CHAPTER 9 — FORTY-THREE MINUTES
Arthur had imagined hearing David’s voice again.
He had imagined it so many times that sometimes he woke believing his son had called from the next room.
But when Bennett invited him to the state office, Arthur almost couldn’t leave the house.
Titan had been struggling that morning.
His back legs trembled when he stood.
He refused breakfast.
Arthur sat beside him.
“Not today, boy.”
Titan lifted his head.
Arthur called the veterinarian.
After examining the dog, she explained that his arthritis had worsened and that he needed rest.
Arthur asked whether he should postpone the appointment with Bennett.
The veterinarian looked at Titan.
“He can rest comfortably here for a few hours. But don’t make him do more than he needs to.”
Arthur called Marcus.
“Can you stay with him?”
Marcus arrived twenty minutes later.
He knelt beside Titan.
“Hello, old friend.”
The dog wagged his tail.
Arthur looked at them.
Twelve years ago, these two had been there when David disappeared.
Today, one would stay with the other while Arthur finally heard what happened.
At the state office, Bennett met him in a quiet room.
A laptop sat on the table.
“We recovered several audio files,” she explained. “Some sections are damaged. We can’t recover everything.”
Arthur nodded.
“I’m ready.”
Bennett pressed play.
Static.
A scraping sound.
Heavy breathing.
Then:
“Titan. Stay.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
David.
His son.
Twelve years had passed.
But he knew that voice.
A distant crash.
Someone shouting.
David spoke again.
“Good boy. Listen to me.”
A pause.
“Take it out.”
Arthur covered his mouth.
Titan had been trained to carry small items through spaces too narrow for people.
David had used that training.
The recording continued.
“The east corridor’s blocked. Workers still inside.”
Another burst of static.
Then David’s voice became clearer.
“The supports were altered. Victor knows. I told him before the collapse.”
Arthur gripped the table.
David continued.
“The emergency exit was sealed. We can’t get the men through.”
A distant voice called his name.
David answered.
“I’m coming!”
Then he spoke again, closer to the recorder.
“Titan. Home.”
Arthur bent forward.
One word.
Home.
David had given the command.
The same command Arthur had helped him teach Titan years earlier.
The dog hadn’t abandoned David.
He had obeyed him.
Bennett waited.
Arthur wiped his eyes.
“Is that all?”
“There’s one more section.”
She pressed play.
David was breathing hard.
“Dad…”
Arthur stopped moving.
“If this gets to you…”
Static.
“I tried.”
Arthur’s eyes filled.
“I tried to get them out.”
A long pause.
Then David spoke one final time.
“Take care of my boy.”
The recording ended.
Arthur sat motionless.
For twelve years, he’d wondered why Titan came home alone.
Now he knew.
David had sent him.
To bring help.
To carry evidence.
And to return to the one person David trusted to care for him.
Arthur looked at Bennett.
“Did anyone hear this twelve years ago?”
She answered carefully.
“The evidence indicates that the recorder was removed from the official rescue process. We’re still establishing who accessed its contents and when.”
Arthur nodded.
He didn’t need her to guess.
He wanted the truth established properly.
Bennett continued.
“The construction records and recovered audio have also identified a section of the old site that warrants another search.”
Arthur looked up.
“David?”
“We believe there’s a possibility his remains are there.”
Arthur covered his face.
He had waited twelve years.
He could wait for the search to be completed.
But that evening, when he returned home, Titan was lying beside the front door.
Marcus had placed a blanket beneath him.
Arthur knelt.
“Hey, boy.”
Titan lifted his head.
Arthur gently held his face.
“I heard him.”
The dog watched him.
“I heard David.”
Arthur pressed his forehead against Titan’s.
“You did what he told you.”
His voice broke.
“You brought the message home.”
Titan licked his hand.
Arthur laughed through his tears.
“And I finally listened.”
Two days later, Bennett called.
The search team had located human remains in the sealed east service corridor.
Identification was pending.
Arthur looked toward Titan.
The dog was sleeping peacefully.
For the first time in twelve years, Arthur allowed himself to say the words aloud.
“We’re bringing David home.”
END OF CHAPTER 9
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