Chapter 3: The Purple Envelope’s Secret

"He left when you weren’t here," my assistant said, handing me a purple envelope that glowed faintly, sealed with some kind of charm. "He told me to give this to you, no one else."

The envelope felt heavier than it should, cool and smooth in my hand. The seal shimmered, casting weird shadows on the desk. I tucked it into my jacket, trying to hide how rattled I was.

I took the envelope, glanced at the seal, but couldn’t make heads or tails of it. I shoved it away, figuring I’d look later in my office—when I heard heavy boots coming down the hall. Thud, thud, thud.

The sound echoed down the hallway, getting closer with every step. My gut twisted. I thought about running, but I stood my ground, bracing for whatever came next.

I stood up to greet them, but my doorway was already blocked by county deputies and marshals. My old man, Sheriff Lucas Nash, stood front and center, brow knotted up as he looked at me.

He looked older than I remembered, lines cut deep into his face. The badge on his chest caught the light, shining like a warning. Made my stomach clench.

"Son, have you seen Preacher Sam Walker?" His voice was rough, but there was something desperate underneath. I knew better than to lie, but I wasn’t about to give up everything, either.

I told the truth—left out the envelope, though. My words came out awkward, halting. I tried to keep my face blank, hoping he wouldn’t push.

The sheriff didn’t press me. He just fixed me with a hard stare and said, "Son, if you see Sam Walker again, don’t hesitate. You bring him in, dead or alive."

The words hit like a hammer—heavy, final. I’d never heard my dad sound so cold. For a second, I wondered if he even saw me standing there.

"Why, Dad?" I blurted, stunned. My voice cracked. This wasn’t the kind of order you gave lightly—not in Silver Hollow.

He looked scared, hands trembling. "He stole the mayor’s treasure—there’s no coming back from that, not in a hundred lifetimes... If you see him, don’t call it in, just do what needs to be done."

His hands shook, and for the first time, I saw how afraid he was. Whatever Sam Walker did, it was bigger than any of us.

I just stood there, floored. Was it really that serious?

I replayed his words over and over. The room shrank around me, the walls closing in. I’d always thought law was about justice, but this—this was something else. Something darker.

Back when I broke the church’s stained glass, the worst I got was a month of community service. But this? He’d be erased for good. No second chances.

That memory flashed—scrubbing floors, painting over graffiti, the quiet pride of penance and forgiveness. But this wasn’t about forgiveness. It was about erasure, pure and simple.

Every lawman in the county was out for blood, but even Sam Walker couldn’t stand against all of them. I saw it myself—he got cornered. Every badge and preacher came down on him, shattering his faith and his body.

The manhunt was relentless—sirens wailing, radios crackling, boots pounding the dirt. Sam fought like a man possessed. But he was just one man against an army. The sight of him—broken, surrounded by people he once called friends—would haunt me forever.

At the end, he didn’t look at me. He just let out a howl that echoed to the sky. It cut through everything—raw and primal. A cry of pain, of loss, of something deeper than words could ever reach.

"Brother!"

The word rang out, sharp as a gunshot. The world froze. For a second, nobody moved. Nobody breathed.

After he shouted, I looked at the Monkey—now Preacher Nate—standing beside me. He was stone-faced as he stepped forward and, with one blow, ended Sam Walker’s suffering. Nate’s face was unreadable, his eyes cold and distant. He moved like a man with a job to do, nothing more. When it was over, he just stood there, silent. The quiet after was suffocating. Only a siren wailed somewhere far away.

For two days after, I couldn’t sleep. I kept staring at that purple envelope, a sick feeling growing in my gut. This had to be the treasure Sam Walker stole. What else could it be?

Sleep came in fits and starts—dreams of fire and blood. The envelope pulsed on my nightstand, like it had its own heartbeat, daring me to open it, to face whatever truth was inside.

My assistant stuck by me. Even after the sheriff grilled him, he kept the secret. Never breathed a word, not even under pressure. Loyalty like that’s rare. I owed him.

Why did Sam give this to me? What did he want? The question gnawed at me, wouldn’t let go. I kept turning the envelope over in my hands, searching for answers in the swirl of that strange seal.

I stared at the purple seal, lost. The glow shifted in the lamplight, hinting at secrets just out of reach. I felt like a kid again, staring at a puzzle I couldn’t solve.

The seal was clearly Sam’s handiwork. Maybe he wanted to leave a clue, something only I’d pick up on. He was always clever, always three steps ahead. Maybe this was his way of leaving a trail.

What was he trying to say? I whispered the question into the empty room, hoping for a sign. Nothing. Just silence.

Not much tied me to that honest preacher. On our journey together, he was always steady, never once complained. Suddenly, I remembered his dying cry. It hit me hard. Sam had always been the rock, the one who kept us moving when things got rough. I realized I’d never thanked him for that.

"Brother!"

The word echoed in my mind, louder now. Not just a plea—a command, a promise, a bond you couldn’t break. It stuck with me.

But he must’ve known his brother wouldn’t save him—his brother was a preacher now, above all this. Nate had picked a different road, one that didn’t leave room for old loyalties. Maybe Sam knew that. Maybe it broke his heart.

Or maybe, that shout wasn’t for him. The thought flickered, wild and strange. What if Sam’s last cry wasn’t for Nate at all?

A thought hit me and I trembled all over. Maybe that shout was meant for me?

My hands shook as I held the envelope, the weight of it settling heavy on my shoulders. Was I the brother he meant? Had I missed my chance to save him?