Episode 5: The First Escape (1)

The car moved closer to the yard which was actually wide — but felt cramped at sight. There were parked two police tactical cars and several other cars, I didn’t know whose they were. Also parked closely, right in front of the entrance, was an ambulance parked. Dozens of fully armed policemen stood eyeing all those who walked in and out of the front door. 

I complained to myself that, despite their tyrannical business, the people living in this house were an only elderly couple who lived with servants. Nothing more, nothing less. There was no mercenary. They would not fight.

Several nurses were busy unloading something from the ambulance.

I walked across the living room, went straight to the room Uncle Liem and Auntie used for resting. One or two high-rank officials from the bank and company owned by Uncle Liem sat in the living room, their faces confused. They’re speaking softly to each other. Four police officers were removing computer devices and documents from the room Uncle Liem’s home office. The officers wore protective uniforms as if there were bombs in boxes of documents and other evidence that they carried out.

I took a short breath. There was something more urgent. Aunt Liem.

The door to the room was closed right after I entered. It was a gloomy sight.

But Auntie’s health was not as bad as I imagined. She was lying on a large bed, the doctor was standing next to her, assisted by two nurses, trying to put on an IV and another tube.

“Finally you came.” Uncle Liem’s hoarse voice greeted me first before I greeted Aunt.

I nodded — let him hug me.

“Sit next to me, Tommi.” Aunt’s voice slowly drifted.

“When did Auntie wake up?” I swallowed hard, staring at the face that once looked fresh and pleasant, now pale and sunken in just a month since the Semesta Bank’s case rolled around.

“Fifteen minutes ago,” the doctor answered.

I nodded, took Aunt Liem’s hand.

“It’s all over, Tommi.” Aunty looked at me slowly. “The situation couldn’t have been any worse, right? So I won’t pass out again, Son. That’s the good news.”

I looked bitterly at her face, her eyes were teary.

“They only gave me a moment,” Uncle Liem explained slowly, standing next to me. “If your aunt gets better, and has regained consciousness, they will take this old man to go to prison. That means only a few minutes left.”

“Is there really no one who can help?” I turned my head. Even though I had hated him all this time, seeing his haggard face in front of me, while touching my aunt’s cold hand, changed my mind a lot.

Uncle Liem shook his head, laughing grimly.

“Aren’t you a close friend of those important political party officials? Ministers? Or even the president? Or business colleagues? Can’t they help save the Semesta Bank?” I listed out a few possibilities.

“You didn’t listen to your aunt. It’s all over, Tommi. Nobody wants to get close to a bad situation like this. Instead, you’re the one accused of conspiring. The arrest order was effective. The policeman guarding the front room carried the warrant.”

The room was quiet, all heads bowed.

I swallowed hard. “What about Shinpei, your business partner for decades? Wouldn’t he be more than happy to help?”

Uncle Liem shook his head. “Their group is also in trouble. I’ve called Shinpei, told him about this situation, he apologized for not being able to help.”

I exhaled staring into the faces of the four nurses awaiting orders. The doctor stood in reverent silence, concerned, and some of Uncle Liem’s company’s officials who looked back frantically did not make a sound nor had any idea as to what to do.

“I know you’ll never want to listen to this old man, Tommi. But this time, please take care of your aunt and younger cousins while I am in prison. Make sure they are okay.” Uncle Liem’s hoarse voice broke the silence.

Jeez! I swallowed hard.

“Unfortunately we don’t have a son. You are the only son in our big family. Whatever is left of this business, you are the one who deserves the most to continue it. On Monday, the Central Bank authority will close the operation of all Semesta Bank’s branches. Also on Monday, I will sign a statement that will replace all customer money, not a dime of their money will be eaten by this old man. Even if that includes selling off the property business, automotive, our entire company.” Om Liem touched my hand.

The room was getting quiet.

“Have you been to prison, Ram?” Uncle Liem asked, laughing bitterly, turning to the person who picked me up at the hotel, the trusted aide in the parent company. “I have, Ram. When I was in my twenties. I went to prison for six months. It wasn’t going to prison that made me discouraged, but when I was in prison, Thomas’s father and mother died. Ever since that day, Thomas has hated me.”

“Enough!” I grunted harshly, my eyes hot.

All heads in the room lifted, Aunty looked at me.

“Stop this nonsense.” I gasped, struggling to control my breath. “No one will go to jail tonight.”

“This isn’t nonsense, Tom. There is no way out.” Uncle Liem looked at me flatly.

“Silence! Let me think for a moment.” I was wringing my hair, trying to digest many things that had happened after the conference in London, the fighting club, and Uncle Liem’s mansion.

“Do the police outside know that Auntie is awake?” I asked the people in the room.

The doctor shook his head. “Nobody has told them yet.”

That was great news. I clenched my fists.

“Is Aunt’s condition stable?” I reiterated, making sure, my time was limited.

The doctor nodded.

“Okay, listen to me!” I called the attention of all the people in the room, my eyes glared at everyone. “All of you will keep your mouth shut until all matters are over.”

Their faces looked confused.

“You, yes, you immediately get the emergency gurney from the ambulance!” I pointed my index finger at one of the nurses.

“What for?” The doctor interrupted my orders, perplexed.