“I didn’t think we would meet again so soon.” That bass voice from Mr.Vred. “Mr.Kiau.” He looked at Kiau intensely.
In that small room, there was just one square table and two chairs. Mr.Vred sat in the chair with his arms crossed on chest. He stared intently at Kiau in front of him. In his right side there was Izen standing there. And in the back, there was Rudal who avoided Kiau’s gaze. He looked down.
Kiau sat on the chair with his hands cuffed. He didn’t look sad, guilty, or scared. He looked calmly at Mr.Vred.
“You look so calm even though you killed someone.” Mr. Vred chuckled. “You killed Mrs.Emna. You push her off the stairs and making it look like an accident...” Mr.Vred talked loud.
“What-” Kiau tried to cut off Mr.Vred but MR.Vred raised his voice. Rudal also looks confused with Mr.Vred’s argument.
Mr.Vred is still talking, “You killed her because that beautiful lady doesn’t want to have a relationship with you anymore but you don’t want it. So you killed her cause you didn’t want anyone else to have her.”
Izen pats Vred’s shoulder, “Finish?” Izen has been listening to Mr.Vred’s nonsense. “What a cliche story.” He giggled.
“Where are we? This is investigation room or a playground for listening to a story?” Izen laughed, he tried to stop it, but failed. He closed his mouth with hand.
“WHAT?!!” Mr.Vred really mad. “HOW DARE YOU!”
Izen leans on the wall, “You didn’t let him talk, and you even didn’t ask.”
“He is a strong suspect. And there is a witness who saw it. Just let him accepted it and he can ask for a reduced punishment. And my job done.” Mr.Vred looked angry at Izen. He point to Kiau who sits still.
“It is different from what the witness told. Isn’t it?” Izen looked at Rudal, “Mr.Witness?” Rudal nodded but he avoid Mr.Vred’s gaze.
“The story is over isn’t it? Rudal lets go play outside!” Izen grabbed Rudal hand and pulled him out the room.
In the outside, “Wait! We can’t leave Kiau there.” Rudal tried to stop Izen.
“But, we can’t take him with us.” Izen looked at Rudal. “You believe him, don’t you?”
Rudal answered, “Of course, Kiau wouldn’t do anything like that,”
“It was because the old him wouldn’t have done such a thing. But what about him now?” Izen asked. “He changed didn’t he?”
Rudal looked down, “That’s... right. He changed, like a new person to me.” Rudal didn’t want to admit it, “He is more kind and soft. He didn’t talk to me before.”
Rudal raised his voice, “But that’s because he doesn’t remember anything.” He seemed to be convincing himself.
Rudal realized, “You don’t believe him?” he thought Izen belief Kiau not guilty. He put his hands on Izen’s shoulder, stared with crestfallen face.
“But why did you that?” Rudal means is what Izen did in the investigation room.
“I didn’t intend to Kiau side. I just don’t like the way Mr. Vred handles his case. He didn’t listen to the perpetrator or even ask. I wonder how he got to that position.” Izen smiled while Rudal still upset.
Izen take off Rudal hands from his shoulder, “I don’t believe him.” He said. “And you shouldn’t believe people easily.” He hit Rudal’s forehead, made Rudal in pain. Rudal rubbed his forehead.
“But I believe you,” Izen smiled, “Wait, my words contradict each other.” he giggled.
Izen continued, “It is because you believe other people easily, so I believe that you are not lying. When you believe in other people, the other people will believe in you too. But isn’t that dangerous? Some people maybe take advantage of it, they make you believe them, cause you believe others easily. Do you believe in me that I believe you? Should I not believe you?”
Izen turned to Rudal, but Rudal looks confused like there are smoke coming out Rudal’s head. Rudal is unable to understand Izen’s word, because he said it so fast.
“Wa-wait...I can’t get what you’re saying...” Rudal looks confused.
“That’s really cute,” Izen chuckled, “The conclusion is we have to get Kiau out. Lets go.” Izen walked away.
Rudal followed him, “Why we are here?” Rudal said it when they was arrived.
“Drink, what else? This is cafe,” Izen smiled. “Americano, cappuccino, and Pineapple juice.” he ordered.
Rudal looks puzzled, “Why you buy three?”
“It’s for Mr.Kiau.” He answered. “But before we head back to the police station, we have something to do.” He made Rudal more confused.
“Where was he? Here? ” Izen stands at the place where the Emna case incident occurred. Standing right in Kiau’s position at that time.
“Yes, he was there.” Rudal standing beside Izen.
Izen looked to the bottom stairs, where Emna’s body lying down. The staircase really steep and has many sharp angle. And that time, it was raining heavily and the roads were slippery.
