So.....mission accomplished...........sort of.
thru careful prying and using backing plates so as to not damage the door/frame, I was able to get enough room to at least see the strike/bolt. It was not moving at all by retracting the rod, which still had spring pressure. Tried the credit card method, but could not get into the gap...
examining the other doors, I realized that the bolts are plastic. Now, I'm realizing that since the retracting rod is not pulling the plastic strike back, the plastic strike is probably broken...........so, I just carefully applied pressure and broke it off.
Upon further examination, the part of the strike where the retracting rod attaches had broken off, allowing the rod to move without moving the strike.
Yes, so glad this was not a locked compartment! Unfortunately, it was the right side of the door, so not adjacent to another compartment.
hopefully I can disassemble the door (looks like the ends can be unscrewed) and get another strikebolt. If not, I don't think it's much of an issue only having that door secured with only one side latched.....
Thanks for the help folks!