My Parents Called Me At 2 A.M. On Christmas Eve Screaming For $20,000 …

emails.

But before I could check any of them, a call came through.

Unknown number.

Area code 702.

Las Vegas.

My stomach dropped.

Here we go, I thought. This is Dad calling from a burner phone.

I answered, ready to fight.

“Listen, Dad. I’m not—”

“Is this Mr. Joshua Hayes?”

The voice wasn’t my father’s. It was crisp, professional, and devoid of emotion.

I sat continue reading …