Chapter 3: A: Confront Superintendent

👉 [Previous Decision]: You chose Option A – Confront building manager Marcus Pendelton about basement access.

I found Marcus Pendelton in the lobby the next morning, meticulously polishing the brass banister. He was younger than Arthur, with a wary efficiency about him.

“Marcus,” I began, approaching him carefully. “I need access to the basement.”

He paused, rag in hand, his shoulders stiffening. “The basement’s restricted, Mr. Kross. It’s for maintenance personnel only.”

“I understand,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “But there’s a unique hum. A very specific HVAC sound. I believe it might be affecting my audio recordings.”

He turned fully, his eyes meeting mine. “We maintain the building perfectly. There are no issues with the ventilation system.”

“The audio file I received,” I pressed, watching his face. “The one with the political confessions. It clearly has the specific hum of this building’s basement. Arthur Pendelton’s building.”

At the mention of the family name alongside the “murder tape,” Marcus’s composure fractured. His hand, still holding the polishing rag, visibly trembled. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, even in the cool lobby. He blinked rapidly, looking past me, past the ornate fixtures, as if searching for an escape route.

“I… I can’t help you,” he stammered, his voice losing its earlier edge. He looked like a cornered animal. “There’s nothing down there. Nothing you need to see.”

He quickly wiped down the section of banister he was working on, then turned abruptly and walked away, his stride quick and jerky, leaving the rag draped over the polished brass.

His reaction was far more telling than any confession. He wasn’t just denying access; he was genuinely afraid.