Cold Corpse

Chapter 6- Stingray

1989, October 1st

He slapped down the newspaper on a pile of paper silently resting on the coffee table. The mulberry blot on his upper eye lid on his left leading him to quite a blur in his vision. Corner of his lips looks like a smudge of a cranberry lipstick. The surface of his skin crawling with bruises spread around his body. Though, both of his arms is coated with white bandages that soon faded into crimson damp. Ebony lilac bruises lining to his neck. "Check this out, Andee." Sasha forced a smile on his lips disregarding his physical condition "Little detective will save us? That's a cute headline for the newspaper, don't you agree, little detective?"
Andee grunt, scrunching the paper she currently hold upon her palm. "I swear to god those journalist are full of bul..."
Sasha lifted his index finger and raised both of his brows to indicate for her to stop her sentence. "Alright..." She jolt her shoulders, shaking her head in disapproval. "Call Clifford Howell." Sasha lied his back on the couch and lick his dried lips. "That arsehole, really, Andee? Out all of multimedia scientist. Him?" Andee clicked her ballpen impatiently for him to reach for the phone to call Clifford. Her face was blank and cold.
"Aaaand... I'm going to do it right away." He stretch his arm to reach for the vintage Bulgarian Beige telephone, he rotated the numbers. Bygone, he accomplished, he standby for the other end to pick up the phone. Sasha rested his right lumbar on the arm chair. The soft cushion made him feel comfortable and cozy.
A sluggish, rasping voice answered the phone, Clifford has been smoking ever since he was 12 years old. Yet he's still young, he sounded like an old man. "This is Clifford speaking how may I help you?" Sasha paused, he didn't want to talk to him but he was obligated to do so. "Hey, Cliff. We need your help for tracking someone's IP address? Could you come to my place?" Sasha delivered a slanted smile to Andee who was staring at him. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Mr. Vorps. What is it for me? Do I get a reward if I do it?" Sasha rolled his eyes. "The only reward you're getting is me kicking your goddamn arse if you don't come right now. Be better be here in less than an hour." He groaned, he hurl the phone back to its original place making a chime sound. "So, did you convinced him?" She smiled, teasingly to the other man. "I convinced him very well." Sasha stood from his position and moved his way to the chalk board attached on the wall. He picked up a chalk located on top of the board.

Andee scratched the back of her head before she could say anything. "Sasha... Tell me about the letters." He stopped midway from his action when he heard the last word. "What... letters, Andee?" Andee moved her stack up books lying on her lap then lean forward in her chair, a small squeak noise let out by the recliner. "Don't play dumb with me. You're hiding letters from me, Sasha. If I'll have to trust you, you have to keep no secret from me." The man from the other end sighed softly and turned his way toward the woman. "In all honesty, our killer has been sending messages through mail. It's always for you. But I was afraid to let you read it because..." His eyebrows inner corner drawn up in sadness and pursed his lips. "He's obsess with you but I'm sure you already figured it out based on the messages you received. I'm guessing that's him." Sasha blink more rapidly feeling discomfort in the room. "Where'd you hid the letters and when did you start collecting them?" She kept her body hunched forward and legs crossed in defensive.

"In my basement. The first letter I saw was in your locker in our office then in the coffee shop bathroom then it starts appearing in my house but it still address for you. The most horrifying letter I received was the last one..." his nostrils flared and lowered his head. Andee inclined her head and stood from her chair. "What was in it, Sasha?" He opened his mouth ready to talk when someone rings the doorbell. "I'll get that. It might be Clifford." Sasha made his way to his front door to be greeted by a blonde petite guy. He smiled with braces attached to his teeth. Freckles reveal on his pale cheeks and round glasses fitted him. "This better be good. I was about to get laid." He shook his head in disapproval and let his self in as Sasha moved back. The smaller male was carrying a metallic case that seems to weight more than a thousand. He tossed the material on the fragile glass of coffee table. "Whoa whoa careful. I got that from Germany."

Sasha shut the door closed and drawn himself near the two character in his living room. "We would like to ask if you could track down an unknown number." Andee loomed closer to the blonde man. "Of course I can. I'm the best at tracking." He coughed jokingly. "Don't do that disgusting thing when you track down women." Sasha slumped back to his sofa. "Oh, come on, Sahsy. We did it together back then." Sasha swiftly looked at Clifford with wide eyes and kicked him on his foot. Clifford hissed in pain and returned the same look. Andee gave a lopsided grin. "As I was saying..." His eyes lined back to his case and sat on the aught dust flooring. "Let me see your phone." He unclasped the lock and thrust back the hood of the briefcase.

Inside it was a device shape like a box. He carefully put it out on the table and connected the wires that soon will be tangled, he presumed. "Lady and gentleman, Meet Stingray device. I got this from the federal bureau. One of my reward." Clifford glances over at Andee trying to impress her. "He bought that from the black market." Sasha intrude, his lips curl into a smirk. "Shut up, Sasha. Damn it. You're ruining my chance." His croaky voice raised. Andee handed him over her cellphone device. "Not a chance, buddy." Andee replied, smiling down at the man. "Ah, well, worth the shot." Responded by the blonde guy. He set the phone down on the table and used the IMSI device to mimic as a cell phone tower. He hand back the phone and whisper softly. "I want you to text that person." Clifford hand back the phone and enter data in the keyboard, he gaze upon at the black screen sticking with green text. A window software box named Gemini appeared in his monitor. In order the connection would not be interrupted by another cellular. He made sure the target phone is redirected onto an inferior network. Andee flipped her phone open, dab her fingers on the keys in her phone and sent the message right away to the blocked number.
1989, October 1st
"How bout we meet face to face?"
"All we got to do now is wai..."her phone promptly clang and vibrate on her palm. She peered on her phone and read out loud the message.
1989, October 1st
"I'm on my way."
Sasha was alarmed and so is Andee but Clifford was frozen in his place when he found out the result of the location. "You... won't believe this, guys." His pupils dilated and felt his stomach twisted and turn. The two detectives leaned forward to the monitor and read. "UPPD" Said Sasha with round eyes. "Isn't that our department?" Andee was still in her place, her breathe was throbbing. Having difficulty breathing. The adrenaline in their veins flow all through their body like a graceful water except this was the bitter type.

"University of Pennsylvania Police Department. Finally found where your hiding place, little traitor."