Naufal wiped the cold sweat that drenched his forehead. The aroma of strong black coffee, the third brew tonight, couldn't mask the pungent smell of methamphetamine residue still clinging to his clothes. The wall clock showed ten o'clock at night, and his work was not yet finished.
The arrest report of the major drug dealer they had just captured was still piled up on his desk, thick files containing operation details, witness statements still trembling with fear, and photos of evidence uncovering the dark network.
Physical and mental fatigue hit him hard, and he couldn't afford to be careless. His responsibility was immense: protecting the public from the increasingly rampant danger of drugs.
His phone rang, breaking the silence of the room inhabited only by piles of files and the bitter aroma of coffee. Sinta's number was displayed on the screen.
He hesitated for a moment before answering it. He knew Sinta was waiting for him to call, as promised. A promise made in the midst of busyness, a promise forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the arrest operation a few hours ago.
"Hello?" Naufal answered, his voice heavy, burdened by fatigue and guilt.
"Honey." Sinta's voice was heard. "You said you'd call, but until now, I've been waiting for hours. You didn't even give me any news. I feel like you never care." Disappointment was clearly implied in her voice, piercing Naufal's heart.
Naufal sighed deeply, his guilt suffocating his chest. He looked at the wall clock again, realizing how busy he had been today that he no longer realized that night had arrived.
"Sinta, I'm sorry. The operation was very tiring, and this report must be completed immediately, I know that's no excuse, but I ...."
"Ah, never mind! When I called earlier, you said you were on the way! A member was injured! You said you'd call, but where is it? In the end, I'm the one who calls!" Sinta hung up in annoyance.
Naufal sighed deeply. As he was about to return to the pile of files, he found Dimas, his colleague, already standing in front of him.
"How long have you been here?" Naufal asked, his voice flat.
"Since the woman called Sinta seemed to divert Mr. Naufal's world from the silence of this room," Dimas replied, a faint smile etched on his face.
"Sit down" Naufal pointed to the chair in front of him.
Dimas, who was carrying a file, sat down in front of Naufal. The man with the rank of AIPDA (First Police Inspector) was 40 years old, and because his rank was quite far below Naufal's, he always attached the title "Sir" to the young man.
"People have gone home since earlier. Only Mr. Naufal is left in this room," Dimas said, his voice soft, full of understanding. He knew Naufal needed someone to share the burden with.
"I feel guilty, Brother," Naufal said, his voice almost inaudible, trying to tell about the conflict with his lover.
Dimas listened patiently, nodding occasionally. After Naufal finished telling his story, Dimas said, "Mr. Naufal, our task is indeed heavy. But don't let us forget other important things in our lives. Family, loved ones, they are all part of our lives."
"I know. But I feel like I can't manage my time well. I always feel like I don't have enough time," Naufal replied, his voice still heavy.
"We have to learn to balance everything, Sir. Don't let us get caught up in the routine of work until we forget other valuable things," Dimas gave his advice.
Suddenly, Naufal's phone rang. An unknown number. He hesitated for a moment before answering it.
"Hello?"
"Ipda (First Police Inspector) Naufal Hasbi?" The voice on the other end sounded heavy, threatening. "We know about this morning's operation. We know you confiscated quite a lot of evidence. We want our share. If not, your younger brother, Akhzam, will pay the price."
Naufal's heart pounded. He felt a coldness that pierced his bones. The threat was clear, and he knew this was no ordinary threat.
This was a threat from a larger drug network, a network that might be more dangerous than the dealer they had just caught. This threat not only threatened him, but also Akhzam, his 8-year-old younger brother. He remembered Akhzam's innocent face.
"Who are you?" Naufal asked, trying to remain calm, even though his hands were already sweating cold.
"You don't need to know who we are. Tomorrow night, at ten o'clock, at the Port. Hand over the evidence we want, or Akhzam will disappear. Don't try to fight us. Your brother's life will be the price."
The phone hung up. Naufal slumped weakly in his chair. The threat was so real, so terrifying. He had to think of a strategy, he had to protect Akhzam. He had to report to his superiors, and he also had to be careful.
He couldn't be reckless. He had to plan everything carefully. He had to make sure Akhzam was safe. But how? The image of Akhzam's innocent and cheerful face flashed through his mind.
"What's wrong?" Dimas asked cautiously.
"Bang," Naufal called, his voice hoarse. He told Dimas about the threatening phone call, detail by detail, without missing a single word.
Dimas listened seriously, his expression changing to tense. After Naufal finished telling his story, Dimas said, "Mr. Naufal, this is serious. We have to report to our superiors. But we also have to be careful. They know about our operation, which means they have spies internally."
"He threatened me through Azam."
Dimas patted Naufal on the shoulder. "Calm down, Pak. We will solve this. We will report to our superiors, but we must have a backup plan. We can't just raid the Port. They must have prepared everything."
"Then what should we do?" Naufal asked again, desperately.
Dimas thought for a moment. "First, we have to report to our superiors. Second, we need to make sure the exact location is at the Port.
Third, we need to identify who they are. Maybe there is information from the files of the dealers we caught earlier.
Fourth, we need to prepare a trained and planned raiding team. We can't be reckless."
"But what about Akhzam?" Naufal asked again, his voice filled with anxiety. "Surely they have found out where Azam goes to school and when is the safest time to catch Azam."
Dimas looked calm. His experience in the criminal investigation world for the last 10 years, which was far more than Naufal's, did make his thinking broader.
"We need to divert their attention. We can spread false information. We can make them think that we are ready to hand over the evidence. We can use this as bait.
We will use a trapping strategy. We will prepare a disguised team at the Sungai Duku Port, while another team will secretly monitor Akhzam.
We will ensure Akhzam's safety, Mr. Naufal. Don't worry." Dimas explained his plan in detail, explaining the role of each team member, and the strategy they would use.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the plan. However, behind his calmness, Dimas also felt a heavy burden.
He knew, this was not just about catching criminals, but also about saving the life of a child who was none other than the younger brother of the team leader.
Naufal looked at Dimas, a little hope rekindling in his eyes.
However, a question hung in the air, a question that perhaps only Dimas could answer. "But what if they manage to get Azam?"