Coffee and Letters Ep. 32 - (A MiChaeng FF Story)

**Detective Manoban received a call from Officer Kim while they were having a conversation inside Ms. Myoui’s house. That call led the two detectives to end their meeting with them and run once more to chase Bam.**

Officer Kim: I got the footage from the CCTV on the parking lot in the twelfth. It’s clear that Ms. Son hopped in to our guy’s car. He was supporting her while walking. It seems like Ms. Son was not in a good condition during that time.

**Detective Manoban was listening attentively to Officer Kim. Digesting every single information that she's feeding her.**

Officer Kim: They were heading to the south, and he’s driving an army green 1989 Toyota Corolla. Well, that’s based on the registry. He bought it a month ago from one of the locals. Unfortunately, he gave them a fake name. And since private individuals sold the car to him and not by some car shops, they didn’t bother to ask for valid ID’s. By the way, I already radioed the description and plate number of his car to our patrolling officers. Let’s just hope that they’ll find his car sooner.

Detective Manoban: Thank you, Officer Kim. Anyway, can you help us find a cabin in the forest? Maybe an hour's drive from here? We got a lead that it’s possible he’s staying in a cabin somewhere.

Officer Kim: A cabin?

Detective Manoban: Yeah.

Officer Kim: Okay. I’ll radio that, too. Maybe one of our officers has seen one.

Detective Manoban: Thank you, Officer. We’ll do our patrol, too. Maybe we’ll find him roaming around the area.

*****

**Bam was too hungry and exhausted to drive far from his cabin. So, he decided to just find the nearest fast food or whatever food stall he’ll find in his way.**

Bam: Oh, shit! Why isn’t this place developed yet? Should I drive back to town? I only want a decent food to dig in.

**He slapped his steering wheel with his right palm, losing his patience.**

Bam: Fuck! All I want is to eat for Pete’s Sake!

**His breathing becomes heavy, and he’s getting suffocated inside his car. So, he opened the driver’s side window and breathed as much air as his lungs could accommodate.**

Bam: That’s better.

**He murmured while pressing the accelerator and feeling the wind slap his cheeks.**

**He’s now driving for almost ten minutes, and yet, no signs of anything. All he could see are trees and dark road. Not even a single car is driving with him. He’s alone in the dark, yet he didn’t mind though.**

Bam: I know there’s a McDonald’s here. Where is it? Did it hide itself from me?

**He laughed as if he heard someone dropped a joke in front of him.**

Bam: He fears you Bammie just like Chaeng. McDonald’s scared of you! You fool!

**Then he laughed again. This time it’s harder, and he doesn’t have the intention of restraining himself from laughing. He’s enjoying the thought that he scares Chaeyoung. That even though he has done nothing yet, she’s already trembling in fear.**

**Well, that’s his initial plan. Scare her to death. There’s something in it that satisfy him. That even though Mina won’t end up loving him, just by seeing the people she loves suffer is already enough.**

Bam: Oh! There you are!

**He said enthusiastically when he saw the bright signage of McDonald’s still several meters away from him.**

*****

Tzuyu: What does your friend have to do with my best friend?

**Tzuyu asked firmly after the detectives left. She’s still standing, waiting for Mina to answer her question. This is getting ambiguous now.**

**Mina doesn’t know how to say it ‘cause she might start hating her for involving Chaeng in her life.**

Mina: Uhm…

**Mina turned to her, still couldn’t look into her eyes. She knows it’s her fault and there’s no other person to blame for what’s going on except for her.**

Sana: Uhm…

**Sana stood up, too, to get Tzuyu’s attention.**

Sana: Why don’t we… why don’t we all sit down and talk about this calmly? I mean, I know it’s hard to stay calm in this situation, but you know…

**Sana doesn’t really know what she should say. Even she is having difficulty calming herself. This is the first time something like this happened to them, hence, their friend is the bad guy.**

**Tzuyu doesn’t want to calm down or let this thing pass, but Sana’s right, they should not start blaming each other. Well, though, it wasn’t really the context of what she had said. Tzuyu kind of interpreted it that way. Good thing that she did, though.**

**Everyone took their seat, even Mina who got stiffened after Tzuyu’s question.**

Mina: He… he was a childhood friend, Bam. We dated before high school and before he left and live with his family in Canada. I… I didn’t know that he’s still clinging to that past and still thinking of us being together. I even never thought that he’ll come back. Then I met Chaeyoung several days ago. We went out for dinner and we get along instantly. Then Bam just appeared in my hotel, and he’s getting annoying, so I… I introduced Chaeng to him and told him I’m dating her. Then the next thing I know is, Chaeyoung hasn’t returned to the hotel, yet.

Sana: The thing is, one of our friends from high school told me about Bam’s condition. That… that he's crazy, a psychopath. If only we knew, or rather if only I knew, these won’t happen.

**Oh shit! This is a real fucked up situation that Chaeyoung got in. Tzuyu thought.**

**Tzuyu slammed her back to her seat, a bit frustrated and afraid at the same time.**

Tzuyu: I’m sure Chaeyoung’s scared as hell right now. I just hope those officers will find her sooner. She doesn’t even watch thrilling movies ‘cause she’s a scared cat. And now this…

**She pulled the now lukewarm coffee on her right, feeling sorry for what’s going on to her best friend.**

Mina: I’m… I’m sorry if this is happening to her.

**She said weakly. She no longer has strength anymore to hold back her tears, so it streamed down as soon as she finished her premise. Ryujin instantly wrapped her arms against her shoulder to caress her.**

**Tzuyu moved forward and reached for her hands.**

Tzuyu: Hey! I’m sorry. I’m not blaming you or anyone. It’s just… it’s just I couldn’t believe these things are happening to my best friend. She’d already gone through a lot. And I know you, too. Let’s just all pray that something good will happen sooner, okay?

