Mình sẽ tiếp tục phát triển câu chuyện này thành bản dài khoảng 20.000 từ, giữ nguyên toàn bộ nhân vật và tình tiết đã có ở Part 1–3. Phần dưới đây nối tiếp ngay khoảnh khắc tất cả điện thoại đồng loạt đổ chuông. Các bí mật về chiếc chìa khóa 417, Deputy Commissioner và thân phận thực sự của Marcus sẽ được hé lộ từng bước.
THE OFFICER THREW HIM TO THE GROUND… THEN THE POLICE CHIEF WALKED OUT
PART 4 — LOCKER 417
The phones began ringing at exactly the same time.
Raymond Brooks looked down at the device in his hand.
The screen displayed an unknown number.
Captain Anthony Lewis checked his own phone.
Lieutenant Sarah Collins did the same.
Even Officer Brian Keller, who had been standing beside his patrol car, looked startled when his personal phone began vibrating inside his pocket.
Nobody answered.
The ringing continued.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
Then every phone stopped simultaneously.
A message appeared on Raymond's screen.
THE KEY IS NOT YOURS. RETURN IT BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
Raymond read it twice.
His expression hardened.
"Who else received this?"
Anthony looked at his phone.
"Same message."
Sarah nodded.
"Mine too."
Raymond turned toward Marcus.
"Did you receive anything?"
Marcus reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
The screen was dark.
"No."
Raymond looked at him carefully.
"Are you sure?"
Marcus shook his head.
"I haven't received anything."
Keller suddenly spoke.
"I got it."
Everyone turned.
Raymond looked directly at him.
"What?"
Keller took out his phone.
"The same message."
"Show me."
Keller hesitated.
Raymond stepped closer.
"Now, Officer."
Keller handed him the phone.
The message was identical.
But Raymond noticed something else.
Below the threatening message was a second notification.
A missed call.
The number was saved under a contact name.
D.C. OFFICE.
Raymond looked at Keller.
"Why is the Deputy Commissioner's office calling you?"
Keller's face tightened.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"No, sir."
Raymond held the phone up.
"Then perhaps you can explain why the deputy commissioner is contacting you at the exact moment we discover evidence connecting him to an investigation into missing police records."
Keller shook his head.
"Chief, I swear I don't know what's going on."
Raymond handed the phone to Sarah.
"Preserve everything. The messages, the call history, the original device data. Don't erase anything."
Sarah nodded.
"Understood."
Marcus was still holding the silver key.
He turned it over in his fingers.
The number 417 was engraved on one side.
On the other side was a tiny symbol.
A circle crossed by a vertical line.
He had seen it before.
He just couldn't remember where.
"Chief."
Raymond turned.
"What is it?"
Marcus held up the key.
"Do you recognize this symbol?"
Raymond examined it.
His expression changed.
"Where did you see that?"
"On the key."
"No. I mean before."
Marcus thought for a moment.
"On the black envelope."
Raymond looked at him.
"Describe it."
"A circle with a line through the center. The same mark was printed beneath the handwritten message."
Captain Lewis stepped closer.
"Chief, I recognize it."
Raymond looked at him.
"From where?"
Lewis lowered his voice.
"Northbridge."
The name changed the atmosphere immediately.
Marcus nodded.
"That's what I thought."
Sarah looked between them.
"What's Northbridge?"
Raymond didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at Marcus.
"How much do you know about the original Northbridge investigation?"
"Enough to know the company wasn't operating alone."
"Do you know what locker 417 contains?"
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
Raymond looked at the key again.
"Then we're going to find out."
1. THE CHIEF'S SECRET
Raymond ordered everyone inside the house.
He wanted the street secured, the patrol vehicle isolated, and the front yard preserved as an active incident scene.
Sarah immediately began coordinating the response.
Captain Lewis stood near the front window, watching the street.
Keller remained beside the doorway.
He looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Raymond noticed.
"Officer Keller."
Keller straightened.
"Sir."
"Sit down."
"Chief, I would prefer to—"
"That wasn't a request."
Keller slowly sat on the edge of a chair.
Raymond placed the silver key on the wooden table.
Then he looked at Sarah.
"Before we go anywhere, I want to establish a clear record of everything that happened today."
Sarah opened her tablet.
"Go ahead."
Raymond pointed toward Marcus.
"Mr. Reed was working on his property when Officer Keller approached him."
Marcus nodded.
"Correct."
"Officer Keller demanded identification."
"Yes."
"Did you refuse?"
"No. I asked why I was being stopped."
Sarah began typing.
Raymond continued.
"Did you threaten the officer?"
"No."
"Did you attempt to strike him?"
"No."
"Did you attempt to flee?"
"No."
Raymond turned toward Keller.
"Do you dispute any of that?"
Keller looked at the floor.
"No, sir."
Sarah stopped typing.
She looked up.
"Officer Keller, are you admitting that Mr. Reed was not physically resisting?"
Keller hesitated.
"I didn't say that."
Raymond leaned forward.
"Then say what happened."
Keller swallowed.
"He was being uncooperative."
"That isn't an answer."
"He questioned my instructions."
"That isn't an answer either."
Keller's voice became defensive.
"He wouldn't immediately provide identification."
Raymond stared at him.
"Was he legally required to provide it under the circumstances you described?"
Keller said nothing.
Raymond continued.