Chapter 5: Three Knocks in the Dark
The third knock came from behind the bathroom door.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Maya stared at it, unable to move.
Breaker raised one finger to his lips.
Nobody spoke.
Grace was still asleep on the couch.
Ethan stood beside her, pale and trembling.
The apartment was completely dark except for the weak glow from Breaker’s phone.
Then came another knock.
Three times.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Breaker moved first.
He stepped between Maya and the bathroom, one hand disappearing beneath his shirt.
Maya whispered, “Someone is in there.””
Breaker shook his head.
“Not necessarily.””
“What else could it be?””
“Something mechanical.””
Another biker came into the bedroom doorway.
“Breaker?””
“Stay with the kids.””
The man nodded.
Breaker walked slowly toward the bathroom.
Every step seemed painfully loud.
Maya followed despite herself.
Breaker stopped inches from the door.
He listened.
Nothing.
Then he crouched and examined the gap beneath it.
A faint line of light appeared along the floor.
Maya's pulse jumped.
“There’s a light inside.””
Breaker looked at her.
“Stay back.””
He reached for the handle.
The door swung inward by itself.
Maya gasped.
The bathroom was empty.
A small battery-powered device sat on the floor beside the bathtub.
A red light blinked.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The device made the sound.
Breaker picked it up.
“Cheap timer.””
Maya stared.
“Why would anyone put that here?””
“To make us open the door.””
“Why?””
Breaker turned the device over.
There was a tiny compartment underneath.
He opened it.
Inside was a memory card.
Maya's chest tightened.
“It’s another message.””
Breaker nodded.
He looked toward Ethan.
“Keep the kids out of this.””
Maya took the card from him.
“I'm done keeping my children away from the truth.””
She walked into the bedroom.
Breaker followed.
They found a laptop in his motorcycle saddlebag.
Within minutes, the memory card was inserted.
One video appeared.
No title.
No date.
Maya pressed play.
The screen showed her husband.
Daniel.
Maya covered her mouth.
He sat in a dark room, wearing the blue shirt he had worn the night before he disappeared.
His face looked exhausted.
“Mae.””
Maya froze.
He had called her that only when they were alone.
“If you're watching this, then something went wrong.””
The video skipped.
Daniel leaned closer to the camera.
“I need you to listen carefully.””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“Do not trust the police.””
Breaker glanced at her.
Daniel continued.
“There are people inside the system who know what I found.””
He held up a folder.
“I copied everything.””
The video flickered.
“I couldn't save the originals.””
Daniel looked toward the door.
“They know about the blue house.””
Maya whispered, “What blue house?””
Daniel continued.
“They don't know about the second location.””
Breaker leaned closer.
Maya looked at him.
He looked troubled.
Daniel placed something on the table.
A photograph.
The image was blurry, but Maya recognized it.
Her childhood home.
A pale blue house on a quiet country road.
Maya's breath caught.
“That was my mother's house.””
Breaker looked at her.
“It's still there?””
“I think so.””
“You've been there recently?””
“No.””
Maya shook her head.
“My mother sold it years ago.””
Daniel's face on the screen suddenly changed.
“If they ever come after you, don't go there.””
The recording cut out.
Silence filled the bedroom.
Maya stared at the black screen.
“He knew.””
Breaker nodded.
“He knew you might remember it.””
“Why tell me not to go?””
“Because he wanted them to think you would.””
Maya looked at him.
“But I don't understand.””
Breaker pointed at the memory card.
“Daniel wasn't hiding information.””
“He was hiding a trap.””
Maya's stomach dropped.
Before she could answer, headlights swept across the curtains.
Everyone froze.
Breaker closed the laptop.
Outside, tires rolled slowly over the pavement.
One vehicle.
Then another.
Maya went to the window.
Breaker caught her arm.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
“What is it?””
He listened.
The rumble of engines grew louder.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Yeah?””
One of the guards outside spoke quickly.
Breaker’s expression hardened.
“How many?””
A pause.
“Keep them away from the building.””
He hung up.
Maya whispered, “Who is outside?””
Breaker looked at her.
“Police.””
She felt a wave of relief.
Then noticed his expression.
“What?””
“They're not here for you.””
“Then why are they here?””
Breaker looked toward the sleeping children.
“Because somebody told them there was a witness inside.””
“A witness to what?””
Breaker didn't answer.
A loud pounding came from the front door.
“Police! Open up!””
Maya looked at Breaker.
“Shouldn't we let them in?””
Breaker shook his head.
“No.””
The pounding came again.
“Open the door!””
A different voice shouted from outside.
“Mrs. Bennett! We know you're in there.””
Breaker pulled his phone from his pocket.
“They said your name.””
Maya's blood ran cold.
“And you said they're not real police.””
“I said I don't trust them.””
Another voice came through the door.
“Mrs. Bennett, this concerns your husband's death.””
Maya looked at Breaker.
He whispered one sentence.
“They're lying.””
“How do you know?””
“Because Daniel's death was never reopened.””
The pounding stopped.
May you like
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then the front door exploded inward.
