Brix, Eazee and Dan stood by the grave of Colonel Tom Lewis as the cemetery personnel began exhuming the coffin. Their intentions were to take the body back to Louisiana where the team would extract any possible tissue, bone, or other things.
It was a slow process to ensure that they didn’t damage the coffin. Since the grave was roughly only two years old, the contents should still be in relatively good condition.
When the casket was raised, the maintenance team gently set it on a riser and nodded to the men.
“We’ll leave you to it. Just call us when you’re ready for us to move it or bury it.”
“Thanks,” nodded Dan. “Man, I give those dudes credit. This is not a job I would want. I guess we open it and see what’s there.”
“Masks,” said Eazee, handing the men each a respirator. If something was done to the colonel, there was no telling if particles in the air could be harmful to the team.
Brix gently pried open the casket, careful to do as little damage as possible. When he was able to life the lid, he slowly pushed back and stared. Looking at the other two men, he stepped back.
“What the fuck is this?” asked Dan.
Inside the casket was nothing except a metal lock box. He took the lock box, pulling it out of the casket and set it on the hard, cold ground. Taking out his tools, he easily picked the lock.
“I wouldn’t open that if I were you,” said the deep baritone voice.
They heard the cocking of a gun and stopped. Dan stood, staring at the man in the leather bomber jacket. He was older but seemed incredibly fit. Dan looked from Brix to Eazee, then back at the man.
“Colonel Tom Lewis, I assume,” he said calmly. The old man eyed him, staring at the three men.
“Who the fuck are you and why are you digging in my grave?”
“I think the better question is, why aren’t you in your grave but we’ll skip over that for now. Your granddaughter would very much like to see you and I think she needs you.”
“Where is she?” he asked anxiously. “Where is April and answer my fucking question. Who are you?”
“Colonel, I think you can put the gun down. My name is Ethan Wolfkill but my friends call me Eazee. That’s Dan Robicheaux and the other man is Brixton Slater.”
The colonel dropped to his knees, the weapon now resting on one thigh. He was crying. Sobbing, actually.
“Sir? Sir, are you alright?” asked Dan.
“She found you. She found all of you.”
“I assume you mean April,” said Eazee. “Yes, she found us and she’s quite safe where she is but we’ve got some questions. Even more now.”
“The groundskeepers and grave diggers knew me. Hell, I’ve been here for more funerals than I’d like to count. They promised me that if anyone attempted to open my grave, they would notify me. I’ve actually been living in the old gardeners cottage.”
“You’ve been living in the cemetery?” frowned Brix. “Why? Why not find us from the start? I mean, it’s clear you knew about our organization. April told us that you told her to find us if she were in trouble. Why didn’t you just reach out to us?”
“I can explain everything but I think we need to leave this place. Others have been watching the grave as well. Take me to my granddaughter. Please.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Grandpa? Grandpa is that you? How? How are you here?” whispered April. Quinn immediately pulled her behind him, suspicious of the old man walking toward them.
“It’s me, honey. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry for all of this mess,” he said reaching out for her. Quinn was still holding her back and the old man stared at him, then laughed. “Well, I can see that you are in great hands and I had nothing to worry about.”
“Quinn, it’s alright. This is my grandfather, Colonel Tom Lewis.”
“Sir, it’s nice to meet you but forgive me for protecting your granddaughter from a man presumed dead.”
“No need to ask for forgiveness. I’m so grateful she found all of you. I’m not sure how, but I’m grateful.”
“Grandpa, how are you alive?” asked April.
