CHAPTER 2 The Secret Hidden Inside the Pendant
General Marcus slowly walked across the silent range while security officers stepped aside without question. Every competitor, spectator, and television camera followed him as he stopped in front of Noah.
"What is your name, son?"
"Noah Carter."
The answer caused Governor Richard Hale, watching from the VIP platform, to visibly flinch.
Marcus's attention remained fixed on the pendant resting in Noah's hand.
It was old.
Scratched.
Marked with a faded military crest.
On the back were three simple words.
Hold the line.
Marcus quietly repeated the phrase before Noah even turned the pendant over.
"Who gave this to you?"
"My father."
"What was his name?"
Noah hesitated before answering.
"He told me never to say his real name unless someone recognized the pendant."
Marcus slowly nodded.
"I recognize it."
The boy looked directly into his eyes.
"He called himself Eli."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Governor Richard hurried down from the platform.
"My brother..."
The crowd gasped.
Richard explained that Noah's father had once been known as Elias Hale, Marcus's son and one of the greatest military marksmen ever trained. Three years earlier Elias had disappeared after uncovering corruption involving private defense contracts connected to the shooting range.
Ryan immediately dismissed the story as nonsense.
Marcus calmly replied,
"I never accused you."
Ryan froze.
Too late.
Everyone had seen his reaction.
When officials examined the rifle Noah had used, they discovered the scope had been deliberately misaligned. Yet Noah had instinctively corrected the error exactly as his father had once been trained to do.
Marcus looked directly at Ryan.
"Someone wanted to know whether this boy was really Elias's son."
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Security officers immediately detained one of the competitors who had kicked Noah's bucket earlier. Inside the rifle case they discovered a sealed envelope addressed to only three words.
For My Son.
