Chapter 26 - The Name Bennett Never Expected
The room froze.
Detective Laura Bennett did not lower her weapon, but her expression changed.
"My grandfather?" she repeated.
Samuel's calm voice echoed from the hallway.
"Arthur Bennett."
Laura's breathing slowed.
"You knew him?"
"I knew every person whose family entered Project Raven."
Officer Ramirez glanced at Laura.
"Detective..."
She slowly shook her head.
"My grandfather died before I was born."
Samuel laughed softly.
"That is what your family was told."
Michael stepped forward.
"If you're telling the truth, come inside."
Several seconds passed.
Then an elderly man appeared in the doorway.
He looked to be nearly eighty years old.
His gray beard reached the collar of his worn coat.
He leaned heavily on a carved wooden cane.
Most striking of all...
He walked with the same limp described years earlier by Mrs. Lawson.
Every tactical officer aimed their weapons.
Samuel remained perfectly calm.
"I've spent thirty years avoiding people with guns."
"You'll forgive me if I'm not impressed."
Detective Bennett stared at him.
"Who are you really?"
Samuel reached into his coat.
Dozens of rifles clicked off safety.
He slowly removed an old leather wallet.
Inside was a faded black-and-white photograph.
Arthur Bennett.
James Turner.
Helen as a teenager.
Daniel.
Victor Hale.
And Samuel himself.
Standing together.
Laura carefully accepted the photograph.
On the back someone had written:
The Seven Guardians.
"There were only five people," Michael observed.
Samuel nodded.
"Two are missing."
"Who?"
Samuel looked directly at him.
"The two who never wanted Project Raven to end."
He pointed toward the photograph.
"Your father was trying to destroy it."
"So was Arthur Bennett."
Laura felt her knees weaken.
"My grandfather helped stop it?"
"For a while."
"What happened?"
Samuel's eyes darkened.
"They trusted the wrong man."
Michael immediately asked,
"Daniel?"
Samuel slowly shook his head.
"No."
"The man you should fear..."
May you like
"...has never appeared in a single photograph."
---
