Chapter 9 - THE ULTIMATUM
A small speaker built into the side of the digital timer suddenly crackled to life with high-pitched static.
Chloe’s arrogant, amused voice echoed through the cold basement, amplified through the tiny speaker.
"Merry Christmas, Margaret," Chloe sneered through the radio link, her voice dripping with sadistic satisfaction.
"You thought you were so clever with your white envelope and your secret bank records," Chloe mocked.
"Chloe, stop this madness right now! You're going to kill twenty-five people!" David roared into the dark room.
"I don't care about the twenty-five leech relatives, David! I only want what is rightfully mine!" Chloe fired back.
"In forty-three minutes, the propane gas will completely fill the house... one single spark from a phone will blow this mansion to pieces," she warned.
"What do you want, Chloe?" Margaret asked, her voice remaining entirely flat and unbothered by the deadly threat.
"I want you to sign the property deed over to me digitally using the tablet I left on the kitchen counter," Chloe demanded.
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"And once you upload the signed deed to the county registry, I will remotely unlock the exterior shutters," Chloe added with a sinister chuckle.
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