The Long Night of Amelia
Chapter 26: Investigation: The Last

Anto walked towards the Junta that had been waiting for him. Sweat on his forehead. Just like the others, he sat in front of the young policeman.

"Please sit..Introduce yourself first.."

"Hmm.My name is Arianto, commonly called Anto. I'm 23 years old.."

"What do you do at this restaurant ? And how can you work here ?" ask the young policeman.

"I'm a chef just like Reni. When I first entered this restaurant, I learned about this job from a friend of mine. I used to be an employee at a McDoughlas fast food restaurant. I worked there for 5 years, sir. Then I looked through social media about the Tiam restaurant. A Chinese restaurant that was quite viral at the beginning of its establishment. Until then, they opened a vacancy for a chef here..."

"As a chef, I was looking for more challenging opportunities and a bigger salary, so I tried to apply here at the time, I was told I was accepted to work here as a chef", Anto said smoothly. Even though he felt stubborn and nervous, he was able to master his emotions well.

"Hmm...means your salary here is much greater than the previous place?", asked the Junta further.

"Yes..Right, Pak ".Anto answered briefly.

" What do you think of Mrs Rumayyah ?" ask the young policeman to come back.

Anto took a deep breath. His eyes glared somewhere.His heart was pounding. He was silent for a moment. Then he spoke :

" The mother of a successful and persistent woman. She is quite beautiful despite being a widow. He has what every man wants from a woman. It's just..."Anto again sighed and took a deep long breath.

" It's just that his habits are not what other people usually see of him .." Anto told the young police in front of him. Junta was intrigued by this man's words.

"Hmm...Unusual as what do you mean ? Can you explain more about this ?". Anto seemed to be getting nervous. Sweat was flowing from his forehead.

"Hmm..well.I mean I.m not like others see. Hmmm.I mean.mom looks like someone who is good, successful and flawless.perfect. But the truth is, it's not like that. He's someone who is easily stressed, temperamental, and..difficult to guess.." said Anto while wiping the sweat that flows on his forehead.

Junta nodded his head. He seemed to understand Anto's words. Now he has a picture of the victim he is investigating.

" Hmm.I understand..As long as you are working with Ms Rumayyah how is your working relationship with her ? Did he ever scold you while working or how Ms Rumayyah's relationship with her employees you think ?". Junta is a little bit flinched this time. Both of his hands held his chin. Staring straight at Anto. Anto began to feel clumsy looking at the man in front of him. But he understands Junta is a cop investigating someone. So it's natural that his attitude is like that.

"

" I started working here, my relationship with Mrs Rumayyah was very good. I was amazed at him. My age is not too far away from him. But he can be as successful as this pioneering his business from zero in a time that I think is relatively short.But.Slowly after I started working here..I started to feel like he was different from the first time I knew him. He began to be often sensitive and irritable at the small mistakes that we, his employees made." said Anto hanging. He was a little downcast because he was bored to see the sharp gaze of the young police in front of him. Like an arrow that will plunge into his heart.

" What if Mrs Rumayyah gets angry ? Is he saying rude things like cursing or maybe threatening to fire or something else ?Can you explain more details to me ?" tanyanya back.

"Well, as you say. As he climbs apitam, he can issue a curse with very harsh words on you..Hmm.he had threatened also if we often make mistakes repeatedly, then he did not hesitate to fire us. He had never behaved like that before. Just.Then the man left.he seemed to change.." Anto replied to Junta.

"Lelam ?? Whose man do you mean ?" search the Junta back.

"Hm...Mr Chan. He had worked here when the beginning of this restaurant just stood up. But then he just left. Either he resigned or she fired him. After his departure, my mother began to change. He seems often emotional and easily provoked whenever there is something he thinks is not as he wants." Anto told the police.

The junta began to nod. His hand wrote something on the note sheet in front of him.

" After you know the nature of Ms Rumayyah, what was your attitude at that time ?I mean, do you intend to quit your job here ?" tanyanya back.

"Hmm.I personally have not thought of quitting my job. You know finding a job in the capital is not easy.. Especially with a salary that can meet the standard of decent living here. So no matter how harsh my mother curses me. I try to stay afloat, sir." said Anto tried to turn his eyes directly on Junta.

"Alright .I understand what you mean. Then you can write down your name and phone number. So I can call you back if I have any information I need from you. Junta gave the notebook in front of the man. He opened a sheet where the names of the employees he had interviewed and their contact numbers one by one. Anto followed the young policeman's orders.

" good. Thank you Anto for your description." replied Junta while standing and greeting the man before him.

Anto walked away from the Junta's desk. He headed back to the kitchen. Day starts afternoon. The sunlight that was shining was beginning to dim the light.

