Chapter 22 - SHADOWS IN ASPEN
By late autumn, snow began falling over the mountains of Aspen, Colorado.
Inside a secluded luxury ski chalet, a tall man in a dark tailored coat stood staring into a roaring fireplace.
A sleek black smartphone sat on the glass coffee table beside him, vibrating continuously.
He picked up the phone, swiping the screen to accept the encrypted satellite connection.
"Is the Montgomery baby still protected by federal detail?" the man asked in a deep, refined voice.
"Yes, Sir," a voice answered through the speaker. "Detective Reese has six armed guards on the Connecticut estate twenty-four hours a day."
"Good," the man smiled darkly into the firelight. "Let her feel safe for a little longer."
He turned around, revealing a silver ring on his finger stamped with the crest of the European Syndicate.
"Did Charles Sterling give up the secondary vault codes before his transfer to federal prison?" he asked.
"No, Sir. Charles took the secondary codes to his grave," the caller reported.
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The man paused, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean 'his grave'?"
"Charles Sterling was found dead in his cell twenty minutes ago," the voice revealed softly.
