Chapter 21 - A Sinister Black Letter Arrives At The Gate
Late that afternoon, after the security detail completed their sweep of the Brookline grounds, a soft knock echoed from the front foyer.
Iris Bell opened the heavy oak door, finding an empty porch bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.
Resting on the welcome mat was a plain black envelope sealed with an unfamiliar crimson wax stamp.
Iris brought it into the study, placing it silently on the mahogany desk between Gideon and me.
There was no return address or postal mark, only an intricate silver geometric crest pressed into the wax.
Gideon sliced open the heavy seal with a letter opener, unfolding a crisp sheet of black cardstock inside.
May you like
Scrawled across the paper in elegant, chilling silver ink was a message that made the room temperature drop instantly:
“Julian Vance was merely a foot soldier in our grand design, Gideon... the true debt Boston owes has not yet been paid. We are coming for your new secretary next.”
