Chapter 2: The Locked Door
Curtis reached for Noah.
Ray moved before he could.
He didn't touch Curtis.
He simply stepped between them.
"Enough.""
Curtis sneered.
"You think five bikers walking into a gas station makes you the law?""
"No.""
Ray pointed at Noah.
"But that boy is eleven years old.""
"I'm his guardian.""
"Then act like it.""
Curtis looked around the room.
"I said he's my responsibility.""
Ray's voice stayed calm.
"Responsibility doesn't mean ownership.""
Curtis said nothing.
For several seconds, the only sound was the refrigerators humming behind the counter.
Then the front door opened.
A trucker entered carrying a paper cup.
He saw the room.
Saw Curtis.
Saw five bikers standing near the kitchen.
Then quietly backed out.
Duke almost smiled.
"Good night to you too.""
Ray didn't take his eyes off Curtis.
"Open the door.""
Curtis shook his head.
"No.""
Noah spoke quietly.
"Please.""
Curtis whipped around.
"You keep your mouth shut.""
Noah flinched.
Lena crouched beside him.
"What did he put in there?""
Noah swallowed.
"My clothes.""
"Anything else?""
"My schoolbooks.""
"Anything else?""
Noah looked toward the floor.
"My mom's box.""
Ray noticed Curtis stiffen.
"Your mom's box?""
Noah nodded.
"She left it for me.""
Curtis snapped, "There is no box.""
Noah looked confused.
"It's there.""
Curtis turned toward the kitchen.
Ray followed his gaze.
That was the moment Ray knew this was bigger than a boy sleeping in a storage room.
Curtis wasn't just embarrassed.
He was afraid of what was behind that door.
Ray pulled out his phone.
Curtis noticed.
"Who are you calling?""
"Someone who can help.""
"Call whoever you want.""
But his confidence had cracked.
Duke stepped beside the locked door.
"Where's the key?""
Curtis looked at him.
"Lost.""
Tommy laughed under his breath.
"Lucky.""
Curtis glared at him.
"What'd you say?""
"Nothing.""
"No, go ahead.""
Ray held up a hand.
"Nobody's fighting.""
He looked at the waitress.
"Ma'am, call the sheriff.""
Curtis slammed his palm against the counter.
"Don't you dare.""
The waitress froze.
Ray turned to her.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded slowly.
Then she pulled out her phone.
Curtis suddenly became polite.
"Wait.""
Ray frowned.
Curtis looked at Noah.
"He's just tired.""
Noah's face remained expressionless.
"He hasn't done anything wrong.""
Ray said, "Neither have we.""
The waitress dialed.
Curtis looked at the clock.
10:58.
He appeared to be calculating something.
Ray noticed.
"So," Ray said, "where exactly do you say the boy lives?""
"Here.""
"That's not what you told his family.""
Curtis stared at him.
"You don't know his family.""
"No. But he just told us you do.""
"He lies.""
Noah's head jerked up.
"I don't.""
Curtis snapped, "You want to spend the night somewhere else?""
Noah went silent.
Ray heard the threat beneath the words.
He turned toward the boy.
"You're staying right here.""
Noah looked at him.
"For how long?""
"Until somebody responsible gets here.""
Curtis laughed bitterly.
"You don't know what you're getting into.""
Ray nodded.
"Maybe not.""
He looked at the locked door.
"But I know what I'm looking at.""
Curtis reached under the counter.
Duke shifted instantly.
"What are you grabbing?""
Curtis stopped.
"A key.""
He pulled out a ring.
Three keys.
He stared at them for a second.
Then he chose one.
The brass lock clicked.
Noah took a step backward.
Lena noticed.
"Do you not want to go in?""
Noah shook his head.
"I do.""
"Then why are you scared?""
Noah whispered, "Because Curtis always locks it when I leave.""
Ray pushed the door open.
The smell hit them first.
Dust.
Old cardboard.
Damp concrete.
And something sour from a mop bucket.
A single bare bulb hung from the ceiling.
The room was tiny.
Shelves lined three walls.
Broken appliances sat in the corners.
A stack of old tires filled one section.
Then Ray saw the mattress.
Thin.
Stained.
No frame.
Just a mattress on the floor.
Beside it was a plastic milk crate.
Inside were two shirts.
One pair of jeans.
A toothbrush.
A half-used notebook.
Noah's belongings.
Lena covered her mouth.
Duke's jaw tightened.
Tommy whispered, "You're kidding me.""
Ray crouched.
There was a blanket on the mattress.
A child's blanket.
Blue.
Noah stepped inside.
He reached for the milk crate.
Curtis barked, "Leave it.""
Noah froze.
Ray picked it up.
"Why?""
Curtis didn't answer.
Noah pointed to a cardboard box beneath the mattress.
"My mom.""
Ray pulled it out.
Curtis lunged.
Duke blocked him.
"Don't.""
For the first time, Curtis looked truly afraid.
Ray opened the box.
Inside were photographs.
A woman's driver's license.
Several envelopes.
A hospital bracelet.
And a small spiral notebook.
Noah whispered, "That's hers.""
Ray opened the notebook.
The first page had a date.
Six months before Noah disappeared from school.
The second page contained a handwritten line.
If anything happens to me, make sure Noah doesn't stay with Curtis.
Ray looked up.
Curtis went pale.
"Give me that.""
Ray closed the notebook.
"No.""
"That's private.""
"You lost the right to privacy when you put a child in a storage room.""
Curtis stepped closer.
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
Outside, a distant siren became audible.
Curtis heard it.
His face changed again.
Noah suddenly grabbed Ray's sleeve.
"There is more.""
Ray looked at him.
"What?""
"The envelope under the sink.""
Curtis froze.
Lena noticed.
"Under what sink?""
Noah pointed toward the rear wall.
Curtis moved immediately.
Ray blocked him.
"Noah?""
"The little one.""
Duke pulled the cabinet door open.
There was a white envelope taped to the underside.
Ray removed it.
His name was handwritten across the front.
Not Ray.
Not Curtis.
Noah.
The boy's hands trembled.
"That's mine.""
Ray held it out.
Noah hesitated.
Then took it.
He stared at the handwriting.
"That's my mom.""
Curtis whispered, "Don't open that.""
Ray looked at him.
Noah looked at the envelope.
Then carefully tore it open.
Inside was one page.
He read the first sentence.
His face went blank.
Ray leaned closer.
"What does it say?""
Noah looked up.
May you like
And whispered:
"It says Curtis lied about why she died.""
