Dom set the phone down, staring down at the frantically scribbled notes. He folds the note and heads out of the office.

“Is everything okay Dom?” His manager, Anna waited outside.

“Yeah its, a bit of a surprise to hear anything about my mother.. Do you need anything before I head back?” He fidgets with his uniform, avoiding eye contact. He wanted to be locked up in his apartment right about now.

“Nope, just take it easy." Anna smiles and pats Dom’s shoulder reassuringly. "It sounds like it was a rough phone call.”

Dom nods with a small smile, and leaves letting out a slow, deep breath when he felt far enough out of ear shot. He worked quietly the rest of his shift, in as much silence as a retail job can afford.

Long after the sky had turned dark and his replacement had come in, Dom left and found his way to the address he scribbled down earlier. Now standing on an empty street corner, looking up from under his hood at a grey and black stone office building.

The rain was deafening, and a soft glow seemed to come through the tinted windows on the bottom floor. The rest of them appeared to be made of some kind of glass that didn’t reflect light well, as the image street below was a dim wash of barely visible lights lights.

“You look like you’re used to the rain.” a voice spoke from behind Dom as an umbrella made its way over his head.

Dom nearly jumped out of his skin and he looked to the man beside him, he was wearing an expensive white business suit with large sunglasses. He had a strong square jaw and graying stubble.

“No need to look so apprehensive, I heard it’s quite normal for people to have conversations on the street here. Where are my manners, I’m Mr. Keys.”

“Dominic.” They shook hands. Dom felt an intense unease growing in his gut. Everything this man did and said seemed ever so slightly off.

“I imagine you’re quite uncomfortable out here, your jeans are soaked. Come inside Dominic.” Mr. Keys gestures to the office building with a wide grin.

“I would prefer to stay outside, I’m already pretty soaked.” Dom replies with a shrug. He didn’t trust this man in the least, and watched him carefully.

“If that’s what you’d prefer." Mr. Keys raised an eyebrow, "However, I’d love to stop holding this umbrella. Lets step undercover.” he said, and walked across the empty sidewalk to the gentle steps under the cover of an overhang.

Dom dug his hands into his pockets and followed, watching Mr Keys walk. The man seemed to take unnaturally long strides. He walked so smoothly it seemed more like he was gliding, and the more Dom hung around the more he could feel the pit of dread in his stomach growing.

The plaque next to the tinted glass doors read “Locke and Keys Information Services. Portland Branch.” A intricate pattern of small keys of different shapes and sizes locked together like tetris pieces wrapped around the base and tops of the pillars, the door, the plaque, along the base of the building.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Once undercover Mr. Keys closed his umbrella and nonchalantly slipped it into his suit jacket. Dom watched it seemingly vanish from existence.

“Now, I imagine you’re curious about why I called you here.” Mr Keys began, gesturing vaguely and casually adjusting his gloves.

“Sure. You said I received an offer from a school, that you knew my mother and that if I wanted to know more to come to this place after work...I still don’t know why I came." Dom surprisingly found his thoughts flowing from his mouth.

"I don’t know you, I don’t know my mom, I’ve never even heard of this Gardener’s Academy before.” He inhaled sharply when he finished, as though trying to keep himself from speaking more.

“I understand your hesitation, but I can say for certain that your mother knows you, Dominic. That’s why I got a hold of you, Gardener Academy is quite excellent too. I have several employees in this office that attended.” Mr Keys said.

“I like where I am currently and besides, what’s in it for you? What are you going to tell me about my mother?”

“One thing at a time my boy.” Mr Keys chuckles and removes a small pure black business card with a white circle surrounding a gold diamond, holding it out for Dom to take.

Dom took it and flipped it over, the same interlocking key pattern that surrounded the stonework on the building, bordered the card. In the middle was a generic black key silhouette.

“No phone number??” Dom turned it over a few times before slipping it into his pocket, it was a real fancy metal card, all of the details engraved.

“Don’t need one, if you want to talk just tap this business card against a door and I’ll come a’knocking.”

“Sure..” Dom said without an ounce of belief.

“Now, what’s in it for me? Nothing.” Mr Key’s looks thoughtful for a moment. “Well. Maybe I get to prove a point. But you really were accepted to the school, and I happen to do work for them from time to time.”

“Someone’s looking out for you, usually you need a couple of recommendations.” Mr Keys produces a letter from his jacket and hands it to Dom. Its addressed to him, from someone with the initials E. F. from this Gardener Academy.

“An acceptance letter?”

“You could certainly call it that.”

“And information about my mother?” Dom asked again.

“She’s a teacher at the school, difficult to miss." Mr Keys smiled widely again, like a creature bearing its fangs. "You two look so similar it fills me with joy to think of your reunion.”

“Can you stop and just tell me something. I already feel like I should be running just standing here.” Dom snapped

“Alright alright," Mr Keys waved infront of his face. His mouth twisted in an expression as close as thoughtful as he could get. "She’s one of the most intelligent individuals on this planet. Having a grasp on life that many don’t seem to ever achieve. If she had any ambition she’d be far above where she is now.” Mr Keys’ voice slowly went from cheerful to agitated.

“You’re the spitting image of her and your dad, a great mix if I do say so myself. You’ll have no problem spotting her. Other than she’s in her late forties, lives in this city, and watches you and your father quite closely." He chuckles and produces the umbrella from his suit jacket. "I’m not at liberty to say much else.

“Think about it, ask your dad about it, stay safe, all of that. You know how to get a hold of me.” Mr Keys’ stepped past Dom with two long strides. Dom froze for a moment at the mention of his dad.

“Wait I still..” he turned to catch Mr Keys, but the man was already gone. No sign of a white suit anywhere despite the wide view of the street.

Dom stood and stared for a moment. Blinking a few times like he was trying to reset his eyes.

He looked back at entrance to the building, but the building behind him was no longer Lock and Keys Information Services. It was a bank.