Chapter 9: The Memory Rex Carried
The room stayed silent after the voice disappeared.
Nia looked at Rex.
The dog stood perfectly still.
Almost like he was listening for something beyond human hearing.
Daniel stared at him.
“Why would they say that?””
Nobody answered.
Because they all had the same thought.
Rex wasn’t just part of the mystery.
Rex was the key.
Arthur touched the side of the photograph wall.
“My son trusted that dog with his life.””
Daniel nodded.
“He saved mine.””
Nia looked at him.
“Tell me what happened.””
Daniel looked away.
The question had followed him for years.
Now he finally had nowhere left to run.
“We were on a mission.””
Marissa watched him carefully.
Daniel continued.
“Something went wrong.””
“How wrong?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Everyone on the team was reported dead.””
Arthur closed his eyes.
“But you weren’t.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at Rex.
“Because Rex found me.””
The dog walked closer.
Daniel placed a hand on his head.
“I was injured. I couldn’t move. I thought I was going to die there.””
His voice lowered.
“Then Rex came back.””
Nia listened.
“He ignored the extraction order.””
Daniel looked at Marissa.
“Someone tried to leave him behind.””
Marissa looked away.
“Because they knew.””
Nia caught it.
“Knew what?””
Daniel answered.
“That Rex had seen something.””
Arthur frowned.
“A dog saw something?””
Daniel nodded.
“Something people were willing to kill for.””
He walked toward the photographs.
Stopped at one.
It showed Rex beside him.
But in the background was the same hidden commander.
“The mission wasn’t what they told us.””
Nia looked at the picture.
“What was it?””
Daniel’s expression darkened.
“We weren’t protecting information.””
“Then what?””
Daniel looked at her.
“We were protecting the person who stole it.””
Marissa closed her eyes.
“Daniel.””
“No.””
He turned toward her.
“No more lies.””
The room became tense.
Nia stepped between them.
“Both of you explain.””
Marissa sighed.
“The mission involved a military intelligence operation.””
“And?””
“The operation uncovered evidence of corruption.””
Daniel nodded.
“Inside our own system.””
Arthur stared.
“Your own people?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
The silence was enough.
Nia looked at the photographs.
“And the commander?””
Daniel pointed.
“He was the one who found out first.””
Marissa whispered:
“Captain Elijah Reed.””
Nia looked at the picture.
“And he died?””
Daniel nodded.
“That’s what I was told.””
A sudden sound interrupted them.
A soft electronic beep.
Everyone turned.
The old phone from earlier had appeared on the desk.
But nobody had placed it there.
Nia stared.
“How did that get here?””
Nobody knew.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Daniel reached for it.
Nia stopped him.
“Wait.””
He looked at her.
“You said it yourself. They want us to answer.””
Daniel picked up the receiver.
The same voice returned.
“You’re getting closer.””
Daniel tightened his grip.
“Where is Captain Reed?””
A pause.
Then:
“You already know.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“No.””
The voice continued.
“Look at the photograph behind you.””
Slowly, everyone turned.
Nia looked at the wall.
At the newest picture.
The one taken yesterday.
Daniel walked closer.
His breathing stopped.
Because standing beside him and Rex in the photograph…
Was Captain Elijah Reed.
Older.
Alive.
Arthur whispered:
“Your commander survived too.””
Daniel couldn’t speak.
The voice on the phone continued.
“Now you understand.””
Nia looked at Daniel.
“Understand what?””
The voice answered.
“That the dead are not the ones who disappeared.””
The call ended.
Daniel dropped the phone.
Rex suddenly ran toward the exit.
Nia grabbed the leash.
“What is he doing?””
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
His face filled with shock.
“He found him.””
“Who?””
Daniel whispered:
“Elijah.””
They followed Rex out of the room.
The dog moved faster than before.
Past the empty corridor.
Past Gate D24.
Toward a service elevator at the end of the terminal.
The elevator doors were already open.
Waiting.
Nia stopped.
“Someone called it.””
Daniel looked inside.
On the floor was another faded photograph.
Arthur picked it up.
His hands began shaking.
Because this time, the picture showed three people.
Daniel.
Rex.
And Captain Elijah Reed.
But behind them stood a fourth person.
Someone everyone thought had died.
Someone Arthur recognized instantly.
He whispered:
“No…”
Nia looked at him.
“Who is it?””
Arthur turned the photograph over.
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Written on the back were five words:
*THE FIRST PERSON THEY BURIED.*