**Mina nodded and wiped her tears, and then cling to her sister even more. She finally accepted the fact that she needs it.**

*****

“We spotted an army green Toyota Corolla here in McDonald’s… at the boundary. But we haven’t stopped it yet. We’re still confirming the plate number if this is the car we are looking for. It’s driven by a young man, and it’s currently on the drive-thru and talking to the lady behind the counter.”

**Detective Manoban and Detective Park stared at each other as they heard what the officer on the radio said. Finally, this Bam guy showed up, and light is coming on their way. Detective Manoban grabbed the receiver immediately to give her instructions while Detective Park turned to his left to change their route.**

Detective Manoban: Detective Manoban here. Please do not apprehend our guy yet, even if you confirmed that it’s him. We need to know where he’s staying to get the girl alive. Just keep your distance when you follow him. He’s staying inside the forest, and we need to get his exact coordinates.

“Copy, detective.”

**Detective Manoban rested the receiver again to its place, feeling more determined now that someone finally spotted their guy.**

Detective Park: He’s smart, but his stomach isn’t. Don’t you think so?

**He’s smirking behind the lights illuminating his face from each lamp post he passed by.**

**Detective Park snorted with how careless he is. What does he think? No one’s moving to find the town’s guest? That because she’s not a local, no one will look for her? **

“Detective, it’s confirmed that this is our guy, and he’s now in move to the south. We’ll follow him but keep our distance and have a low profile.”

**Detective Manoban pulled the receiver once more.**

Detective Manoban: Thank you, officer. We’re on our way. To all the units, please don’t let him notice you. We need to know the cabin’s location. I repeat, we need to know the coordinates of the cabin. It’s our priority now.

**Then another rumbling sound came out from the receiver. Someone is about to radio something.**

“Detective, I guess I know where he’s going. I’ve been at this part of the forest, and yes, there’s a cabin on it, almost near the river. Or maybe a few meters away from the river, and it’s too far from the highway.”

Detective Manoban: Are you sure, Officer?

“Positive, detective. It’s the only cabin I’ve seen on that area. So, I guess it’s okay now to apprehend our guy and then drive in the middle of the forest.”

**Detective Manoban tilted her head towards Detective Park first. Both of them nodded, before she spoke again to the officer behind the receiver.**

Detective Manoban: All right, officer. We’ll be there in ten.

**Detective Park kicked the accelerator harder. No longer care if they’re hitting a hundred. They need to be at the scene as soon as possible, and rescue the girl. If the guy is driving on the highway, she might be all alone in the forest exhausted and starving.**

Detective Park: If it’s not wrong to shoot him before arriving at the station, I will.

**He’s furious, and it isn’t the first time Detective Manoban sees Detective Park so serious like this. Every time they encounter a case about girls being abducted, he wants to pull the trigger to the man who does the crime.**

Detective Manoban: I’m not saying it’s right, but you know I won’t stop you if you’ll find a clean opportunity, right?

**His jaws clenching when he nodded to Detective Manoban’s remarks. Clean opportunity, I’ll remember that, detective. He thought.**

*****

**Bam still doesn’t notice that some officers followed him when he turned to the south after he bagged his order at McDonald’s drive-thru. They’re indeed good at concealing themselves. They’re keeping their distance, yet not allowing him to slip from their sight.**

**A few police cars were at his back waiting for him to pull at the entrance of the forest. One officer is making sure that he’s thinking about the same cabin that Bam owns. If he enters on that mouth, then the officer is right. But if not, then they have no choice but to follow him deeper into the forest instead of arresting him immediately.**

**Just like what the officer wishes to happen, the army green Toyota Corolla slowed down in the middle of the highway before he turned to his left. He’s indeed about to enter the mouth of the forest where the officer knew the cabin is.**

**Bam’s window is still down. He’s still enjoying the chilly night and hasn’t noticed yet the cars were convoying behind him. Little he knows that some police officers were just waiting for him to make a turn before apprehending him.**

**When the hood of his car has settled on the trail, one police car rushed towards him to stop him from proceeding. He kicked in the brake immediately. He doesn’t mean though, but seeing a police car kind of startled him.**

**His throat went dry immediately and feels like vomiting. Holy shit! He wants to scream, but then tried his best to keep his composure.**

**The two officers jumped out of their car, keeping it cool, and don’t want to startle him with their sudden pull on his side.**

Bam: Uhm… something wrong, officer?

**He smiled coolly, though his heart is hammering wildly. He doesn’t want to give them more reasons to suspect him of anything. But little he knows, these officers already knew what he’s up to.**

**One officer smiled back at him before he leaned on the side of his door.**

Officer 1: Why don’t you step out of the car, sir?

Bam: Uhm… did I do something, officer?

**The other officer is impatient than the first one, so he leaned closer to the window and squinted at him.**

Officer 2: I guess you already knew why we’re here. So why don’t you step out of the car and come with us and explain everything at the station?

Bam: Without me knowing my violation, officer?

**He’s keeping himself cool by smirking at them. Then another car pull at the side of the highway, Detective Park and Detective Manoban. Not only that, several police cars are now surrounding him, and that’s the only time he accepted his defeat.**

Detective Manoban: You want to know your violation? Why don’t you come with these officers and they’ll show you what you need to see? While we rescue the girl you abducted early this morning, huh?

**Bam snorted and slouched in his car seat. How… how did they know it’s me? And… and how did they follow my trail? He planned this carefully and avoided CCTVs on the area, yet how did they find out?**

**Then the impatient officer opened the door of his car and gave him way to get out of it on his will.**

***TO BE CONTINUED***

Episode 31       Episode 33