He looks at his other friend. They were busy continuing the work they had left behind. Misa herself was at the table of the restaurant mopping and cleaning the table one by one. While his eyes glanced, stealing a glance at the police who were at one of the tables. His ears were sharp listening to every question the policeman gave to each of his friends.

***

Last turn.

Princesses.

" Please sit down." said Junta. Just like the others he told the woman in front of him to get to know him first.

" Can you explain how you got into this restaurant and what are your responsibilities as a cashier here ?"

" I went into this restaurant because of a job vacancy info I got from a job search application. My job as a cashier is the same as other casier officers in general. I was in charge of payment matters and all financial or bookkeeping matters at this restaurant", said the young girl was very calm and polite.

" Hmm.you can take care of all the finances here. Sorry..if I may know means you have an economic education background ?" junta asked the young girl in front of him. The daughter of a hijab girl. His skin is white with a soft face typical of Sundanese women.

"Yes, right sir. I graduated from SMEA then I was continuing my S1 accounting lecture until now for Saturday and Sunday classes." she replied calmly and confidently.

" Hmm.hegat. You're a student ?"

" Yes,Pak. After graduating SMEA, I tried to apply to work here. Then Rumayyah's mother accepted me to work as a cashier here. After a few months of working here, I tried to continue my studies to get a degree in economics. I took afternoon classes for employees on Saturdays and Sundays" he replied.

Junta nodded while smiling at the girl before him.

"Can you tell me about your work here and your relationship with Ms Rumayyah ?"

The princess nodded her head. He answered the young policeman :

"My duties relate to restaurant finance and payment issues. Therefore, I used to be in direct contact with Bu Rumayyah, always the owner of this restaurant. Every day all income and expenses will be reported directly to Bu Rumayyah. Because he will definitely be this restaurant every day to monitor ", said the hijab girl explained.

" What do you think of Rumayyah's mother as a superior ?"

" Mum Rumayyah is a firm and detailed person. Everything must be under his control. He is a pretty royal person..If he has entrusted an employee, he does not hesitate to give a bonus or a big reward to him", he said back.

"Hm...Did you ever get that bonus or reward during your time working here ?"

" Of course yes, sir.at that time because the restaurant was again on the rise.and the visitors increased drastically.I as a cashier get a bonus that is quite large beyond my salary".

" If you may know how much bonus you got at that time ?" ask Junta back.

" Well, about 30% of the salary I received" said the princess smiling.

" Do you like working here with your boss Bu Rumayyah directly ?".

" Of course, sir. I really like my job. In addition to my applied economics, I get enough salary as a cashier and from the results of my salary that I can continue my studies sir until now." he replied seemed excited.

" How old are you now if I can know ?"

" 19 years old, sir.."

"Hmm.oh yes, how are the financial statement issues that you are dealing with at this time. I mean after the death of Rumayyah's mother, as a cashier in charge of bookkeeping and restaurant finance, to whom are you responsible ?"

"Hmm..after Ms. Rumayyah left, I had no boss to report daily financial matters...I have a savings account for this restaurant. Ms. Rumayyah entrusted me to hold it. Until now every money from restaurant income, I deposit directly into the account." explained the girl gently.

"Hm...Sir, is it after the departure of Ms. Rumayyah, will this restaurant close and...we have to step back from our work this?", asked the girl looking sad and a little downcast. The junta who heard the girl's question was surprised to find that he would ask her about it.

"Hmm.I don't know yet, Princess. We will also find out...Dik Puteri, there is no need to be sad.even though this restaurant is closed, Dik Puteri can find other jobs. Which may be.much better than here. I pray that God will give his best for Dik Princess." said the adult Junta. He looks much more mature at the moment. He could feel the anxiety felt from the employees here about this.

"Well if there is something, can I contact Dik Puteri back later?" asked Junta so kind and gentle to the girl before him.

"God willing, of course you can." replied the girl, nodding.

Junta also thrust a pen and notebook that he had previously done the same to all employees of this Tiam restaurant.

After all the employees had their turn to interview, Junta cleaned up all the equipment. Put it in a medium-sized backpack. He approached all the officers who had lined up neatly. Experiencing them one by one.

"Thank you for all the information you gave me...Hopefully it will help the investigation process for Ms. Rumayyah's death. If I need more information I will contact you. And..this is my contact number.if there may be other information you wish to provide to assist the investigation process.." junta said while giving each person a card with a small police symbol in the corner.

The junta then turned and headed for the motorbike in the parking lot. The officers looked at each other after the young policeman walked away. The sound of the roar of his motorbike sounded so loud in the ears of those who are still struggling with the events today. Slowly the roar of sound moved away in the middle of the twilight sky that looked bluish orange.

***