IN THE CAGE

52. MUTUALLY READ

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

No need to ask, no need to say anything, Jack Hunter-a new man stepped in in front of the main residence of the Hunter family just shut his mouth when he saw the fanfare going on in the house.

Jack-without asking already knew that one of his nephews had acted. Also, it doesn't take a three-digit IQ to understand who among his nephews has half the house guards wandering around carrying paint cans, curtains, even lifting beds. It was all clearly Margot. The only one who liked to make this kind of insignificant fuss was the elder Hunter.

"Good morning, uncle." While Jack looked at the bodyguards in the house and then full of activity, Ace appeared while carrying a cup of coffee in his hand. His youngest nephew smiled warmly, greeting him kindly with a hint of guilt.

"I'm sorry for the commotion" Ace said. "Margot just-"

"No need to explain anything. I didn't come here for bullshit."

Ace's smile faded away.

"Call Margot, I need to discuss something with you two."

Ace nodded and ordered Carcel to do what his uncle asked just through a glance. After Carcel left, Ace led Jack to the study. Where he, Margot and Jack often do family meetings.

There was no need to wait long after they sat on the sofa, the door then opened. Margot stepped in with her black sleeping robe dragging the floor.

"Is something going on?" Margot asked immediately.

Ignoring his extra silly appearance, Margot's voice was very clear and firm.

"Sit down, Margie." Jack invited his nephew to sit down. Margot complied and sat on a single sofa that was supposed to be occupied by the head of the family. Ace sat on the opposite sofa to Jack in honor of his uncle who could still be said to be the leader as well.

When everyone was ready to listen, Jack began by putting a newspaper on the table. On the front page of the newspaper, a photo of Margot joining hands with Anggara became the main headline. Large printed almost took up the entire page.

"I won't ask why, because you did what you did" Jack said calmly. His words were more about Margot. "I won't question your whereabouts either, Ace, when Margot does this."

"I did it all without Ace's knowledge, he doesn't know anything." Margot spoke while crossing her legs.

"Is that capable of being an excuse to cover up his negligence in monitoring you?"

"Uncle can see it as my success in tricking Ace. That's it." said Margot again. This time, he did not want his uncle to just throw tantrums at Ace. It's boring and annoying. In Margot's eyes, an Ace in a bad mood couldn't function better than a calm, calculating Ace. To take advantage of someone, Margot needs to realize that the tool she uses is really in perfect condition.

"Well, if you say it like that..." Jack did not want to drag the topic any deeper. He glanced at Ace at a glance and saw that his nephew was still in a state of calm. Not bothered by his accusations. "So, Margie...., can you explain what you're doing here?"

Margot looked at the picture of herself in the paper and sniffed her shoulders. "I'm posing."

"Margareth?" Jack repeated the emphasis.

"Alright, ugh! I'm just doing what Anggara's trying to do." Margot blew the tip of her fingernails while occasionally swinging the tip of her foot. "I think he has an ulterior motive for approaching me. I just took that chance..."

"A chance for what?" Ace connected eventually.

"To get closer to them, what else? I also want to dig up information about their family, Ace."

"What do you think I've been doing with Indira all this time?" Ace strongly disagrees on Margot's actions. In addition to endangering Margot's safety, Ace does not want his brother to get too deeply involved and too close to Evan or Anggara. Unlike Jem who was still gray, the two people were already clearly standing in the enemy position.

"What you did to Indira was different, Ace..." Margot had expected a debate if she said she approached Anggara. Because of the debate that is happening now, he did not inform the two early. They all must have whined objections. Irritatingly. "This time, I feel something else."

"I'm listening, what is it?" Jack does not fuse Ace. He still holds back his argument. Although in fact he considers Margot's actions quite rash.

"I think Anggara is conducting an investigation into us, and by investigation-I mean he's using me to figure out whatever it is he wants to know."

"Did he show interest in certain things?"

"I don't like this, Mar." Ace interjected with objections. "Whatever Anggara's motives, it doesn't mask the fact that you're exposing yourself to danger. Did you forget, my goal in helping you is to keep you from getting hurt at all."

"I won't get hurt, Ace."

"Where do you know? A few weeks ago, you almost died in the hands of your own bodyguard. Did you forget about him? We haven't even found out who's behind Fabian and you're going to play around with the fire right now."

"I can't be in the safe zone constantly is something you need to understand as well, Ace. I want the case to be over, I.e., I can't live with the thought that my parents-died without getting their justice at all." Margot's argument is even harsher. He stared at Ace right in the eye, devouring all the pressure his sister was exerting with her bigger, smoldering ambition.

"In the end, if I can't take revenge for the deaths of my father and mother, I will kill myself. You have to remember that! If my life could help me find out who the culprits who had wiped out my father.., obliterated my mother.., I.., I would exchange my life for that information."

"You two..." Jack took a deep breath, his eyes staring at his two nieces who were struggling on the same topic again. Ace on one hand will worry about Margot's life, then Margot - regardless of her sister's anxiety - will say anything about losing her life because for her life is of no importance other than revenge. They're really exhausting.

"I don't think I need to repeat this" Jack said. "But I will repeat it for the sake of the sanity of the two of you, no one will die even after the revenge has taken place. Do you guys understand?"

"Margot doesn't understand, Uncle..."

"You don't understand what I'm saying at all, Ace...!!!"

"Arcelio! Margaret!" Jack raised his voice and the two brothers were silent at once.

"Haaaah, you guys really make me work hard." Jack crossed his arms across his chest, his pair of eyes rolling alternately towards Ace and Margot who were still holding back the anger. "I understand your anxiety, Ace. I've been thinking about this while you two are acting like 5-year-olds..."

"I'm not..."

"Shushhhhh!!!" Jack's pointer rose up in the air, shush Margot who was about to oppose him.

"I think, for the sake of studying our enemy, it's good for Margot to do what she's done."

"But uncle..."

"Of course, of course..." Jack calms Ace who is about to fight. "There will be a limit to how far you can get yourself involved with Anggara, Mar. I'll monitor every single thing you can leak to Anggara. I'll also increase my surveillance on you. David too-where is David now?"

"David is still investigating Larson's whereabouts" Margot said. "When Larson managed to escape, I assigned David to follow where the rat would find its shade and hide."

Of course, successfully escaping means Ace and Margot accidentally release Larson in order for the bastard to run to the feet of his master who is still hiding in the dark.

"Is there no clue yet?"

"Just counting the days before the stench was smelled. He would have no other recourse but to beg the bastard who had already made him dance."

"So, who's been replacing David all this time?" Jack went back to the main topic.

"Vera did a good job."

"Is he reliable?" ask Jack with seriousness.

"I think he's a useful tool." Margot boasted a faint smile as she answered her uncle's question. Something was playing in his mind, creating a thread-like array of frightening schemes. Jack did not put a long curiosity on Margot's intentions.

"After all, I'll add your bodyguard." Jack closed the topic of Margot until there before turning to ask Ace's opinion.

"I don't like this." Ace's answer is still the same.

"Ace...??"

"I don't like it, but I'll let you do what you want. I'm handing Margot's security to you, uncle. I hope, there won't be a day where I regret my decision today."

...----------------...