Titan's Warning
The footsteps came closer.
Slow.
Measured.
Titan stood between the sound and Henry.
Atlas remained beside the cabinet.
Samuel raised his cane.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
The footsteps stopped.
Then a flashlight appeared.
A man stepped into the room.
Henry recognized him.
Edward Mason.
Samuel immediately raised his cane.
"You."
Edward looked at him.
"I didn't come to hurt you."
"Then why were you following us?"
"Because someone else is."
Henry stepped forward.
"Who?"
Edward looked at Atlas.
Then Titan.
"They know."
Henry frowned.
"Who knows?"
Edward's expression became exhausted.
"The men who killed William."
Samuel stared at him.
"William was murdered?"
Edward nodded.
"Yes."
"How?"
"Poison."
Samuel's hands trembled.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid."
Edward explained that he had been hiding for twenty years.
He had survived Black Ridge.
He had seen the illegal operation.
He knew the names.
But everyone who tried to expose it disappeared.
William had been the last person willing to fight.
"And now he's dead."
Henry asked,
"Who killed him?"
Edward looked toward the door.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
Edward shook his head.
"No."
Then he pulled out a small cassette recorder.
"William left this with me."
Henry stared.
"What is it?"
"His final message."
Edward handed it over.
But before Henry could play it...
A gunshot sounded outside.
The window shattered.
Titan immediately pushed against Henry.
Samuel dropped to the floor.
Edward shouted,
"Get down!"
Atlas barked toward the darkness.
The attacker had found them.
