Best Defense

Clue

...Sean Danial Warner POV's....

I threw a glance out the car window, observing the darting scene. The dark brown glimmers are tall buildings and stone-covered streets, and the city center is filled with modern restaurants. We finally reached Bandung after driving for more than five hours.

Last night, after arriving at a private air base in Jakarta, Erick broke up his team. Rudi and I continued on to Bandung, where Interpol had set up a house where I was hiding, as long as Syaiful and the remaining gangsters had not been caught. While Erick and the others went to close access out of Jakarta through all the routes to prevent them from escaping.

After news of my death began to emerge, and the transaction data was exposed in the police storage system, the Shayful Horde suddenly disappeared from the interpol radar. Now they are suspected of separating from each other to cover the tracks. And that makes things even more complicated because the police have to comb through all the areas on the search list.

This is the fourth day since 'my body' was found, and it has been brought back to Indonesia.

According to the news that popped up all over the media, my family will hold a 'my funeral' event in San Diego Hills, Karawang. It's not easy for me to imagine that I've been lying to the people I care about, by letting them believe that I've been killed in an accident. Leaving behind all the grief attacking them as well as the many questions that would fill their heads.

Although Erick once said, it's better for my family now that I've been missing for some time. But I don't completely agree with his idea. It's just, I don't have any other choice.

Syaiful already knew I was involved, and that changed everything. If he can't get to me, then he'll come to my family members. Compared to anything, I would rather not want that to happen. But if he thinks I'm dead, then there's no reason for him to harm my family. Especially Franda.

The suddenly raised volume of the TV channel slowly broke my daydream. I glanced at Rudi who was driving next to me, and found him fiddling with a digital TV broadcast attached to the dashboard. He stopped the movement of his hand when he discovered one of the popular TV channels. They're broadcasting the show I don't want to watch right now.

"Look, there's coverage of the 'your funeral' procession'. Cool! They even gave him a theme." Rudi chirped his head towards the TV. He's obviously joking.

I raised a few eyebrows. "It was like an unofficial sponsor for them, a big profitable news to broadcast" I said as I reached out and changed the TV channel. "You'd be more surprised to learn how much news like this pleases them commercially."

"Uhh, you're so cynical, man." he muttered without seeing me.

Rudi turned the car into a quieter residential area. Tall buildings and vehicles passed less and less, and the streets became narrower. As far as I can see there are only abandoned military buildings and old buildings whose stone walls are brownish red due to the reflection of sunlight.

I'm honestly worried about Franda.

I know all this has to be done, but it doesn't make me feel better. Doing something right should not be this difficult.

"Have you heard anything from Erick?" I asked Rudi.

He looked at me briefly. "About your wife?" He asked back and I nodded.

"Well, not much," his tone sounded cautious. "Your wife was in the hospital for two days, but I heard today she's been out and seen attending 'your funeral' together..."

"Yes, of course we protect him from Syaiful. But we cannot possibly prevent him from falling ill from lamenting your death, sir." He shook his head, looking at me in disbelief. "That's something we can't control, right?"

I pretended not to hear it. Though in my heart I knew everything he said was true. Maybe I just need someone to blame, to keep me away from the fact that I was the one who caused it. Really sad.

"You know? Three days ago was his birthday." I glanced into the distance. "Actually I was preparing something, an old and ancient chevy, and when I found out the engine was not on at all, but could still be repaired. I intend to give it to my wife on her birthday."

Rudi turned her head to look at me in wonder. "You want to give your wife scrap metal as a birthday present? Jesus, sir. You're really stingy!"

I ignored his comments. "The chevy used to belong to his late father. Sentimental value. I could've given him a new item, but it didn't have the same history or value. I know chevy is important to him and he'll be happy to have him back."

His car suddenly began to slow down, then turned into a tall black gate. Now we walked down the spacious front yard, there was a vehicle track that led to the building standing in front of it.

"We have arrived" Rudi said after stopping the car on the east side of the building's courtyard.

It was not like a house, the design was detailed and complicated like an old building with many pillars. A historic building in the middle of the city. Ingeniously, no one would be able to enter a property like this without permission.

"A little overkill for my taste, but we need a place like this." Rudi spoke again when he saw my expression. He turned off the car engine and grabbed a backpack from the back seat, then opened the car door by his side. "Let's go in. I need to talk to my other colleagues to expand the surveillance area, just in case." He stood by the door, looking at me.

"I'll be soon." I said.

He looked at me for a moment, looking like he was going to say something but nothing came out of his mouth. Rudi nodded his head then closed the car door and stepped up.

I've been thinking about it all night, trying to get rid of that urge the best I can. But right now, I'm not sure I'll be able to hold it for much longer. Knowing Franda had a rough time and going through it alone made me feel devastated. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to regulate my emotions.

Right now I need to talk to him, more than anything.

I opened the dashboard drawer and pulled out the disposable phone from there. Holding it long enough in my hand, and thinking about it over and over again before I let myself dial the number.

"Hello?" Instantly I felt my chest tighten hearing his hoarse voice. I know she must be crying right now. I wanted to say something to her, but I knew it wasn't something I could do.

I turned off the phone and decided to do something.