K&K (Taste Features)
11. Mr. Officer
That very night, as Kirana was sleeping, Joyce's madam met Thomson's uncle and Smith's doctor at the bar that began to bustle visitors. He recounted his uneasiness about a government officer who went to his house to investigate.
Thomson's uncle owns a small bar where Madam Joyce and Machita work. She was very close to the Maroon family because her madam husband Joyce also often brought her uncle Thomson's favorite fish.
“If not wrong, then there was a plane from Indonesia exploded and there was a cruise ship from Switzerland that was sunk. Was he the victim of one of them?” ask uncle Thomson.
“I don't know Thom. My husband just said he saw the girl floating close to his location looking for fish. It was night, it didn't look anything. They were only focused on saving her,” Madam Joyce squeezed both her hands.
“Then what are you going to do Joyce? That cop will keep coming and could even ransack your house.”
“I know. For that I ask your advice.”
“Why not tell me if he's your family?” ask Dr Smith.
“The police already know that the girl is a foreign girl. I don't know who reported all this,” murmured irritably.
They were silent and only heard the sound of string music from the old radio in the corner of the barista table. Uncle Thomson continued to wipe the guest table filled with cigarette butts, nuts and alcohol spouts while ordering his men to serve the newly arrived guests.
“Good. Just tell me he's my girlfriend who's a passenger on that yacht from Switzerland. He came to Sydney to see me and did have an accident. I had brought him in early when they evacuated the yacht's victims. At the moment he is still very traumatized and cannot be spoken to too much.” Doctor Smith's speech spontaneity.
Madam Joyce frowned.
“We don't know his identity. Police will match his identity with the yacht victim.”.
“Do not worry Joyce,” by uncle Thomson. “That's what you came to me for. One of my loyal customers was a yacht insurance clerk. I'm gonna have him divulge a little bit of the victim's identity that we could match up with the girl. But..,”
“But why Thom?” ask Dr Smith.
“It will take a little.” Uncle Thomson's right thumb rubs against his right index finger.
“Ah.. is there still such a thing?” madam Joyce rolled her eyes up.
“Uang is the language of the world, Joyce. Who doesn't like money? Lately he likes to drink a lot and date the women from the bar next door, it will take a lot of money for it.” Uncle Thomson chuckles.
“Let me pay, Thom. Just name the number, and I hope he doesn't blackmail us, ” doctor Smith drank a quarter of a small glass of vodka that Uncle Thomson served.
In the morning, Joyce's madam was able to breathe a little more freely as the problem had been solved by now. He was grateful to have uncle Thomson and doctor Smith who always helped him even though they were not brothers.
Doctor Smith also felt indebted to many things to the Maroon family, for it is not surprising that he had become part of the Maroon family and did not hesitate to issue all forms of assistance.
***
That afternoon at around two in the afternoon, the little cottage of the Maroon family was again knocked by two men in police uniforms. This time they brought a dog. Doctor Smith had arrived first at the Maroon family home just as the police car turned towards his home.
“Ah, hi Sir,” greet doctor Smith waving kindly when opening the door.
He was still dressed, having rushed out of the hospital. The white coat was still slung on his arm. The two policemen raised eyebrows.
“Hello doctor,” greet thick mustachioed police. They both recognized Smith's doctor, as they met frequently at Randwick Hospital.
“Of course, I have to visit and pay attention to my lover,” replied doctor Smith opened the door wider and let the two police enter.
Madam Joyce, Machita and Paulo are in the dining room.
“Oh, you have a lover here?” asked the thick mustachioed policeman as he looked around the room with his hands in his pants pocket.
“Loved doctor Smith?” machita whispered to her mother in wonder. Madam Joyce hissed and elbowed her daughter's arm, telling silence.
“Of course. I leave my girlfriend here. The Maroon family is like my own family, so I am more comfortable and safe leaving it with the Maroon family.”
A thick mustachioed police gaze was fixed on one of the rooms whose doors were closed. He walked closer. “And.. what, your lover was..,”.
Jeglex.
The thick mustachioed policeman fell silent and paused the intention of opening the door. Everyone is glued. The sound of Machita's bedroom door creaking sounded loud. The Maroon family and Doctor Smith held their breaths. Afraid something else will happen. The girl who was being searched for the two policemen stood hesitantly in the half-open doorway. He wears Machita's knee-length sleeveless polka-dot dress that reaches almost his ankle, as Machita is taller than him.
“Hai darling's. You're still tired, aren't you? You should just lie down in bed,” every night Doctor Smith immediately kissed his forehead and hugged Kirana tightly. Both of Kirana's eyes were wide. Surprised by the man's attitude.
“They police. Pretend we're all safe,” whispered Doctor Smith in Kirana's left ear.
“Hi miss, how are you?” greet the thick-moustached policeman reached out as Doctor Smith let go of the hug.
Kirana just smiled and she was so doubtful about the existence of the two uniformed foreign men.
“I heard that in this house is taking care of accident victims or the like found in the sea. I just want to make sure that..,”
“Ah of course, Sir. She may be what you mean,”, doctor Smith said, while still embracing Kirana's shoulder. “He is my lover who is a passenger of a Swiss cruise ship. He came to see me, and I immediately picked him up from the hospital when I found out he had an accident. He lost many things, including his passport and others. But I can take care of her later and I can make sure that she's okay with me.”
The two policemen stared at each other. “And his name?”
“Er... Pongthananikorn. He's from Thailand, we met him five years ago while I was researching in a government hospital there,” Smith's doctor replied clearly lying.
He not only made up the girl's name but also her home country. Doctor Smith prefers to mention Preechaya Pongthananikorn. Because the name really exists in Thailand. Of course, that's the name of one of the beautiful artists who played in the romantic comedy atm errak error. Doctor Smith is a fan of Asian girls rather than fellow Caucasians. He already gave the first name of Asian, because he himself registered Kirana with that name while in the hospital.
The two policemen were unsuspecting by the fake name and origin, because Kirana's face was clearly Mongoloid. They were bearded but did not fully believe the doctor's words.
“She was traumatized and could not be spoken to. Believe me, I just can't talk to him clearly yet,” said Madam Joyce.
He really wanted the two policemen to leave his house immediately. The thick mustachioed policeman turned his head and looked back at Doctor Smith who answered a nod. The thick mustachioed policeman seemed to think and see from the tip of his hair to the tip of Kirana's feet.
Indeed, the girl looks a little “messed”.
“Good. I'll confirm the truth,” said the thick-moustached police officer as he brandished his index finger before he exited Joyce's madam cabin.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except Machita. From that moment his face looked full.
***
