TRIPLE SEVEN

Chapter Five

Ella tied her hair up while looking at the two young men sitting in front of her. Her fingers tapped on the table, representing the awkwardness she felt. Many times she looked at Joshua with wide eyes. Joshua understood the girl's meaning, Ella was shocked because he brought Juan along. They would not be able to speak freely in the presence of outsiders.

"I already told him." Josh's comment was short. "He'll help us a lot won't he?"

"You..." Ella trailed off. "Didn't you say.."

"I trust your perception of Juan."

"Excellent! You can't hold your own word." Ella laughed mockingly.

"It is not like that...".

"That's enough." She interrupted. "We should immediately determine our next steps ..." Ella continued.

Ella looked at Joshua who was grinning at her. "We...?" the girl hangs. "That's right. Juan, now you're one of us. We're hoping for your help." the girl extended her hand to Juan. The thick-browed youth greeted her and held her steady.

"The central point of this case is Surya Rembana." Ella opened. "Apart from the sacred place, Togong Oloyomate is the key to all of this. It's up to you what you want to say," she continued, looking at Juan. "We are people who work with logic, where we see everything with it, and not so easy to believe in mystical things. Everything needs proof. Something that can't be proven, it can't be trusted."

"I see..." Juan nodded.

"I realized that my presence in this village was being watched. I don't know by whom. Last night I went out to lure 'them'. I could feel I was being followed from the moment I passed the village hall. But unfortunately I couldn't see who was following me."

"Whoever they are, they have great stalking skills, and seem very experienced." Joshua interrupted. "I managed to see their figures. But because of the darkness and also their black clothes, their appearance is not clear. Only I can confirm they are men. They are of decent height. About as tall as you," Joshua said, turning to Juan.

"That means we have to observe village people who are as tall as me..." said Juan.

"As far as I can see, the men in this village have an average height of 160. Both young people and the elderly. Only one or two people are above 170, the same as Juan, or maybe none..." said Ella

Juan looked thoughtful. "I remember there were three people who were quite tall. Thamrin, Seno, and Mr. Sutardjo..."

"They live here?" Joshua asked. Juan nodded.

"I'll investigate. Leave this part to me." whispered Joshua.

"I await the results of your investigation, TSF. If it is proven that any of these people are involved, then they could be the key to bringing us to the root of the problem."

TSF (READ: Two Six Four = Code name Joshua) nodded slowly.

"Juan," Ella looked at the man she mentioned, "This job is a dangerous job. We don't know who our opponents are yet. We won't involve you any further..."

"I will help you until this secret is revealed..."

"It's not like that, Juan. We are here because this is indeed our duty. We have to face all the consequences and the worst possibility. But you are just an ordinary person, and we don't want to endanger your safety." she explained.

"I'm a native of this village, you guys are outsiders, without my help you'd be in trouble. I don't mind doing this work at all. It's a noble task isn't it?" Juan laughed. "Trust me, all will go well, and you will succeed."

"We." interrupted Ella, smiling. "I hope so."

"I will report the results of my investigation later." Joshua stands. "Goodbye" he said as he walked away. Juan stood up too. "Triple Seven, I'll take my leave too." he said as he bowed in a ridiculous manner, leaving the girl wide-eyed to hear Juan call her by that name.

***

"I've been watching Thamrin the last few days." Joshua reported to Ella that evening. They had not seen each other for several days, and this was their reunion after the discussion they had at Grandma Ella's house. Juan is not with them, because there are some jobs that he cannot leave.

Joshua and Ella were at Alina's house, sitting in the living room.

"What did you get?"

"He doesn't look suspicious. He's a fisherman. Daily activities at sea. His height is convincing, but I don't think from the way he looks he can't be…”

"Don't talk about impossibility." Ella interrupted. "Want coffee?"

Joshua shrugged and nodded. Ella walked into the kitchen for a moment and returned with two cups of black coffee and a plate of fried sweet potatoes.

“Nothing is impossible, TSF. People who don't look dangerous, sometimes they are our real enemies." Ella said while serving the coffe she brought.

"I understand, El. But judging by his background, it seems unlikely that Thamrin will be involved. He is a quiet young man who sometimes seems a bit stupid...”

“Continue your explanation…”

"Mr Sutardjo. He is the Village Secretary. Nothing suspicious about him. He's just busy with village affairs and spends more time at the village office, and I don't think there will be time to spy on you.”

Ela chewed her fried sweet potato slowly. "Seno?"

“He is the Village Head's son. Now I'm on leave from college and returning home here."

