The Night Captain Dawson Disappeared
Henry searched the cemetery security footage.
The unknown elderly man appeared on camera.
He entered at 1:17 p.m.
He stood near the memorial wall.
Then he looked directly toward William's coffin.
He stayed there for four minutes.
Then he left.
Henry enlarged the image.
Samuel stood beside him.
"Do you recognize him?"
Samuel shook his head.
"No."
Then he stopped.
"Wait."
"What?"
Samuel leaned closer.
"I've seen that face."
"Where?"
Samuel pointed to an old photograph.
The man appeared in the background.
The photograph had been taken twenty years earlier.
Black Ridge.
Henry's heart began racing.
"Who is he?"
Samuel searched his memory.
"His name was Edward Mason."
"Was?"
"He was listed as missing."
Henry stared at the screen.
"So he survived."
Samuel nodded.
"But why would he come to William's funeral?"
The answer came later that night.
Henry returned home.
The house was dark.
He turned on the lights.
Nothing seemed wrong.
Then Atlas suddenly began barking at the front door.
Henry opened it.
Nobody was there.
But something had been left on the porch.
A small military envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
William standing beside Edward Mason.
On the back was written:
**HE KNEW THE TRUTH.**
Henry's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice whispered,
"Your grandfather was murdered."
Henry froze.
"Who is this?"
"You need to stop asking questions."
"Who are you?"
The caller paused.
Then said:
"The dogs were protecting the wrong thing."
The line went dead.
Henry stared at the phone.
Atlas suddenly growled.
Titan moved beside him.
Both dogs were staring toward the backyard.
Someone was standing beyond the fence.
