Best Defense

Chaos!

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

"The government has closed the exit route for all the southbound travel, this will narrow our search area, and I'm sure we'll find Syaiful soon."

I followed Erick through a glass turnstile in the Police Bureau building. In front of the lobby we were greeted by several uniformed police officers who seemed to have been waiting for our arrival. They immediately approached Erick and looked like they were discussing something serious.

Old town, military base or something, that's all I can catch a glimpse of. I suspect it was a trace of Syaiful in Lembang. Erik had told me about this before, that there was some kind of old military facility left somewhere in the suburbs and they were trying to find it. I hope this time there's a bright spot about it.

I stood waiting anxiously in my place while they were debating some matters. My gaze went down to glance at my watch, almost an hour had passed since we left the hideout in the center of the city. I know it's full of Interpol people and stuff, but somehow I'm still worried about leaving Franda there.

Erick looked at me for a moment before turning back to his comrades, he muttered something then a few seconds later left the crowd and walked up to me.

"They found traces of him around Lembang, two men who identified as cavalry veterans roamed the area. They're trying to make sure of it."

"So, what do I tell them?"

"Well, everything you know about Syaiful and his daughter, confirmed his identity with their data. The Federal Bureau needs to complete the indictment..."

His speech stopped due to the sound from his phone, he hurriedly answered it. Looks like it's a call from the safe house because I heard him say Rudi's name.

Her face was flat, kept the phone away from her ear, then turned to me. "Did you turn off your phone?"

I pulled the thing out of my jacket pocket and looked at the dark screen and nodded at Erick. "I think it'll be safer." I muttered as I put my shoulder aside at a glance.

The look in his eyes suddenly turned tense and somehow his facial expression felt like it was sending a chill running through my body.

"We have a problem, sir" he said carefully, "Rudi just told me... Your wife's missing."

***

Erick's words slowly disappeared from my hearing as the glint of Franda's face filled my mind. I closed my eyes trying to ease my anxiety and concentrated on thinking about how to save Franda. But I can't stop worrying at all. Every second my mind was drowned by my greatest fear.

No. gabe. I'm not gonna let anything happen to her.

After he was in the safe house, I thought I had kept him safe by my side at least until Interpol settled the case. But now everything is getting worse. I have never felt this desperate in my life. I want to do something, anything to find it. Although I hate to admit it, I realize that right now I am really helpless.

"The Federal Bureau says they'll help, and it's nice to give you permission to access traffic surveillance cameras all over the city, so we can find your wife sooner."

I looked up and found Erick standing next to the sofa I was sitting on.

"It would be more helpful if from the beginning your people were able to do their job and take good care of my wife" I said cynically, looking at her intently.

He sighed but did not answer my words, then he went to his desk located across the sofa and leaned his buttocks on the edge.

"Why did your men let my wife be taken?" I asked in a furious tone, demanding that he answer me immediately.

"It's not like that..." Erick stopped his words and turned his eyes out of the window. "Yosi, the man who took your wife away, was one of our best men."

"About six years ago he was assigned to Lebanon for seven months, and it was there that he met Syaiful for the first time. But at that time cooperation with the military was still considered legal, and the record of Syaiful's name was also clean. After all, after that Yosi never mentioned the matter of Syaiful again, as if there was nothing effective from their cooperation. And there's no glaring history, no official record, or anything that can connect the two of them."

Erick seemed to want to say something but his phone lying on the table suddenly shook. He grabbed it, then looked at the screen carefully, then the look on his face suddenly turned enthusiastic.

Erick raised his head to look at me. "The SUV car with the same characteristics looks just entered Lembang. The CCTV wasn't very clear but the Federal bureau identified a man and a woman in the car."

"That could be my wife."

Erick nodded his head. "Maybe Yosi was assigned by Antonio to take your wife away from the safe house. We've received instructions to work with the police on this case, and we think this is the perfect time to lure Syaiful out of his hiding place."

I tried to digest her words but my mind split as my phone rang. An unknown number was on his screen. I glanced at Erick at a glance and he gestured for me to pick up the phone.

"It's me." Syaiful's voice from across made me and Erik look at each other. "How does it feel to have framed me?" said again.

I took a breath before saying something to answer. "Sir, if you turn yourself in now the police will probably ease your sentence with an extradition policy, and you will have time to clear this up without any publicity to the media" I muttered, trying to sound relaxed.

"Don't be a smart ass!" snapped it. "You've messed things up by getting Paula into this. You don't expect me to take all this easily, do you? You take mine and I'll do the same."

I caught the faintest voice of contention on the other end of the phone before I heard the voice I missed the most all day talking from the other side.

"Sean, don't come,"

His speech was immediately interrupted and changed with stifled screeches as if he was in pain.

"Frandas?"

"Now listen to me carefully, I know your interpol and police friends have sent people to follow Yosi, but I want you to come here alone or I'm forced to hurt her."

Instantly my body stiffened as I realized the phone connection had been cut off. "We should..." I got off the couch and ruffled my hair with a frenzy. "I-I have to go there." I said desperately.

Erick did not react. "Erick?" I raised my head to look at him, his face was doubtful. "You heard what he said, I have to save him."

"Wait, like I said, the police have a plan and it's beyond my control. We have to follow the rules of the game, sir."

My eyes were round, with both hands clenched, I stood up and stared intently at him. "You... Do you mean to make my wife a bait?" manyu.

He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes made it clear that I didn't mistake their purpose.

"You need to know we didn't plan all this, but yeah, it's the only chance we have. We're gonna save your wife but we need time, sir."

"I can't wait to follow your plan, my wife must be very scared right now. I'm gonna go."

I quickly walked around the sofa before I felt Erick's hand holding my shoulder. "You can't go anywhere. You're our priority, your safety is at the core of this whole operation, don't forget it."

I turned around and quickly directed my hand to clutch the collar of his shirt. "My wife is my priority! To hell with your surgery." I said furiously and pushed his body until his back was attached to one of the walls.

"You who declared war on Syaiful, came to me and made me a source of information, forcing his daughter to turn against him. So, remember... If anything happens to my wife, it's your fault and I'll destroy you all."