The Coffin Stops Moving
The key was small.
Old.
Made of brass.
There was no number on it.
No label.
No explanation.
Henry turned it over in his hand.
"What does this open?"
Samuel shook his head.
"I don't know."
"You don't?"
"Your grandfather gave me the envelope sealed."
Henry stared at him.
"Then how did you know about the key?"
"I didn't."
A sudden sound came from outside.
Atlas barked.
Henry immediately stood.
They rushed back toward the grave.
The coffin was still suspended.
The pallbearers had stopped.
Atlas was standing beneath it.
His nose pointed toward the coffin.
Titan was beside him.
Both dogs were completely focused.
Henry approached slowly.
"Atlas."
The dog didn't move.
Henry looked at the coffin.
"What do you smell?"
Samuel suddenly looked frightened.
"Move the coffin inside."
The military officer hesitated.
"Colonel?"
"Now."
The coffin was transported into a private preparation room.
Everyone except the family was asked to leave.
Henry stood beside Samuel.
"Why are we doing this?"
Samuel whispered,
"Because your grandfather may have hidden something."
"Inside the coffin?"
"I don't know."
The coffin was inspected.
Everything appeared normal.
The American flag.
The polished wood.
The handles.
The seals.
Nothing unusual.
Then Atlas approached.
He sniffed the lower corner.
He scratched the floor.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Henry looked down.
A small metallic object had fallen beneath the coffin.
He picked it up.
It was a military identification tag.
But it didn't belong to William Dawson.
The name was different.
**PRIVATE MICHAEL REED.**
Samuel's face became completely pale.
Henry looked at him.
"Who is Michael Reed?"
Samuel couldn't speak.
"Colonel?"
Finally, Samuel answered.
"My son."
Henry stared.
"Your son?"
Samuel nodded.
"He disappeared during the Black Ridge operation."
"But you said seven soldiers disappeared."
"Yes."
Henry looked at the tag.
"You said they were dead."
Samuel closed his eyes.
"I believed they were."
Atlas suddenly barked again.
This time toward Samuel.
Samuel looked at the dog.
And whispered,
"William found him."
Henry's heart began racing.
"Found who?"
Samuel looked toward the coffin.
"My son."
