CHAPTER 4: Locker 27
No one spoke during the drive back.
Walter gripped the small brass key so tightly that it left deep marks in his palm.
Beside him sat Ethan, staring out the window.
"Mr. Hayes..."
Walter looked over.
"Do you think that man was telling the truth?"
Walter wanted to say no.
Instead, he whispered,
"I don't know anymore."
The next morning, detectives escorted Walter and Ethan to the abandoned train station mentioned in the note.
Hidden beneath years of dust stood a row of rusted storage lockers.
Most of them had been forced open decades ago.
Only one remained untouched.
LOCKER 27.
Walter's hands trembled as he inserted the brass key.
The old lock clicked.
The heavy metal door creaked open.
Inside...
There was no money.
No weapons.
No stolen jewelry.
Only a faded leather backpack.
A broken camera.
And a sealed envelope.
Across the front, written in elegant handwriting, were six chilling words.
"Open this with Ethan beside you."
Walter swallowed hard.
He looked at Ethan.
"You deserve to know the truth."
Slowly, he broke the seal.
Inside were dozens of documents.
Birth certificates.
Medical records.
Newspaper clippings.
And one photograph.
Walter nearly dropped it.
The picture showed a smiling young woman holding a newborn baby.
Standing beside her...
Was Walter.
But Walter had never seen the woman before.
"What is this?" Ethan whispered.
Then Walter noticed something written on the back.
'Your mother trusted only one man...'
'Walter Hayes.'
His breathing stopped.
"My mother?"
Ethan asked.
"I was told she died before I was born."
Walter turned another page.
His eyes widened.
The next document was a DNA report.
At the top were two names.
Walter Hayes.
Ethan Morgan.
Relationship:
99.99% Biological Grandfather.
Walter staggered backward.
"No..."
"This can't be possible."
Ethan looked equally stunned.
"My grandfather died years ago..."
Walter slowly lowered the paper.
"No, Ethan."
"I think someone wanted you to believe that."
Before either of them could say another word—
Detective Sarah Collins' radio suddenly crackled.
"Sarah, we have an emergency."
"What happened?"
"The evidence room..."
"It's been broken into."
"What was stolen?"
A long silence followed.
Then came the answer that made everyone freeze.
"The only item missing..."
"...was the broken camera from Locker 27."
Walter looked at the empty backpack.
His heart pounded.
Whoever stole that camera hadn't wanted the money...
They wanted what was still hidden inside it.
And if they were willing to break into a police station to get it...
Someone else knew the truth about Ethan's family.
May you like
Someone who was still alive.
To Be Continued...
