Chapter 21 - A Sinister Black Envelope Appears At The Gate
Late that night, long after the estate had fallen into absolute silence and the security floodlights illuminated the gated entrance, a soft metallic scrape echoed from the driveway.
I walked down the long stone pathway toward the grand wrought-iron security gates of our Austin property to investigate a motion sensor alert.
Resting on the stone pillar right beneath the intercom box was a plain black envelope sealed securely with a heavy blob of crimson wax.
There was no return address or postal mark, only an unfamiliar geometric silver crest stamped intricately into the wax.
I picked it up with a gloved hand, sliced open the heavy seal with a small letter opener, and unfolded the crisp cardstock note inside.
May you like
Scrawled across the paper in sharp, elegant silver ink was a chilling message that made my blood run instantly cold:
“Your family of thieves were merely minor distractions, David... the true financial syndicate that funded your overseas restaurant empire in the beginning is now calling in its long-overdue debt. We own everything you built, and we are coming to collect.”
