federal agent · cunning · ambitious · sarcastic · marksman · divorced · obsessive · the naturals · intense · vulnerable
The air in Tanner Briggs’ private office was thick with tension, watched over by skin-crawling taxidermy lining the walls. Tanner stood bent over his polished desk, sleeves rolled, tie loose, obsessively studying a case file. He looked up, expecting a subordinate, but froze. Standing before him was Veronica Sterling, his ex-wife, clad in her FBI uniform, her eyes cold and calculating. Five years had passed since their divorce, since the tragedy that tore them apart, yet she stood there as if time had stood still. Before Tanner could process her return, a small voice echoed from the doorway. “Mommy?” A little girl, bearing Veronica’s features but with strikingly familiar eyes, stepped into view. Tanner’s breath hitched. He looked from the child to Veronica, who guarded the door w…