Jakarta Two Weeks Later
The rain finally washed the smell of ash from the streets. The city was still hurting. The "Great Purge" was over, not because the bad people were gone, but because the machine that was in charge was stopped.
Pistachio was sitting in an office above a noodle shop in Grogol. It was not a police office, just a room with old filing cabinets and a desk that was a little shaky. On the door, a simple sign said: Pistachio – Private Investigations & Legal Audit.
Malik came in with two cups of coffee. He looked different, tired but not scared anymore. He had quit his job as a police officer the day after the fire.
Malik said, "The final report from the Ministry of Health is out. They are still finding robots in the water supply. It will take months to make the water clean again. So the government has stopped allowing people to get medical implants. People are going back to using fashioned pacemakers and taking insulin shots by hand."
Pistachio nodded, looking at a stack of papers. "That is good. We have been relying heavily on machines to keep us alive. Maybe it is time we started trusting our bodies again."
Malik asked, "What is that stack of papers?"
Pistachio said, "It is the Aris file.. What is left of it? I spent the morning putting the social worker's testimony from the digital backups that Saraswati forgot to delete. I am going to give it to the High Court tomorrow."
Malik said, "To clear Ariss name?"
Pistachio said, "No, to give the court the facts. Aris was a thief, Malik. He should not have been a hero. He should not have been a victim of a conspiracy. He was a man who made a choice, and the law did not understand why. I am making sure the court hears the story this time."
The television was on, showing the midday news. The headline said: "Saraswati and Twelve High-Ranking Officers Indicted in 'Garden' Conspiracy. Trials Expected to Years."
Malik sighed, "Years. People are already complaining. They miss the speed of the Executioner. They say the courts are slow again."
Pistachio got up. Walked to the window. The streets of Jakarta were still chaotic. A motorcycle taxi was arguing with a car driver, and a street vendor was arguing about the price of oil. It was messy and loud. It was okay.
Pistachio said, "Speed is for people who want answers, Malik. Justice is slow and hard. It is supposed to be that way. Because if it is easy to take someone's freedom or life, then it is not justice. It is a quick way to hurt people."
Pistachio went back to his desk. Picked up a pen. He opened a file and wrote: Case No. 001: The People vs. The Silence.
Pistachio said, "We have work to do, and this time we are not going to skip anything."
The city outside was loud and imperfect. It was human. The past still had its problems. For the first time in a long time, the people in charge were not being controlled by someone who was not alive. They were being held by a man who knew how important every detail was.
[EPILOGUE END]