CHAPTER 3 – The Secret Behind the Fire
The sirens grew louder, painting the alley in flashes of red and blue.
Noah clutched the old photograph against his chest while Rex stood in front of him, still growling at the hooded man.
Two police officers rushed in.
“Drop the knife!”
The attacker slowly let it fall.
But his eyes stayed locked on Noah.
“You have your father’s eyes,” he said softly. “That’s why they’re scared of you.”
Noah’s voice shook.
“Who killed my dad?”
The man smiled.
“Not the fire.”
Noah stopped breathing.
Everyone had told him the same story for six months.
A gas leak.
An accident.
A tragedy.
But now, the man in the alley was saying it had been murder.
One officer grabbed him, forcing his hands behind his back. But as they dragged him toward the police car, the man twisted his head back and shouted one final warning.
“Ask about Project Black Collar!”
The officers froze.
Just for half a second.
But Rex noticed.
So did Noah.
Later that night, at the station, a kind detective gave Noah dry clothes and hot chocolate. Her name was Detective Mara Wells, and unlike everyone else, she didn’t look at Rex like a monster.
She looked at him like a witness.
Mara placed the photograph on the table.
“Your father was not just a firefighter, Noah.”
Noah blinked.
“He wasn’t?”
She lowered her voice.
“He was an investigator. And Rex… was assigned to protect him.”
Noah looked at the dog beside him.
Rex rested his head on Noah’s knee.
Then Detective Mara opened a dusty file.
Inside was a burned report, a list of names…
And one name circled in red.
May you like
Noah’s uncle.
The only family member who had offered to take him in.
