Captain William Dawson
Captain William Dawson had spent forty-two years serving his country.
His military record was impressive.
Multiple commendations.
Three overseas deployments.
A Silver Star.
A Bronze Star.
And several classified missions that had never been publicly discussed.
But William rarely talked about his service.
Whenever Henry asked about his medals, his grandfather would simply smile.
"Some stories are better left buried."
Henry had always assumed it was an old soldier's way of speaking.
Now he wasn't so sure.
Inside the funeral preparation room, the coffin remained sealed.
Samuel stood beside Henry.
"There are things about your grandfather you never knew."
"Like what?"
"He wasn't only a soldier."
Henry frowned.
"What else was he?"
"An investigator."
"Military intelligence."
Henry stared at him.
"Why would he need to investigate anyone after retirement?"
Samuel looked toward the door.
"Because some cases never truly end."
Henry felt a chill.
"What case?"
Samuel hesitated.
"The Black Ridge operation."
Henry had never heard the name.
Samuel looked at him carefully.
"Your grandfather spent twenty years trying to discover what happened during that mission."
"What happened?"
"Seven soldiers disappeared."
Henry's eyes widened.
"Seven?"
"The official report said they died during an extraction failure."
"And Grandpa didn't believe it?"
"No."
Samuel's expression became darker.
"He believed they were betrayed."
"By whom?"
Samuel didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his coat.
He removed a small photograph.
It showed William Dawson as a young soldier.
Beside him stood Samuel.
And behind them were seven other men.
Samuel pointed to one.
"This man was the last person William trusted."
Henry studied the photograph.
"Where is he now?"
Samuel looked away.
"Dead."
"How?"
"Officially?"
Samuel's eyes hardened.
"Car accident."
Henry stared at the photograph.
"Unofficially?"
Samuel whispered,
"Murder."
A sound came from the hallway.
Everyone turned.
Atlas stood outside the doorway.
His eyes were fixed on the photograph.
Samuel noticed.
His expression changed.
"That's interesting."
Henry looked at him.
"What?"
Samuel held the photograph lower.
Atlas stepped toward it.
He sniffed the air.
Then suddenly growled.
Not at Henry.
Not at Samuel.
At the photograph.
Samuel whispered,
"Your grandfather's secrets aren't finished with us yet."
