Naufal stared at Nindy Monita, also known as Donna, a young mother who was about five months pregnant. The woman's face was swollen, framed by the dull orange prison clothes. The distinctive smell of the interrogation room—a mixture of disinfectant and sweat—hung heavily in the air.
Nindy was one of the many suspected drug dealers who had been arrested in an operation a few hours earlier. The operation went smoothly, without significant resistance, and left a bitter taste in Naufal's heart.
Seeing a pregnant woman in this condition, who would be locked behind bars, was never an easy sight for him.
"Nindy Monita, aka Donna?" Naufal asked, his voice calm and firm. He read the file in front of him, the light reflecting off the surface of the paper containing the details of Nindy's life: name, date of birth, address, and a series of criminal records that now weighed heavily on her shoulders.
He imagined how a young woman, who should be enjoying her pregnancy, instead had to face the bitter reality behind bars. A heartbreaking irony.
"Yes," Nindy replied softly, her voice hoarse as she held back tears. Her gaze was empty and blank, as if questioning justice in this world. Deep sadness radiated from every pore of her face.
Naufal tried to put aside his prejudices and focus on his task. He had to get as much information as possible from Nindy, uncover the drug trafficking network that involved her, and find any evidence that might still be hidden.
However, Nindy's pregnancy created a dilemma that disturbed his conscience. The image of the fetus developing in her womb, an innocent life threatened by its mother's mistakes, haunted him. He felt burdened by duty and conscience clashing.
"How many months pregnant are you?" Naufal asked, his voice a little softer. He tried to approach Nindy with a humane approach, not just as a police officer on duty to catch criminals. He wanted to understand Nindy's background, looking for a glimmer of humanity in the midst of this case.
"Five months, Sir," Nindy replied quietly, her voice almost inaudible. She gently rubbed her stomach, as if protecting her fetus from the cruelty of the world. The loving gesture of her hand further strengthened the dilemma in Naufal's heart. He saw a mother's love so pure, threatened by the shadow of prison.
"How long have you been a dealer?" Naufal returned to the crux of the matter. He had to know how deeply Nindy was involved in the network, to uncover the larger network behind it.
Nindy was silent, her eyes filled with tears. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Only a few months, Sir," she replied, her voice trembling. "I was forced to."
"Forced? Explain!" Naufal urged, and his voice was no longer harsh. He sensed that there was a more complicated story behind Nindy's confession, something more than just an ordinary crime. He wanted to dig deeper, looking for the root of the problem that drove Nindy to get involved in that dark world.
Nindy began to tell her story, her voice slowly becoming clearer. She told of her husband who was seriously ill, needing very expensive medical treatment.
The money she earned as a laundry worker was not enough, even to meet her daily needs. They were trapped in a circle of poverty that was so suffocating, threatening the lives of their small family.
Then, she met a woman named Maya who offered her an easy job with a high salary.
Without thinking, Nindy accepted it, without realizing that she had been trapped in a larger circle of crime. Desperation and poverty had driven her to take the wrong step.
"I didn't know it was drugs, Sir," Nindy said, tears streaming down her face. "I was just thinking about saving my husband." The words came from the bottom of her heart, expressing the desperation and struggle of a wife who was willing to sacrifice for her family.
Naufal listened carefully. He understood Nindy's situation, but the law was still the law. He couldn't just let Nindy go. However, he also couldn't bear to see a pregnant woman suffering behind bars. There was something wrong with this case, an injustice that gripped his conscience.
"Who told you to do this?" Naufal tried to dig further, looking for the common thread that connected Nindy to the drug trafficking network.
Nindy told about Maya, the mastermind behind the drug trafficking network. Maya, according to Nindy, had a wide network spread across several areas in Jakarta. They used an organized courier system, with Nindy only as one link in the delivery of methamphetamine.
Nindy claimed to only receive orders from Maya, sending small packages to various designated points. She had never met the big boss, only interacted directly with Maya and several other couriers.
Maya always gave instructions via text message and different phone numbers each time a transaction took place. This system was designed to make police investigations difficult, making the network difficult to uncover. Nindy also revealed that payments were made in cash, given directly by Maya after the package was successfully delivered.
She never knew the origin of the drugs, only carrying out her duties as a courier without knowing the details of the larger network. She only focused on the payment that was enough for her husband's medical expenses.
Naufal noted every detail. This case was more complex than it seemed. There was a large network that needed to be uncovered, and Nindy was just one victim of a cruel system, a victim of social and economic injustice.
"Alright, Nindy," Naufal said after a moment of silence. "Thank you for your information. We will investigate further." He realized that Nindy's confession opened the way to uncover a larger network, a network that had to be dismantled to save other victims.
Knock knock knock
The door was knocked.
Wisnu came in carrying a file.
"Andi's file, Bang." He put the file on the table.
"Try to find info about Maya," Naufal gave Wisnu a piece of paper.
"Yes, Bang. Permission to leave, Bang."
"Call Aretha to take the suspect to the cell."
"Yes, Bang." Wisnu went out.
Naufal returned to Nindy. "So how is it, Sir? I have answered everything honestly. Can I be released, Sir?" Hope still radiated in her eyes.
"No, you still have to be processed."
Nindy started crying again. "Have mercy on my child, Sir. He is only 2 years old. I am also 5 months pregnant, Sir."
"When you became a dealer, didn't you have mercy on your child and your fetus?" Naufal asked, his voice firm and filled with pity.
"I already told you, Sir. I was forced to," Nindy cried even harder.
Knock knock knock
The door was knocked again.
Aretha came in. "Did you call, Bang?"
"Take Nindy to the cell."
"Yes, Bang."
"Sir, what will happen to my child, Sir?" Nindy was still trying to beg.
"Just follow the process, okay?"
"Come on," Aretha took Nindy away.
Naufal sat weakly, feeling burdened by the weight of this case. His cellphone rang. He looked at the screen, Sinta's name, his lover, was displayed there. "Hello, Honey?" His voice sounded tired.
"Are you at the office?"
"Yes."
"Later after work, can you pick me up at the hotel?"
"Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to go to Bali?"
"No. That was just a random answer. I actually wanted to go home. I had already checked in my luggage when I suddenly changed my mind."
Naufal smiled.
"Okay, I'll pick you up after work."
"After that, let's go to your house? I haven't met Mama yet."
"Yes, Miss."
"Don't just say yes, yes. You have to pay the fine for making my blood boil."
Naufal laughed.
"What fine?"
"Take me around this city after meeting your mom. Okay?"
"Okay."
Sinta didn't speak anymore. She hung up the phone. Naufal looked at the clock on the wall. This time he mustn't break his promise again, finish his work and immediately pick up his sweetheart at the hotel.