Joshua took a sip of his coffee and finally winced to himself because of the bitterness. she laughed. “That's real coffee picked from the garden and ground manually. That's why it feels so strong."

"Okay, now I want to hear your theory..." Joshua said.

"Mr. Sutardjo." Reply Ella.

"Why should he?"

“It's just a guess, Josh. Don't jump to the conclusion that he did it. Do you remember that night when I was out fishing for the person who was spying on me?”

Joshua nodded indifferently while grabbing the fried sweet potatoes on the tray.

"I realized that the stalker had started following me from the village hall or what you called the village office earlier. Who do you think was spending the most time in the village office?”

Joshua was silent, but he began to understand Ella's way of thinking.

"Let's say Pak Sutardjo is stalking you, then who is the other person?"

"That's what we have to find out. At least we already have one suspect. Though we're not sure if he's the one yet.”

"Then what's your plan?"

“We're going to replay the scene from that night, I'm going to be out running around the village as if investigating something to lure them out. And you have to be sharper and more careful watching those behind me. I would pretend to go to Pak Sutardjo's house to find out where he was, while Juan would watch Seno from his house. If they were at his house when I was stalked, then they weren't the culprits."

"Are you sure they'll be goaded into stalking you again?"

"Let's just try."

“I will tell Juan your plan. When will it run?"

“Tomorrow night. We use the spare time to pay attention to the movements of these suspected people during the day. Ask for Juan's help if necessary."

"Of course."

"And don't forget, to keep an eye on Thamrin."

"Understood." Juan said obidiently.

***

The appointed night arrived. The wind was blowing hard outside. Ella stood for some time at the door of her house, tightening her black jacket. she hopes her two colleagues can carry out monitoring properly.

A moment later this tall girl had stepped out of the courtyard, she deliberately put a headset on her ear, to give a relaxed impression.

It's only 09.00 at night, but the situation in the village is already quiet. Very different from the city which is always crowded until dawn.

This time Ella set her goals. she was going to Mr. Sutardjo's house. her steps were unhurried, she walked with her eyes straight ahead, glancing left and right.

When she passed by the village hall, this girl was silently observing. The atmosphere is quiet and lonely. The door of the village hall was shut tight.

This girl passed by village head's house. There were five more houses left before arriving at the Village Secretary's house where she was headed. This girl stopped while pretending to look for something in his jacket pocket. The eyes and ears are in pairs.

She felt a movement behind her, followed by the sound of footsteps closing the distance closer to her. Ella was preparing to pretend to walk again, when a deep voice greeted her.

" Ella...?" the voice was familiar. The girl turned around. A man stood before him. The color of the cigarette embers tucked into his fingers contrasted with the darkness around them.

"Good evening, Mr. Mulyo." Ella nodded politely.

"It's not good to be walking alone at this time of night, Miss." Mr Mulyo warned.

"I have an urgent need. Where are you going?”

"I'm not going anywhere. I was sitting at home when I saw you passing by. I saw you stopped so I meant to say hello," he replied calmly.

Ella smiled as she glanced far behind the man, in case someone was following her. But nothing is visible.

"I was only out for a moment, sir."

"Well that's that then. Take care, girl.” Mr. Mulyo replied as he left the girl and went back into his yard.

Ella turned around and continued walking towards Mr. Sutardjo's house. Like other residents' houses, the village secretary's house was already deserted with the door tightly closed. Ella entered the courtyard without hesitation. Her hand moved to knock. She waited a long time until finally a woman opened the door. The look on her face was disturbed.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Is Mr. Sutardjo there?"

"He is going to the Regency Capital, there is a business trip ..!"

"Since when, ma'am?"

"This afternoon..."

"Okay. Sorry to disturb."

The woman nodded quickly lazily, as if she wanted to drive Ella out of her house immediately. She immediately closed the door just as Ella turned around.

The girl walked back down the quiet street in silence, she intended to return to her grandmother's house.

Somewhere deserted, this girl stopped. In the distance she saw something lying on the road, a little to the side. Her instincts told him to be on guard. Slowly but surely, she stepped forward while turning on her cell phone flashlight.

It was less than two meters when Ella realized that was a human body lying face down.

The flashlight of her cell phone was aimed at the body in front of her. Black jacket, black pants...and ...long hair!

Anxiety immediately took over her mind. But her vigilance did not loosen. With the tips of her feet Ella turned the body around. The flash is directly aimed at the person's face.

“Holy crap. Joshua...!”

***