Chapter 14: The Railway Trap
500 Words
The abandoned Eastside Railway Station stood silent beneath a gray sky. Rusted tracks stretched into the distance, and broken windows rattled in the wind.
Alexander parked a safe distance away.
"Everyone stays alert," Detective Bennett said, checking her radio. "This could be another trap."
Maya nodded, scanning the station. Something felt wrong.
"It's too quiet," she whispered.
Jordan agreed. "Almost like they're expecting us."
The group entered the station carefully.
Dust covered the floor, but fresh footprints led toward the old ticket office.
Alexander followed them.
"They're recent."
Inside the office, Maya noticed an antique train clock hanging crookedly on the wall.
Unlike everything else, it was spotless.
"Alexander," she called. "Look at this."
He gently lifted the clock from the wall.
Behind it was a small steel safe.
Detective Bennett smiled.
"I think we found the second clue."
Jordan entered the combination from a series of numbers written on the back of the old photograph.
19... 47... 11...
The safe clicked open.
Inside was a USB drive, another handwritten letter, and an old gold key engraved with the Stone family crest.
Alexander unfolded the letter.
It was written in his father's handwriting.
«If you've found this, you're closer to the truth than I ever hoped. The person responsible wasn't just after my company—they wanted control of every business connected to Stone Global. Trust the key, not the faces around you. The final truth lies beneath the old estate.»
Maya looked up.
"The old estate?"
Alexander nodded slowly.
"Our family's original mansion."
Before anyone could speak, a loud explosion shook the station.
BOOM!
Glass shattered.
The lights went out.
Smoke filled the hallway.
"Get down!" Detective Bennett shouted.
Through the smoke, several masked men rushed inside.
Gunfire echoed.
Police officers returned fire while taking cover behind the old ticket counters.
One of the masked men grabbed the safe and ran.
"Stop him!" Jordan yelled.
Alexander chased the thief onto the railway platform.
The man jumped onto the tracks, but Alexander tackled him before he could escape.
The safe slid across the gravel.
The masked man fought back fiercely.
Just as Alexander gained the upper hand, another masked figure appeared behind him and struck him across the back with a metal pipe.
Alexander collapsed.
"Alexander!" Maya screamed.
Ignoring Detective Bennett's warning, she ran toward him.
The second attacker raised the pipe again.
Without thinking, Maya grabbed a loose wooden plank and swung it with all her strength.
The attacker stumbled backward.
Police officers rushed in and arrested both masked men.
Maya dropped to her knees beside Alexander.
He slowly opened his eyes.
"You... saved me."
She smiled through tears.
"I wasn't about to lose my boss."
Alexander laughed weakly.
"I think... we're past 'boss' now."
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, everything else disappeared.
Then Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She answered and her face turned pale.
"What is it?" Maya asked.
The detective looked at Alexander.
"The Stone family estate..."
She paused.
"It's on fire."
To be continued
- Writer
