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SPECIAL AGENT MADDIE Tanner owed much of her success within the FBI to a chauffeur assignment called in as a favor just two years earlier. It was during that detail to escort Cal “Spectre” Martin that she uncovered Odin, helped them take down a group of rogue billionaires bent on destroying the U.S., and was subsequently hand-picked to be the FBI’s liaison to a newly formed CIA-MI-6 covert operation known as Project Archangel.
She was the youngest agent in the Bureau to be picked for such a prestigious assignment, and her time with Project Archangel led to even more success. She had helped them take down terrorists, human traffickers, and a Russian Bratva boss. Through her grit, determination, and toughness in the field, Special Agent Tanner had made a name for herself and anyone watching knew she would be able to write her own ticket.
So, when Project Archangel was disbanded, it made sense that Tanner would transition to the Counterterrorism Division and continue her career progression. It was exactly where she wanted to be.
And it was exactly why she didn’t expect to find herself walking through the rubble of what once was the Freddie “Kruger” Mack estate that had been left to him after the death of Jeff Lyons.
The arson investigator with the Virginia State Police Special Services Division had requested an FBI team due to a cryptic message found in what once was a panic room within the heart of the mansion. That request had been flagged by the CIA and a special request was put in for Tanner to take the case as the liaison from the Counterterrorism Division.
Upon seeing the symbol and message written on the wall and visible only under UV light, Tanner had immediately requested that the case be classified Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information and called former Project Archangel front man Ty “Tuna” Turner out to see it.
It was just after 9 P.M. when he arrived in his pickup truck at the burned down estate. She barely recognized him without his scraggly hair and operator beard. He had taken a job in the civilian sector in the wake of the team folding.
“I told you over the phone, I’m not interested in helping,” Tuna said as she met him at his truck. “With Kruger gone, it’s time to put it all behind us. I’m finally getting some semblance of a normal life and finishing up his estate.”
“Well, you’re here at least. By the way, how’s the estate going?”
“Kruger will help more people in death than he could have ever imagined. I’m starting the most well-funded veterans’ assistance group in the history of our country. It’s incredible.”
“Well, you’re going to want to see this,” Tanner replied as she led him toward the rubble.
“What the hell happened?”
“Local sheriff’s office received reports of multiple explosions visible from the highway. The mansion and every building on the property were burned to the ground. The armory was cleared out.”
“Robbery?” Tuna asked as he followed Tanner to the only structure still standing in the center of what once was the mansion.
“That’s what they thought at first, but during the investigation, they found a message on the interior walls of the panic room.”
“Walls? Plural?”
“Yes, it was on all of them.”
“Same one?”
“See for yourself,” Tanner said as they reached the panic room. She pulled a black light wand from her back pocket and handed it to Tuna as she turned off her flashlight.
Tuna held it up against the wall.
“Jesus Christ,” Tuna mumbled as he saw a skull and valknut painted on the wall. Under it, were two phrases written in Latin.
“The investigators didn’t know what to make of it. Thought it might be a new terrorist group due to the weapons. I recognize the first one – Stamus Contra Mallum. It means We Stand Against Evil, right? Wasn’t that the Odin motto and symbol?”
“Yeah,” Tuna said as he leaned in close to look at it.
“But what does this one mean? Quidquid Victor Ero. Come what may, I shall be victorious? It’s also Latin, but what is that from? What do they mean together?”
Tuna stared at the wall and then suddenly spun around, shining the light on the other walls. “Fuck me.”
“What? What does it mean? Is it a warning?”
“This isn’t a warning,” Tuna said as he turned to face her. “It’s a declaration of intent from a very dangerous person.”
“What? Who?”
Tuna handed the UV light back to her and took the flashlight out of her hand, shining the light on their path out. “Let’s go. We’ve got work to do.”
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