Chapter 5: Shadows in the Dark
The locksmith’s shop was tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, its windows cluttered with keys of all shapes and sizes. Daniela and Ethan stepped inside, the bell above the door jingling softly. An elderly man with thick glasses looked up from his workbench, his eyes narrowing as he studied them.
“Can I help you?” he asked, his voice gravelly.
Ethan handed him the key they’d found in the storeroom. “We need to know what this goes to.”
The locksmith took the key, holding it up to the light. He turned it over in his hands, his brow furrowing. “Hmm. This isn’t a standard key. It’s custom-made, probably for a private lock. Where’d you find it?”
Daniela exchanged a glance with Ethan before answering. “It was in a building that burned down recently. We’re trying to figure out if it’s connected.”
The locksmith nodded, setting the key down on the counter. “I can’t tell you exactly what it opens, but I can tell you this: it’s not something you’d find in a regular home or business. This kind of key is usually used for high-security locks—safes, private vaults, that sort of thing.”
Daniela’s heart skipped a beat. A safe? What could someone have been hiding in the storeroom? And why would they go to such lengths to protect it?
Ethan leaned forward, his voice low. “Is there any way to track where it came from? Maybe a manufacturer or a specific brand?”
The locksmith shook his head. “Not likely. These kinds of keys are often made by specialized craftsmen. No serial numbers, no branding. Whoever had this made wanted to keep it off the radar.”
Daniela’s shoulders slumped. Another dead end. But Ethan didn’t seem discouraged. He thanked the locksmith and led Daniela back outside, his expression thoughtful.
“This doesn’t change anything,” he said as they walked to the car. “We still have the glove. Maybe we can find out who it belongs to.”
Daniela nodded, though her hope was fading. “How? It’s just a piece of fabric. There’s no way to trace it.”
Ethan opened the car door for her, his eyes meeting hers. “We’ll figure it out. But for now, we need to be careful. If someone went through all this trouble to hide something, they’re not going to let us uncover it easily.”
As they drove back to Daniela’s apartment, the weight of the situation settled over her. She felt like she was walking through a minefield, every step potentially dangerous. But she couldn’t stop now. She had come too far to turn back.
When they arrived at her building, Ethan insisted on walking her to her door. “I don’t like the idea of you being alone right now,” he said, his tone firm. “Not after everything that’s happened.”
Daniela didn’t argue. She was grateful for his presence, even if she didn’t want to admit it. As they stepped into the elevator, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see someone following them, but the hallway was empty.
When they reached her apartment, Daniela froze. The door was slightly ajar.
“Did you leave it open?” Ethan asked, his voice tense.
Daniela shook her head, her heart pounding. “No. I always lock it.”
Ethan stepped in front of her, pushing the door open slowly. The apartment was a mess—drawers pulled out, cushions slashed, papers scattered everywhere. Someone had been there, and they had been looking for something.
Daniela’s hands trembled as she stepped inside, her eyes scanning the destruction. “What… what were they after?”
Ethan moved through the apartment, checking each room. “It doesn’t look like anything was taken. This was a search, not a robbery.”
Daniela sank onto the couch, her mind racing. What could someone possibly want from her? She had nothing of value, nothing worth tearing her apartment apart for.
Unless… it was connected to the fire.
Ethan crouched in front of her, his expression serious. “Daniela, you can’t stay here. It’s not safe.”
She nodded numbly, her thoughts a jumbled mess. “Where am I supposed to go? I can’t go to my family. They don’t even believe me.”
Ethan hesitated, then reached for her hand. “You can stay with me. Just until we figure this out.”
Daniela looked up at him, surprised. “Ethan, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking,” he said firmly. “I’m offering. You’re not alone in this, Daniela. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn’t want to cry, not now. But the kindness in Ethan’s voice broke through the walls she had built around herself.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Ethan helped her gather a few essentials, and they left the apartment quickly. As they drove to his place, Daniela couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being followed. She kept glancing in the side mirror, her nerves on edge.
When they arrived at Ethan’s apartment, he led her inside and locked the door behind them. “You’ll be safe here,” he said, his voice reassuring. “No one knows where I live.”
Daniela nodded, though her mind was still racing. She sat on the couch, clutching her bag tightly. “Ethan, what if we’re in over our heads? What if we can’t figure this out?”
He sat beside her, his expression determined. “We will. But we have to be smart about it. No more going off on our own. We stick together, okay?”
Daniela nodded, feeling a small sense of relief. For the first time in days, she didn’t feel completely alone. But as she looked around Ethan’s apartment, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the shadows were closing in.
Whoever was behind this wasn’t going to stop. And Daniela knew that the next move would be theirs. She just hoped they were ready for it.