At the center of the line stood a tall, broad-shouldered man with a trimmed white beard and steady posture. His name was Raymond “Ray” Hollowell, a retired Marine gunnery sergeant and one of Daniel Bennett’s closest friends for more than a decade. Officer Alicia Monroe approached first, her tone professional but measured. “What’s happening here tonight?” she asked.
Ray did not move from his position. “We’re standing watch,” he said evenly. “Watch for what?” His eyes remained on the house. “For anything that shouldn’t come near it.” The rain intensified, but no one stepped back. Tension thickened across Maplewood Avenue, and no one yet understood what this night was becoming.
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