The cold night air pierced to the bone, as if seeping into the marrow. Naufal felt it not only physically, but also in the form of a fear that gripped his heart. Having served in the Narcotics unit for a full 8 months, he had never felt fear this intense.
Dimas' words, his experienced senior, although comforting, could not completely quell his anxiety. The image of Akhzam, his younger brother who was still innocent and naive, continued to haunt his mind.
The worst-case scenario, which he himself had voiced, kept replaying in his head: what if Akhzam really fell into the hands of heartless people? The image was so real, so terrifying.
Dimas, with his long experience in the police force, understood Naufal's anxiety, who was still green in the world of narcotics eradication. He knew that the plan they had drawn up, no matter how detailed, would not be able to fully guarantee Akhzam's safety.
This threat was different. This was not just a regular drug dealer arrest. This was a game with the shadow of death, where the stakes were the life of a small child.
"We can't rely on just one plan, Mr. Naufal," Dimas said, his voice serious, full of emphasis.
He looked into Naufal's eyes, trying to convey calm and confidence, even though he himself felt the same heavy burden.
"We need several backup scenarios. We have to prepare for all possibilities. They have information about our operation, this is not a game. This is a very organized network."
Dimas took out his cell phone, his fingers moving quickly typing a message. He contacted several of his contacts in intelligence, requesting further information about the drug network that was threatening them.
He knew that tracking someone's whereabouts was not an easy task. However, no time should be wasted, every second was precious, every second could be the determinant of life or death.
"We need to know who they really are," Dimas continued. "We need to dig up information from the files of the dealers we've arrested. Maybe there's a clue that was missed."
Naufal nodded, his eyes staring intently at the files piled up on his desk. He felt tired, very tired, and he knew he couldn't give up. He had to find a gap, a ray of light in the midst of the darkness that threatened his brother.
The two of them worked together, examining every document, every witness statement. They looked for names, codes, and every detail that could reveal the identity of the criminals.
Hours passed quickly, accompanied by the aroma of bitter coffee and a gripping tension. The room felt increasingly cramped, filled with shadows of fear. Fear of losing Akhzam.
Suddenly, Dimas found something. A name, hidden behind complicated codes. A familiar name, which he had heard before. An informant, who used to work with them, and then disappeared without a trace.
An informant who might know more about this network, an informant who might hold the key to uncovering this entire network.
"Here it is," Dimas whispered, his voice trembling, not out of fear, but because he had found a glimmer of hope in the darkness. "This name... he is the key."
Naufal read the name. Andre. He felt like something was connected, a common thread connecting this threat to previous cases. He felt a bad premonition, a premonition that grew stronger.
A premonition that they were facing an enemy far more dangerous than they imagined, an enemy who had been operating for a long time, a cunning and dangerous enemy.
They decided to contact the informant, even though the risk was very high. They had to take the risk, to save Akhzam.
They had to find their enemy's weak point, before it was too late. Before Akhzam became a victim. Before everything got worse.
The phone rang. Another unknown number. Naufal hesitated for a moment, then answered it.
"Hello?"
"Ipda Naufal Hasbi?" The voice on the other end sounded colder, more threatening than before. "We know you're looking for information. We know you're trying to track us. That was a big mistake."
Naufal felt a chill that was more piercing than before. He knew they had been detected. The game had begun. They had walked into a trap. A very dangerous trap.
"What do you want?" Naufal asked, trying to control his voice.
"Tomorrow night, at ten o'clock. Not at the Harbour." The voice on the other end laughed cynically, a laugh that pierced Naufal's heart, a laugh full of threats. "Just wait for further info. And I'll make sure your little brother Akhzam will witness everything."
The phone hung up. Naufal slumped down, his body trembling violently. He looked at Dimas, his eyes filled with despair.
They had been trapped in a very dangerous trap. A trap that was meticulously designed, a trap designed by a very cunning and dangerous enemy.
Naufal reached for his cell phone, his fingers trembling as he pressed his mother's number, Adelia. The seconds felt so long, his heart pounding fast, hoping his call would be answered.
He imagined his mother's face, which was always calming, and this time, he wasn't sure he could calm himself down.
His mind was filled with images of Akhzam, his younger brother who was still innocent and naive, who lived with his mother.
"Assalamualaikum, Ma," Naufal greeted, his voice a little hoarse, filled with great anxiety.
"Waalaikumsalam, Son. What's wrong? You sound so tired." His mother's voice sounded worried. Adelia was used to Naufal's tiring work, and Naufal's tone of voice this time sounded different, more anxious than usual.
Naufal took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He told her about the threat he had received, trying to convey it calmly, even though his heart was still pounding. He told her about the threat to Akhzam, his younger brother who lived with her.
On the other end of the phone, Adelia was silent for a moment. The silence felt more chilling than the threat itself. Naufal could feel how worried his mother was.
"Ma, where's Azam?" Naufal asked, his voice trembling, filled with unbearable anxiety.
"Already asleep, Son. Why? What's wrong?" Adelia asked in a worried tone. She sensed that something was wrong from her son's voice.
Naufal told her everything, the mysterious phone threat, his fear for Akhzam's safety.
He recounted the details of the threat, trying not to miss a single detail. He had to make sure his mother understood how serious the situation was.
Adelia sobbed on the other end of the line, her anxiety growing more and more. She imagined Akhzam, her young child, in danger. The image was so terrible.
"Don't worry, Ma. I'll make sure Azam is safe. Tomorrow I'll ask Aipda Dimas to watch over him all day, from leaving for school until he gets home," Naufal said, trying to remain calm and give his mother a sense of security, even though he himself felt very anxious.
"Thank you, Son," Adelia said, her voice still trembling. "Mama will pray for the safety of you both."
Naufal hung up the phone, a sense of relief slightly reducing the burden on his chest. He knew his struggle was not over.
He had to find out who was behind all this, and save Akhzam before it was too late. He had to protect his family. He had to protect his brother. For Akhzam's sake, he would fight to the end.