, but don't even think about handling this yourself. You didn't want this thing to heat up rich before, did you... You have to think about Raka now, and you're not always there to take care of her. Yes, even if we secretly send people to watch over your son, but carelessness can happen."

Garin looked out the window as Sutrisno continued.

"Looki— we know he's going to do something stupid again, and if there's a case, I'll be the first to handle it. You know it. But don't look for problems—dia bad news. So stay here, away from him."

Garin still did not respond.

"Lepasin, do you understand?" Sutrisno now speaks not only as a friend, but also as a person of power in the party.

"Why do you tell me this?"

"I just told you why."

Garin stared at Sutrisno for a long time.

"This, Bro... Alex said you were a bit rude when you were present at the location of his arrest, and he filed a complaint—"

Garin slammed his hand against the table, his voice echoing throughout the restaurant. The people at the next table jumped up and turned to stare, but Garin did not notice.

"That's a bullshit—-"

Sutrisno raised his hand to stop him. "Gosh, I know that, and I also told Bara that, and Bara wouldn't take any action about it. But you and he aren't good friends, and he knows what you're rich when you're angry, so you should be able to catch yourself too."

"So what should I do if I find out again Alex committed a crime? Looking the other way?"

"Gosh, don't—don't be stupid. I'll hit you in the head if you do that. Keep your distance for a while, until all this subsides, unless there is no other option. I'm telling you this is for your own good, okay?"

It took a while before Garin finally sighed. "Okay" he answered.

However, as he spoke, he knew that he and Alex were not done with each other. There are still grudges and unresolved issues. Garin realizes that, although he will try to keep his distance for a while as Sutrisno asks, his next meeting with Alex could be a trigger for further confrontation.

In silence, Sutrisno looked at his best friend attentively. "Garin, I know what you're feeling. But remember, there are many ways to solve this problem. Let the law work, and don't do what could ruin your career and Raka's future."