Chapter 165 A Corpse
That same day, a coastline near Wavehaven was swarming with activity. Police tape cordoned off jagged rock outcropping surrounding a natural cave, the air thick with salt and decay. Dozens of SWAT officers, forensic personnel, and even reporters crowded around the entrance, their movements a macabre ballet illuminated by flashing sirens.
Leonard Reed, the head of Wavehaven's SWAT team, stood at the heart of the commotion, a coffee thermos in his hand. His brow was furrowed with a grim look. The SWAT team was the sharp edge of Wavehaven's police force. Leonard, a seasoned veteran with unwavering resolve, rarely appeared at a crime scene unless the situation demanded his personal attention.
Finding a stranger washed up on the shore didn't usually need such a high-profile response. However, this wasn't just any unidentified body; this was a cyborg.
Lately, cyborg incidents had become all too common, each one a throbbing headache for Leonard and a stark reminder of the city's precarious dance with technological advancement.
"Mr. Reed, we've got an ID on the victim," a forensic technician announced, his voice tight with professional detachment. "Male, thirty years old, suffered massive trauma to the right chest and shoulder. Multiple fractures, internal bleeding."
He glanced down at the tablet in his hand, his brow furrowing. "No signs of a struggle at the scene. Seems like he was injured elsewhere, crawled in here to hide, and eventually succumbed to his wounds."
"Time of death?" Leonard asked, his gaze sweeping the scene.
"Approximately three days ago. Injuries themselves are consistent with an assault that took place 15-20 days prior."
'Where was Elbert?'
Leonard nodded curtly, his mind already racing. He'd called him as soon as he'd learned the victim's identity. With Elbert's speed, it should have been a twenty-minute trip, tops. Despite that, an hour had passed with still no signs of him.
The victim's name was Steven. They'd suspected his involvement in Mr. Brown's accident and were preparing a warrant for his arrest. Now, this was happening.
"There's something else, sir," the technician continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Based on the muscle density and epidermal scarring, we can confirm the victim was indeed a cyborg. Moreover, judging by the nature of the injuries…" He hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "Well, let's just say it took one hell of a punch to do that kind of damage. Not many individuals possess that kind of raw strength."
Leonard grunted, his frown deepening. This wasn't how he'd envisioned the day unfolding.
A faint crunching sound reached his ears, and he felt a surge of relief. Elbert had finally arrived.
However, there was something different about his gait today. His steps seemed… heavy. Deliberate. Each step made a loud thud, crushing the pebbles beneath his shoes.
"Sorry I'm late, Captain," Elbert said, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "Been hitting the gym pretty hard lately. Guess I lost track of time."
Leonard, though curious about Elbert's unusual demeanor, decided to address the matter at hand. "Take a look at the body, Elbert. Tell me what you see."
Elbert shook his head, his gaze fixed on the flurry of activity around the cave. "No need, Captain. That's not Steven."
Leonard stiffened. "What are you talking about?"
The forensic technician interjected with a look of disbelief, "Sir, with all due respect, our identification protocols are quite thorough. Facial recognition, fingerprints… everything matches the national database. It's Steven; no doubt about it."
"Steven is weak," Elbert stated, his voice firm, "But he's not stupid, and he's obsessed with Jessica. He wouldn't just… disappear. Not like this."
He paused, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I've been wondering why he's been keeping such a low profile these past few days. Now I understand; he wanted us to find this."
"You think this is a double?" Leonard asked, his mind struggling to catch up. "A setup?"
"Exactly," Elbert affirmed. "He found himself a cyborg look-alike, someone with similar physical characteristics. Had him… altered. Fingerprints, facial structure, the works. Then, he inflicted those injuries, left him here to die before vanishing."
"But… that's impossible," the technician sputtered, his pride wounded. "The victim wasn't restrained. He could'e left at any time, and there's no trace of drugs or toxins in his system."
Elbert replied in a low and steady voice, "He didn't leave because he was conditioned not to. He volunteered."
"Conditioned? What are you talking about?" the technician demanded, his voice rising in disbelief. "You can't just implant obedience into someone's mind!"
He opened his mouth to launch into a detailed explanation of why such a thing was scientifically impossible, but Leonard silenced him with a raised hand. He'd learned to trust Elbert's instincts, however improbable they might seem.
"Run a cross-reference on all missing persons reports," Leonard ordered, his voice firm. "Focus on individuals matching the victim's age, height, and build. Speed up on it."
The technician, though still skeptical, nodded curtly and relayed the instructions to his team.
Elbert sighed, his gaze distant. "To pull this off, Steven needed resources and connections; highly-skilled technicians, all working under him." He turned to Leonard, his expression grim. "We're not dealing with a lone wolf anymore, Captain. This changes everything."
Leonard felt a chill run down his spine. He'd known from the start that they were walking a tightrope, but now the stakes had been raised.
He glanced at Elbert, surprised to see slight excitement in his eyes. He was smiling, as if he enjoyed the challenge.
"You seem almost… pleased by this turn of events," Leonard observed, unable to hide his surprise.
Elbert shrugged, smiling wryly. "Maybe I am. After all, a little exercise is good for the mind, wouldn't you say?"
Meanwhile, at Wavehaven FutureTech Hospital, Lori sat beside her father's bed, her heart heavy with grief and apprehension. The private room, usually filled with the sounds of medical equipment, now housed two patients locked in silent communion.
Alan Mr. Brown once-powerful body was now still, laying beside a woman Lori had never met. Her name was Ann, and she'd been a resident of the Whispering Pines care facility for the past twenty years, her mind lost in a constant vegetative state.
Lori had found her, just as Elbert instructed. A woman of indeterminate age, her face etched with the passage of time while her past shrouded was in mystery. She had no family, no visitors; just a bank account containing a surprisingly large sum of money.
Twenty years ago, she'd collapsed in her lab at a prestigious genetics research facility. The doctors had saved her life, but her mind had become trapped in its own silent world.
Lori couldn't shake the feeling that there was a connection, a hidden thread linking Ann's fate to her father's current predicament. But the more she learned, the more questions arose, each one more baffling than the last.
At the center of it all stood Elbert, a man who seemed to possess an uncanny understanding of the situation; an almost supernatural ability to connect the dots. His wealth, hidden talents, and connections… it was all so overwhelming.
She longed to confront him for answers, but a part of her was afraid of what she might discover.
Exhaustion washed over her, glancing at her watch. The FutureTech shareholders' meeting was starting soon. The news of her father's condition had sent shockwaves through the company, the stock price plummeting by 30% in a matter of days. The future of the company, his legacy, now rested on her shoulders.
With a heavy heart, she stood up and reached for her purse. The weight of responsibility pressed down on her, a burden she never asked for but couldn't escape.
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