Behind closed doors

Chapter 8 : locker 217

The flashing blue and red lights of police cars reflected off the rain-soaked pavement as Maya and Detective Ryan Hayes arrived at the train station.

Yellow crime scene tape blocked the main entrance.

Officers moved quickly between frightened passengers, trying to clear the area.

A young police officer hurried toward Ryan.

"Detective, thank goodness you're here."

Ryan nodded. "Where's the victim?"

The officer hesitated before answering.

"Platform Four."

Maya's chest tightened as she followed them through the nearly deserted station. The usual noise of rushing commuters had been replaced by an eerie silence.

A white sheet covered the body.

Ryan slowly lifted one corner.

Maya gasped.

It wasn't someone she knew.

The victim was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark security uniform. His eyes were still open, frozen in terror.

"What does this have to do with me?" Maya asked quietly.

Ryan pointed toward the man's right hand.

Clutched tightly in his fingers was a folded piece of paper.

Written across the front in bold black letters were two words.

FOR MAYA.

Ryan carefully unfolded the note.

Inside, a single sentence was written in neat handwriting.

"You're finally asking the right questions."

Below the message was another clue.

Locker 217. Midnight. Come alone.

Maya felt a chill race down her spine.

"The key," she whispered.

Ryan reached into his evidence bag and held up the silver key they had found outside the warehouse.

"The number matches."

One of the forensic officers approached.

"Detective, there's something else."

He handed Ryan a security camera photograph.

The image showed the victim speaking to someone just minutes before his death.

The stranger wore a black hood that hid most of their face.

But one detail stood out.

Around the stranger's neck hung a silver pendant shaped like a raven.

Ryan studied the photograph.

"I've seen this symbol before."

"You have?" Maya asked.

He nodded slowly.

"It appeared in an unsolved murder case... twelve years ago."

Before Maya could ask another question, the station's loudspeaker crackled to life.

A distorted voice echoed through every platform.

"Good evening, Maya."

Passengers froze.

Police officers looked around in confusion.

The voice continued.

"I'll be waiting at Locker 217."

Then, after a long pause, it added words that made Maya's blood run cold.

"Bring Detective Hayes..."

"...or he'll be the next body you identify."

The announcement ended.

Silence swept across the station.

Ryan looked at Maya.

For the first time since they had met, he had no plan.

Midnight was only three hours away.