Chapter 4 - The Hidden Room
Frank pulled Maya away from the door.
“Don’t make a sound.”
The doorknob stopped moving.
For several seconds, nobody breathed.
Then footsteps moved away.
Frank rushed to the window.
“Third floor,” Maya whispered.
“Whoever it was knew exactly where you lived.”
Arthur looked at the phone.
“They’re getting closer.”
Maya turned toward him.
“Who are they?”
Arthur reached into his pocket and pulled out a small brass key.
“Your mother left this with me.”
Maya stared at it.
“What does it open?”
“A room beneath the restaurant.”
Frank’s face turned pale.
Arthur continued.
“Elizabeth told me never to open it unless you found Daniel’s phone.”
Maya looked at Frank.
“You knew about this?”
Frank said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Maya stepped toward him.
“You knew.”
“I knew there was a room.”
“And you never told me?”
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.”
Suddenly, Maya heard a faint sound from the kitchen.
A metallic click.
Frank grabbed her arm.
Someone was inside the apartment.
They ran toward the back door.
But before Maya could reach it, a figure stepped from the darkness.
The stranger raised a phone.
On its screen was a photograph of Maya as a child.
May you like
Beside her stood her mother.
And behind them stood Frank.
