Chapter 9 — Investigating the hallway noise — Then finding physical proof left behind
David froze in place.
Grant raised a hand, signaling for absolute silence.
The storage room fell dead quiet.
The only sound was the low, steady hum of the equipment rack cooling fans near the console.
A second sound followed the metallic click.
It was the heavy, dragging scrape of boot leather against the concrete floor of the corridor.
Somebody was standing just outside the threshold of the storage room.
Maya gripped the edge of the wooden table.
Her knuckles turned white.
Grant crouched down slightly, easing toward the side of the towering clothing racks where the heavy velvet costumes hung.
David didn’t move from his spot near the monitoring console.
His eyes remained locked on the darkened doorway.
The footsteps paused.
Then came the faint jingle of metal.
Something hard struck the floorboards near the entrance with a dull, heavy thud.
A sharp clatter echoed against the brick walls.
David motioned for Grant to stay back.
He stepped cautiously around the corner of the equipment rack and looked out toward the threshold.
Nothing was in the hallway immediately visible under the flickering overhead bulb.
David walked a few feet further out, his gaze scanning the floor.
Right beside the door frame rested a small, heavy object.
He bent down and picked it up.
It was an old-fashioned brass ring holding a single, heavy iron key.
Grant stepped out from behind the clothing rack.
What is that?
David held the key up to the light.
He turned it over in his hand, inspecting the jagged teeth worn smooth by decades of use.
I’ve seen this exact key before, David murmured.
Where? Maya asked, stepping closer.
On the master inventory ledger from nineteen-ninety-eight, David replied.
He turned back toward the center of the room.
His eyes landed directly on the old, dusty metal locker standing against the far wall.
The locker that had been locked tight all evening.
David walked slowly across the room until he stood directly in front of the rusted iron door of the locker.
He looked down at the key in his hand.
Then he looked up at the heavy padlock hanging from the locker latch.
Grant walked up behind him, staring at the aged brass metal.
You think that key fits this lock?
There’s only one way to find out, David said.
He stepped directly up to the metal locker and slid the heavy iron key into the slot of the padlock.