The dog scratched at it.
Marcus examined the lock.
It was newer than the surrounding fixtures.
Someone had recently replaced it.
Emily arrived behind them.
"That's the old basement entrance."
Marcus looked at her.
"Where does it lead?"
"To the former medical records archive."
General Brooks stepped forward.
"Open it."
A security officer tried the handle.
Locked.
Marcus looked at the small metal tag again.
09-17-0417.
He approached the electronic panel.
The numbers on the tag suddenly made sense.
He entered:
09170417.
The panel flashed green.
The door unlocked.
Emily stared.
"How did you know?"
Marcus looked at the tag.
"I didn't."
He pushed the door open.
"Christopher did."
Beyond the door, a long concrete staircase descended into darkness.
And somewhere below, a metal door slammed.
PART 4 — THE SECRET BENEATH ST. MARY'S
The basement smelled of dust, disinfectant, and damp concrete.
Emergency lights illuminated a narrow corridor.
Marcus moved first, holding Rex's leash loosely.
General Brooks followed with two security officers.
Emily stayed close behind them.
At the end of the corridor stood a large metal door.
A faded sign was attached to it.
MEDICAL RECORDS ARCHIVE — ACCESS RESTRICTED.
Marcus examined the keypad.
The screen displayed a message.
ENTER AUTHORIZED IDENTIFICATION.
He tried his military service number.
Access denied.
General Brooks entered his own credentials.
Access denied.
Emily tried her hospital identification.
Access denied.
Rex approached the door and pressed his nose against the lower edge.
He whined.
Marcus crouched beside him.
"What is it, boy?"
The dog scratched once.
Then twice.
Marcus examined the floor.
A small metal panel was embedded beneath the door.
He pulled it open.
Inside was a mechanical lock.
A narrow slot.
And a symbol engraved into the metal.
A circle crossed by a vertical line.
Marcus recognized it.
He had seen the same symbol on the first identification tag.
"General."
Brooks leaned closer.
"Where have you seen that before?"
"On Rex's first tag."
The general's face tightened.
"That's the original Sentinel insignia."
Marcus looked at him.
"You knew about it?"
"I knew it existed."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I believed the program had been shut down."
Marcus stared at the door.
"Apparently, someone forgot to tell the people working down here."
He inserted the metal tag into the slot.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a mechanical click sounded.
The door unlocked.
Inside was a large archive room.
Rows of metal cabinets lined the walls.
Old computers sat on desks beneath fluorescent lights.
Several cardboard boxes had been stacked near the back.
Marcus stepped inside.
Rex immediately moved toward the far corner.
He stopped beside a cabinet marked:
SENTINEL — ORIGINAL PERSONNEL RECORDS.
Marcus opened it.
The first folder contained the name of a soldier he recognized.
The second contained another.
The third was marked:
CHRISTOPHER COLE — HANDLER PROFILE.
Marcus opened it.
A photograph showed Christopher in uniform, standing beside Rex.
The dog looked younger.
His ears were upright.
His expression was bright.
Christopher was smiling.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
He hadn't seen his brother smile in six years.
He turned the page.
A list of assignments followed.
Then a medical transfer report.
Then a document titled:
SUBJECT TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION.
Marcus read the first line.
SUBJECT: CHRISTOPHER COLE.
STATUS: ACTIVE — PROTECTED CUSTODY.
His breathing stopped.
"Protected custody?"
General Brooks stepped closer.
"Let me see that."
Marcus handed him the document.
The general read it.
His face became pale.
"That's not a normal medical transfer."
"What does it mean?"
"It means Christopher was removed from the normal personnel system and placed under a restricted identity."
"Why?"
Brooks turned another page.
There was a signature.
COLONEL JAMES WHITAKER.
Marcus clenched his jaw.
"Whitaker signed this."
"Yes."
"Then he knew Christopher was alive."
Brooks nodded.