Chapter 2: The Room Behind the Locked Door
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The woman's pounding continued above them.
“ETHAN! PLEASE!””
Ray rushed toward the staircase.
“Everybody back off! This is a private family matter!””
Hank stepped into his path.
“Then why is your wife screaming for help?””
“She gets confused!””
“Confused people don't usually need to be locked in motel rooms.””
Ray pointed a finger at him.
“You don't know anything about my family.””
Hank nodded slowly.
“That's true. But I know what a frightened child looks like. And I know what a frightened woman sounds like.””
Upstairs, something heavy struck the door.
“Ray!”” the woman shouted.
“You told me you'd leave him alone!””
Ray's face twisted.
“Shut up, Linda!””
Ethan flinched at the sound of his stepfather's voice.
Hank noticed and placed a hand gently on the boy's shoulder.
“What's your mother's name?””
“Linda Parker.””
“Has she been hurt?””
Ethan nodded.
Ray immediately interrupted.
“She's been having episodes. She hasn't been herself. I explained this already.””
Marcus folded his arms.
“Funny. She sounds pretty clear to me.””
Ray turned toward him.
“Stay out of it.””
Marcus smiled without humor.
“I'm beginning to think that's not an option.””
Hank pulled out his phone.
“I'm calling the police.””
Ray's expression changed.
“Don't do that.””
“Why?””
“Because you'll destroy this family.””
Hank stared at him.
“You're doing a pretty good job of that yourself.””
He dialed emergency services and explained what was happening.
Meanwhile, Ethan stood beside the motorcycle bench, trembling.
Marcus walked over and crouched.
“Hey, buddy. You thirsty?””
Ethan nodded.
Marcus handed him a bottle of water.
“Take your time.””
The boy drank too quickly and began coughing.
“Easy,” Marcus said.
“Nobody's going to rush you.””
Ethan looked at him.
“Are you going to leave?””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not without making sure you're safe.””
Ray heard the exchange.
“Stop filling his head with nonsense!””
Hank ended the call.
“Police are on their way.””
Ray laughed.
“You think they'll believe you over me?””
Hank shrugged.
“That's not my decision.””
A minute later, Linda began pounding again.
“Ethan! Did you find the phone?””
Ethan suddenly looked up.
Ray turned toward him.
“What phone?””
The boy didn't answer.
“Ethan. What phone?””
Hank stepped closer.
“Let him speak.””
Ray pointed at the older biker.
“You need to understand something. This kid lies when he's scared. He steals.
He makes up stories. That's why his father didn't want him.””
Ethan's fingers tightened around the water bottle.
“That isn't true.””
Ray sneered.
“Then where was your father for eight months?””
Ethan looked down.
For a moment, the boy seemed to retreat into himself.
Then he reached into the pocket of his sweatshirt.
He pulled out an old smartphone.
The screen was cracked across one corner. A strip of black tape covered the back.
Ray went completely still.
Hank noticed immediately.
“What's that?””
Ethan held the phone against his chest.
“It's Dad's old phone.””
Ray moved forward.
“Give it to me.””
Ethan stepped behind Marcus.
“No.””
“Ethan, don't make this difficult.””
“You said you threw it away.””
Ray's jaw tightened.
“Hand it over.””
Marcus placed himself between them.
“Maybe you should take a breath.””
Ray pointed at the phone.
“That device contains private family information.””
Hank raised an eyebrow.
“Then you won't mind us seeing it after the police arrive.””
Ray said nothing.
Ethan pressed the power button.
The screen flickered.
A series of messages appeared.
Hank didn't touch the phone.
“Can you show us what you're trying to tell us?””
Ethan nodded.
He opened a conversation labeled DAD.
The first visible message was dated eight months earlier.
Ethan, it's Dad. I know you haven't been able to answer. I hope you're okay.
The next one came three days later.
Your mother says you don't want to talk to me. I don't believe that, buddy. But I'll give you space if that's what you need.
Another message.
I bought the model airplane we talked about. It's still waiting on your desk.
Ethan's lower lip trembled.
Marcus looked away.
The messages continued.
Please tell your mom I need to speak with her.
I'm worried.
I went to the house today. Nobody answered.
Ethan, I love you. Nothing will ever change that.
Then came a message from two months earlier.
I'm still looking for you.
Another.
I never stopped trying to find you.
Hank felt his stomach tighten.
“Why didn't you answer him?””
Ethan swallowed.
“Ray took my old phone. He said Dad had stopped calling because he didn't care.””
“Then how did you get this one?””
“Mom hid it in the laundry room. She told me to keep it safe.””
Ray let out an angry breath.
“She's been manipulating him!””
Ethan shook his head.
“No. You took my dad's money.””
The words landed heavily.
Hank looked up.
“What money?””
Ray's face went red.
“That's enough.””
Ethan scrolled farther.
At the bottom of the conversation was a message sent just three days earlier.
Ethan, I found proof Ray has been taking the money. I'm coming for you.
Hank read it twice.
Then he looked at Ray.
“What money?””
Ray didn't answer.
Instead, he lunged toward Ethan.
Marcus caught him around the chest and pushed him backward.
“That's it!””
Ray struggled.
“Get your hands off me!””
Hank stepped forward.
“Stop moving.””
Ray's eyes darted between the bikers.
Then he tried a different approach.
“You don't understand. That boy's father is dangerous. He's been sending money because he wants custody. He wants to take Ethan away from his mother.””
Hank glanced at the phone.
“Then why does he sound like a man who's been desperately trying to find his son?””
Ray opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Above them, Linda shouted again.
“ETHAN! LISTEN TO ME!””
Ethan ran toward the staircase.
“Mom!””
Ray screamed.
“DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR!””
But Ethan had already started climbing.
Hank followed close behind.
At the second-floor landing, they found room 214.
A heavy chain had been wrapped around the outside handle.
Hank stared at it.
“Who put that there?””
Ethan pointed toward Ray, who was climbing the stairs behind them.
“He did.””
Hank examined the chain.
“Can you get a key?””
Ethan shook his head.
“Ray keeps it.””
Linda struck the door again.
“HANK? IS SOMEONE OUT THERE?””
Hank stepped closer.
“Yes, ma'am. My name is Hank. We're going to get you out.””
“Please!”” Linda cried.
“Don't let him take Ethan!””
Ray reached the landing.
“Get away from that door!””
Hank turned.
“Where's the key?””
Ray didn't answer.
Hank held out his hand.
“Give it to me.””
“You have no authority here!””
“Neither does a man who locks his wife in a motel room.””
Ray backed away.
And then, for the first time, he made a mistake.
He reached into his jacket pocket to check something.
A large brass key slipped from his fingers and hit the concrete.
Ethan stared at it.
“That's Mom's key.””
Hank picked it up.
But before he could unlock the chain, Ray shouted something that changed everything.
“You open that door, and you'll find out what happens to people who interfere with my money!””
Hank slowly turned toward him.
“Your money?””
May you like
Ray realized what he'd said.
Too late.
