Sergeant Dragos had heard almost every strange story the town could produce.
He had investigated stolen livestock, missing machinery, fraudulent businesses, domestic disputes, and more than a few cases involving people who claimed their neighbors were secretly keeping wild animals in their basements.
So when Ovidiu walked into the police station that afternoon, Dragos initially assumed he was bringing another neighborhood rumor.
The sergeant was fifty-eight, with salt-and-pepper hair, a broad face, and the calm expression of a man who had learned not to react too quickly.
He looked up from his paperwork.
"Ovidiu. What happened? Did someone steal your meat?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what is it?"
Ovidiu sat down and leaned forward.
"It's about Lidia."
Dragos sighed.
"Ah. The woman buying enough beef to feed a football team."
Ovidiu looked at him sharply.
"So you've heard?"
"Everyone has heard. Yesterday, Officer Miron suggested she was opening a restaurant for ghosts."
"This isn't funny."
Something in Ovidiu's voice made the sergeant put down his pen.
"All right. Tell me."
Ovidiu explained everything.
The sixty kilos.
The daily payments.
The strange stains on Lidia's hands.
The abandoned industrial district.
Warehouse 42.
And finally, the voice he had heard from inside.
When he finished, Dragos remained silent.
"Did you actually see anyone?" he asked.
"No. But I heard someone."
"Could it have been machinery?"
"It sounded like a man."
"Could there be workers inside?"
"In a condemned building with no visible electricity?"
Dragos rubbed his chin.
"You're certain about the address?"
"Absolutely."
The sergeant stood.
"Let's take a look."
Within forty minutes, two police vehicles were moving toward the industrial district.
They did not activate their sirens.
Ovidiu sat in the front passenger seat of the first car, directing the officers through the maze of deserted roads.
As the vehicles approached Warehouse 42, Dragos noticed something unusual.
The side entrance was secured with a new padlock.
The surrounding ground also showed fresh wheel tracks.
Someone had been moving heavy objects in and out of the building.
"Stay behind us," Dragos instructed Ovidiu.
The officers spread out.
Dragos approached the metal door and knocked three times.
"Police! Open the door!"
Nothing happened.
He knocked again.
"Police! We need to speak with whoever is inside."
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then came a metallic scraping sound.
A bolt moved.
The door opened a few inches.
Lidia appeared.
Her face was pale.
When she recognized Ovidiu standing behind the officers, her expression collapsed.
"You followed me," she whispered.
Ovidiu said nothing.
Dragos showed his identification.
"Mrs. Lidia, we need to inspect this property. It has been condemned, and we've received a report of unauthorized activity."
"You cannot come in."
"Why not?"
"Because you don't understand."
"Then explain it."
She looked toward the darkness behind her.
A faint mechanical thud echoed from inside.
Her lips began to tremble.
"Please. Whatever you think is happening here, it's not what you imagine."
Dragos remained calm.
"Is anyone inside?"
Lidia lowered her head.
"Yes."
"Who?"
For a long moment, she seemed unable to speak.
Then she whispered a name.
"Nicolae."
Dragos frowned.
"Your son?"
Lidia nodded.
"He's my son."
Ovidiu stared at her.
He had never known Lidia had a son.
Not once in all the years she had visited the shop had she mentioned a family member.
"Why is he here?" Dragos asked.
"Because he has nowhere else to go."
"Is he being held against his will?"
"No!"
Her answer came so quickly that all three men fell silent.
"He's not a prisoner," she continued. "He chose to come here. Please, you have to believe me."
Another crash sounded from the darkness.
This time, it was followed by a man's painful groan.
Dragos's expression changed.
"Step aside, Mrs. Lidia."
"No."
"Someone may be injured."
"He isn't injured. He's working."
"Working on what?"
Lidia looked at him through tear-filled eyes.
"Trying to stand."
Before Dragos could ask another question, the machinery inside the warehouse suddenly stopped.
Then a deep voice called from the darkness.
"Mother?"
Lidia turned.
"Nicolae, stay where you are!"
But it was too late.
Something heavy began moving across the concrete floor.
A chain rattled.
Metal scraped against metal.
And a massive shadow appeared behind the doorway.