Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 The Disappearance

 For several seconds after the call ended, neither of them spoke .The quiet inside the studio suddenly felt uncomfortable. Amara slowly placed the receiver back onto the phone cradle, her eyes still fixed on Julian. He was leaning casually against the desk, his arms folded, watching her with that same calm expression. Almost like he had been expecting her reaction. "You don't look surprised," Amara finally said. Julian tilted his head slightly. "Should I be? "Amara frowned ."A caller just said you might be connected to someone who disappeared ."Julian's expression didn't change ."People say a lot of strange things during late-night radio shows. "That didn't sound like a joke. "For a moment, Julian didn't answer. Instead, he walked slowly toward the glass window overlooking the empty hallway outside the studio. The lights in the corridor flickered slightly, casting long shadows across the floor. "Tell me something," Julian said quietly. Amara crossed her arms. "What?" "How long have you worked here?" "Three years." "And in those three years," he continued, "have you ever heard any strange stories about this station? "Amara hesitated .Radio stations always had rumors. Old buildings tended to collect stories. But none of them were serious. At least… none that she had believed. "Not really," she said finally. Julian turned back toward her. For the first time that night, his calm expression seemed slightly different. More serious. "You should ask the older staff members," he said. "Ask them what happened here seven years ago. "Amara's eyebrows pulled together ."What happened?" Julian looked at her for a moment before answering. "A woman disappeared. "The words hung heavily in the air. Amara felt a chill creep down her spine. "From the station? "Julian nodded slowly. "She worked here." "What was her name?" For a brief moment, Julian didn't respond. Then he said quietly: "Lena Hayes." The name sounded strangely familiar. Amara tried to remember where she had heard it before ."Was she a host?" "No. "Julian's eyes met hers again ."She was a producer ."Amara felt her stomach tighten slightly ."A producer… like me? "Julian didn't answer immediately .Instead, he walked back toward the console and picked up one of the station's old program schedules lying on the desk. "You see this show?" he said, tapping the paper . Amara glanced at it .Midnight Echoes" The same show you're hosting now, she said Julian nodded. This program existed before ."Amara blinked ."What? Seven years ago," Julian continued, Lena Hayes was producing the midnight broadcast. "A strange feeling began forming in Amara's chest" What happened to her? "Julian held her gaze for a long moment ."No one knows." The silence that followed felt heavier than before. Amara shook her head slowly. "If a staff member disappeared, the police would have investigated." "They did." "And?" Julian placed the paper back onto the desk ."They never found her. "Amara suddenly felt very aware of how empty the building was. Just the two of them .One quiet radio station. And a mystery that apparently started in the very same studio she worked in every night. She forced herself to stay call. "So you're telling me," she said slowly, "that seven years ago a producer disappeared from this station… and now you're hosting the same show she worked on. "Julian nodded ."And someone just called saying you were there that night. "For the first time, Julian's smile returned. But this time, it looked different. Less friendly. More mysterious ."That's correct ."Amara stared at him. "Then maybe you should start explaining something. "Julian stepped closer. Close enough that Amara could clearly see the reflection of the studio lights in his dark eyes. "I could," he said softly. "Or…"He paused ."Or you could help me find out what really happened to her ."Amara blinked. "What?" Julian leaned slightly closer to the microphone on the desk. "Because if Lena Hayes truly disappeared from this station…"His voice lowered ."Then someone here knows the truth ."Amara felt another chill run down her spine. Because for the first time since she met Julian Cole…She realized something terrifying. If he was investigating the disappearance…Then someone in the station might be hiding a very dangerous secret. And she had just become part of the investigation.