Papa To Kirana

Chapter 38 Who Did It?

“What? I sent a birthday cake to Kirana, your son?”

I silently digest the look on Frans' face that looks nervous and surprised. We were sitting across from the restaurant. After driving Rama and Alexa home, I asked Frans to meet.

I told him about Rama being poisoned after eating the birthday cake Frans sent to Kirana.

Strange, Frans even seemed to know nothing.

Frans took a deep breath, “Balin, I didn't even know that yesterday was your son's birthday.”

“Don't lie, Frans! You almost hurt Kirana.”

“Baline... This is impossible. There must be someone making me a scapegoat. In case I wanted to harm Kirana there was no way I would send a poisoned cake in my own name.”

I stood on the table. Until the drinks spilled on the table. We are the center of attention for all restaurant visitors.

But Frans raised his hand to everyone, gestured for forgiveness and asked me to sit down again.

“Galang said to himself that the courier who delivered the cake was on your behalf, Frans.”

“Ah, yes, Galang. We ask Galang.”

Frans called Galang. The young man who was the same age as Rama walked over with a face that was as nervous as Frans.

I told Galang to sit down and be followed by him. He glanced at me and Frans alternately.

“Galang, answer honestly, yesterday who delivered the birthday cake package for Mr Balin? You remember the features?” ask Frans.

Galang seemed to close his eyes trying to remember.

“His chair is a man, tall, but. I can't see his face clearly because of wearing a mask and sunglasses.”.

“Then? What did the guy say?” I'm asking along.

“Yes, he only delivered packages, saying that this package is intended for Mr. Balin from Mr. Frans.”

“Only that?” Frans asked.

Galang.

Frans looked frustrated, he could not argue anything. Then ruffled her hair.

“Balin, trust me! I'm not the one.”

Suddenly he was aghast, as if he had just come up with an idea.

“What on the cake is the name of the shop, Balin? We can go there to find out who exactly the person who ordered the poisoned cake was.”

I shook my head in despair, “If there were, I would have been to that store since yesterday.”

“Balin, you trust me right? Anyway what was my motive for poisoning Kirana, an innocent toddler?”

I grinned. I am so frustrated with all this. Where is the person I should trust?

Massaging my forehead that feels throbbing.

Everyone around me could be Harsa's accomplice. I don't have a clue. If only I had one clue to know who was following me.

“For the moment... “ Frans says. “I never want to know about Kirana. Because I thought, that's your privacy. I'm afraid to offend you who was left by your wife when she was struggling to give birth. But... “

I stared hard at Frans. He tapped a finger at the table. A sign that he is nervous.

“But... All I see is that you and Kirana have experienced some strange events. Your car was hit by a truck, Kirana was almost taken by a kidnapper, and yesterday there was a poisoned cake. Although the cake was mis-targeted eaten by your sister but the sender hoped Kirana would be poisoned.”

“Iya, there are indeed people who have evil intentions on Kirana,” I confess.

“Who?”

“I can't tell you who that person is.”

“Why? I'm your friend, Balin. Don't hesitate if you ask for help from me.”

I threw away my face, but at that moment I remembered something. I looked back at Galang who was still sitting between us.

“Did Cindy come here yesterday?”

“Bu Cindy? Yesterday he came, but only stopped by for a moment. No ordering food.”

“He just stopped by?” many wonder.

Why did Cindy come just to stop by? Do not order food like most people come to restaurants. He must have had a reason to come yesterday.

“Yes, Ms. Cindy came just wanted to ask when Mr. Balin came.”

“Then you answer what?” I asked with my hands starting to clench under the table.

The roar looked worried. He was afraid of speaking wrongly.

“I said that Mr. Balin would not come to the restaurant because he was celebrating Kirana's birthday. Then Ms. Cindy went.”

“When did Cindy come to the restaurant? Before or after the package came?”

While I waited for an answer by holding my breath.

“Previous,” revealed Galang. “Bu Cindy left, then about one hour next the package courier came.”

“Balin, you're not suspecting Cindy right? He it's just... “

I walked out of Frans and Galang. I'm accelerating my pace.

Is it really Cindy? He spied on me and reported it to Harsa?

He comes to the restaurant and finds out that Kirana's birthday. Then she went to order a poisoned cake but sent it on Frans' behalf. Could it be?

“Balin,” Frans patted my shoulder. He caught his breath as he ran after me.

“Balin, there can't be Cindy the culprit.”

“Can you, Frans. Everything could have happened. You know where Cindy lives?”

Frans was silent for a moment. I took one step closer to her, but Frans avoided my gaze.

“Antar me to his house!” my orders.

 

***

 

I pressed the bell button in front of Cindy's house.

Frans was behind me, still assuring me that Cindy wasn't the one who sent the poisoned cake.

But I ignored Frans' words. Then, the door rattled open.

A middle-aged woman opened the door, looking at the two of us with scrutinizing eyes.

“Sorry, find who?”

“I Balin. I want to meet Cindy. Is Cindy home?”

“You're Cindy's friend?” the woman asked back.

I gulped, with great difficulty I said, “Yes, friend. We're his friend.”

“I'm Cindy's mother.”

I didn't ask, Mom. I want to feel like I'm beating that. I took a deep breath, fortunately I was still able to be patient.

“Is Cindy home, Mom?” ask me one more time.

Cindy's mother smiled, “She's just gone no errands out of town.”

“Tasks? What task?”

 

 ***

 

In a work space.

 

The room that was neatly arranged every day was immediately messy in an instant. All the stuff on the floor. Some of the expensive ceramic objects are broken into pieces.

The perpetrator stood up with his breath up and down holding in anger. Like a bull running amok. He yelled and kicked at the mahogany table that only shifted a few inches.

The H-shaped necklace pendulum glimmered when exposed to the reflection of twilight light in the dim room.

“Pads. All my men suck. Killing one small baby just isn't becus.”

His hands clenched tightly, and finally landed a fist onto the table.

“Luck always siding with baby lak**t it.”

The man grinned. Chuckles because in his brain comes a new idea.

“Then this is the case, I myself will intervene to eliminate the baby along with everyone who protects him.”

“Wait a minute, Balin. I'll finish you off.”