Chapter 8 - The Ultimatum
I stared at the glowing screen of my cell phone.
The text message simply said that the key belonged to me now.
I showed the message to the lead agent before he left the room.
He ran the number through his database and frowned deeply.
The message had been routed through multiple encrypted servers in Europe.
The agent told me the safe deposit box likely contained the master ledger for the entire syndicate.
Beatrice had dropped the key on purpose to pass the empire down to someone else.
The agent asked me to hand over the silver key immediately as federal evidence.
I reached my hand out to give him the key.
Suddenly, the lights in the ballroom completely shut off.
The room was plunged into total darkness.
I heard the sound of a scuffle and a heavy body hitting the floor.
The emergency backup lights flickered on a few seconds later.
The lead agent was lying unconscious on the carpet.
The silver key was completely gone from my hand.
I looked around the large room in a desperate panic.
The only other person left in the ballroom was Franklin Vance, my attorney.
He was standing near the exit doors with a cold smile on his face.
May you like
He held the silver key up to the emergency lights.
My own lawyer was the true architect of the entire criminal organization.
