Bab 17: IRENE FATHER

Mr. Willis, Irene's father sat on a old looking chair in front of his house looking at the night sky. It's not always that he comes home. That day as he quit his job again, he came back home to see his wife and kids. Of course had to stand his wife nagging first. He used to that anyway. But this time, he quit for a reason.

For more than a month he has been working as a dispatcher at Company B. Sending letters and goods here and there without any problems. But today, he had to stop after what he saw. How could he work there again after what happened?

He remembered the afternoon again.

Flashback:

After being told by one of his supervisors, Willis, went into the office warehouse to pick up some more items to be sent to their partnership company. He actually didn't know about what is he deliver and who his real boss is. The company seems shabby and suspicious, but he doesn't think much about it all due to the relatively high salary there. Unlike other places that he used to work.

While he was rushing to pick up the goods, he heard a loud noise coming from the direction of the room which was quite far from the place he is but due to the loud noise he could still hear clearly.

That room, he never approached even once because his supervisor had already reminded him and other employees don't hover elsewhere in the company. Only go to permitted areas only if they didn't want to be given stern action or worst case to be fired.

With a feeling of fear he approached the area. Surprise. That what he was feeling now when he saw someone being beaten there by some other people. Worst, the other people are all top officials of the company.

Willis tried to peek in silence. What is really going on? His eyes narrowed as he wanted to know who was being beaten as the uniform the person was wearing was the same as the one he was wearing right now. The man's now bruised with blood-stained face made it a little difficult for Willis to figure out his identity.

"Oh no! It's Joe." He said, whispering to himself.

He remembers that person is someone that enter the company along with him one month ago. They are not really close, but it is enough to just respect each other and keep each other company during break time. Even, this morning they have breakfast together. Unexpectedly, such a thing could happen to the man.

What that he did made him beaten like that? Willis wondered to himself. His face clearly showed concern. He also doesn't know what he should do right now.

With that, he took out his cell phone and tried to record the incident. Hopefully no one is aware of his actions. Maybe he can report this incident to the police and provide this video as evidence.

But, he was surprised when he zoomed his phone camera into the area. Joe, who was now in a weak state looked right at his direction. The other people that were there at that time did not notice it and seem to occupy with other things.

Joe, realize he is being filmed by Willis, make his last move before he knows he will go for good. He makes a sign language into the phone saying that,

"Go. Your pocket. Police."

Confused. Willis, who never in his life knows about sign language just looking at it weirdly. But, he knows the word 'go' as Joe used to tell that to him a long time ago when they are talking while eating lunch. All that he knows about Joe is that man used to work with organization for deaf and mute people. That's why he know how to use a sign language. Other than that, the man is still a mystery.

The heart is now beating fast, Willis wants to step his foot away from there, but, when he struggling to close his video recording,

Bang!

He witnesses something that he knows for sure he shouldn't. Joe is now lying there lifeless after being shot. Willis on the other hand cupped his mouth so he didn't scream in shock.

Trembling. He walked fast from there afraid of being caught. He knows he can also die in this situation if those people know what he was doing. First, trespassing forbidden area. Second, record the murder. Third, he is the witness.

After being out of the company, Willis kept his cell phone and tried to do his job as usual. He didn't want anyone to feel he was behaving too suspicious. Only after his job is settled that day, he asks his supervisor asking for quit. His reason that he could think at the time is he wanted to find work closer from home, as cliché as that.

His supervisor, not suspicious of anything and not questioning further just release him like that. Probably because used to managing incoming and outgoing employees. After all, he has just worked part time and paid every day by cash.

After that, he went home. He thought deeply what he should do, but going straight to the police station probably endangered him. Who knows if someone is watching him from afar?

So that, he decided to just stay low for now. Whatever it is Joe is already died. Taking some time before went to police won't hurt right? It's impossible to save someone that being shot in the head after all. And that only his coward, feeling that talking. Sigh!

"Dad!"

The cheerful voice of his daughter Irene, who had just returned from nowhere made his daydreaming stop. He smiling looking at the girl who running from a far. He also notice that her head seem to be bandaged all over.

"When you got home?" Irene that panting heavily from the running grab her dad hand and ask him with smiling. Only God know how much she miss him.

Irene actually just comes back from Victor office. After the man left her in the room, sulking, she decided to just get out there and went home.

But it takes her quite a lot of time before she can find the front door of the huge office. Luckily she encounters no one when she is wondering. The eerie feeling while she was there also one of the reason making her wanted to hurry home.

"What's wrong with your head?" His concern about his daughter making him not answering the question. His forehead wrinkled while observing the wound.

"Oh, nothing serious. I do something in college and fell down. Then my head hit something while falling. Yeah, that's what is happening." Irene said while smiling sheepishly. White lie only if you must, that is what she always do as she didn't want her dad to get worried about her. Her dad seem already has enough problems as it is. She doesn't want added more to it.

"Sis! I found your pen drive in the laundry. You should leave it in front of fan to let it dry or you can't use it anymore." Ivan, her step brother said a bit louder as Irene is quite far from him.

"Weird. I thought my pen drive is in my bag." Irene is talking to herself, but can be heard from her dad.

"Just go and see it. You always misplaced things after all." His dad who knew his daughter's temperament just told the truth.

"It's pink. Surely not mine." Ivan added.

If its pink that's her then. Irene laughs a little by that and in fast go inside the house to dry it or she needs to spend money to buy another one. After all, that situation creates an opportunity for her able to escape from being asked about her injury again.

Without them realizing the pen drive actually belongs to someone else.

_______________

::Victor Mafia HQ::

After finishing the meeting with his followers, Victor went back into the room occupied by Irene and found that the girl was gone. He didn't have to look for her because the girl had already left a note on the empty bed for him.

Dear Mr. Victor,

Thank you so much for helping and treating me. You know that I can't afford anything to pay you. But the accident has happened when I was working so it is only right for you as my boss to take care of me, your worker well. Also, I'm sorry if I am being rude while talking to you before. I blame my head for not functioning properly... yet. But I swear my head still sane. Worry no more. I will handle things myself now. See you at work.

By, your hardworking slave.

Victor was a little stunned to read the note he left behind. After a while he smiles and laughing alone there. He also don't even know what make him feel funny at the moment.

"That girl is really something else. How can she write like this?" Keeping the note carefully. Then, smiling non-stop after that. His bad mood finally cured.