If you fall from there, you will most certainly have to go to hospital immediately. You will get seriously injured. Izen is absorbed in his thoughts while looking at the stairs.
“Uwa!” Rudal is about to fall. The stairs were still slippery from the rain last night. He walked on that slippery stairs. He stretched out his hand want to catch something to hold on to.
“Rudal!” Izen quickly reached Rudal’s hand. Rudal saved. “That was dangerous,” Izen looks very relieved. He is out of breath. He sits crouched, like running out of energy.
Rudal looked uneasy, “Honestly... I just pretended to fall.” He scratched his cheek with his finger, not because of itching.
He continued, “I wonder if Kiau can reach Emna or not.”
“What?” Izen still looks confused. “I don’t know you will do something like that,” He didn’t expect Rudal can acted.
“I was so nervous...” Rudal smiled awkwardly. “...it turns out i was in the wrong position.” He scratched the back oh his head uncomfortably.
“Was Emna’s position there?” Izen stood up.
“Yes, here.” Rudal walked down two more stairs.
“So he couldn’t reach it at that time. If he tried harder, then it would be the two of them falling together, Mr.Kiau and Mrs.Emna.” Izen said.
Izen continued, “It means he’s not the culprit.” he looked at Rudal. “But you didn’t looks glad, Rudal.” Rudal still looked sad.
“I saw them. I know exactly where where they are that time.” Rudal looked at Izen. “I saw it from window in my room. I saw them from the start.”
Rudal continued, “And I know Kiau aren’t the culprit. But that time, he didn’t extend his hand. He didn’t look like he want to. It’s scary. Wouldn’t others reflexively try to save someone else?”
“You already told your testimony earlier in the police. You said, you couldn’t hear what were they talking about in the heavy rain.”
“Yes, although Mrs. Emna was seen screaming, I couldn’t hear it.” Rudal shook his head.
Rudal continued, “And what make me scared, Kiau looked so calm. Kiau approached her for a moment, and then let her laying down on the ground under the rain.”
“Maybe he didn’t want to ruin crime scene.”Izen tried to think positively. “But why now I am the one that defend him?” Izen looks puzzled.
Rudal giggles, “You are right Mr.Izen.” Izen tries to lift up Rudal’s mood. Rudal looks so depressed. He was glad to be able to make Rudal chuckled.
“So that’s what happened.” Someone suddenly appeared while nodding. He was between Rudal and Izen.
“Uwa!” Rudal yelled. “You scared me, Mr Morris.” Rudal took a few steps back. “Why are you sneaking around like that.”
Morris crossed his hands on his chest, “Sorry I didn’t intend to surprise you. I’m used to that.” he giggled.
“You are used to sneaking around?” Izen pretended to ask.
Morris answered, “It’s related to my job.”
“I don’t think it is related to your job, Mr.Morris.” Izen smiled. Morris smiles back, but he looks angry.
“Are you upset that I disturbed your date?” Morris asked.
“We are not dating, Mr.Morris.” Izen looked at Rudal, “Just look at him.”
Rudal looked so clueless, “Of course not, Mr.Morris. We are in the middle of investigation.” Rudal looks determined.
“What investigation. You are just playing around.” Morris’s smile changed, he smirked.
“That’s right, Mr.Morris.” Izen didn’t annoyed by Morris’s taunts. “We just told Mr.Kiau that we want play outside after being read a story.” Izen smiled.
“I don’t understand what you are talking about, and I don’t like your reaction.” Morris feels annoyed, but he tried to hold it with a smile.
“Anyway,” Morris started talk seriously. “Why are you two defending Kiau. He had a strong motive for doing that.”
“What is that, Mr.Morris?” Rudal looked curious.
“You don’t know what happened to Kiau and that lady?” Morris looked serious.
“No.” Izen and Rudal shake their head in the same time.
“You are police officer but didn’t know anything?’ Morris looked dumbfounded. “Don’t you read the newspaper? It is just a few months before, around 5 or 6 months ago.”
“No,” they were shake their head again. “Around that time, I haven’t been transferred to this area. And I don’t like newspaper, I like read fantasy books.” Izen looked so happy talking about his favorite things.
“Sorry, I don’t have a time to read the newspaper. Around that time I just entered the police force. And I have so many task to do, Mr.Vred gave me a lot of work to do. But after Izen came my task started to decrease.” Rudal said.
“Are you happy that I came here?” Izen looked at Rudal.
Rudal nodded, “Of course. You are kind and friendly. I like you are here, Mr.Izen.” He smiled so brightly. They were looking at each other with a wide smile.
Morris looked upset, “Sorry to interrupt!” in a tone that doesn’t feel guilty at all like he said. “Read the newspaper! There are ton of that lady cases!” Morris raised his voice.