Judge Junker sat up late at night, sipping on a mug of coffee, poring over case files submitted to his office by the secret police regarding a mysterious organization known as the Knights of the Unseen. Allegedly, they were a secret society forming a core part of the underground "Sacred Homeland movement," which had been in the papers for a string of political assassinations, and which had lately become Junker's main problem. Just the day before he had sentenced two men to death for the assassination of the socialist agitator Karl Rostov. When interrogated, these men gave away a lot of information about the Sacred Homeland, but unfortunately no names. They spoke of the Knights with hushed reverence.

The letters on Junker's desk from the agent known as SK represented a breakthrough in the case of the Knights. SK had managed to befriend an associate of the Knights who had proved open to suggestion and answered a number of questions about the their organization and personnel before cutting contact. Junker studied these answers with fascination.

Little did Junker know, he himself was being studied with fascination. A man was standing behind him, totally motionless, breathing so slowly and serenely that he was virtually silent. Neither Junker nor his wife had heard the man enter the front door, walk through the drawing room, go up the stairs, enter the door to the study, and walk up to the judge's couch.

The man read alongside Junker.

Gunther also told me about some of the people the Knights have to take care of "security." The person in charge is someone going by the name Hoffman. A very charismatic and gentlemanly individual, Gunther says, and a portrait of Germanic perfection. "A gigantic blond beast, but one with impeccable manners and conversational skills." Apparently he was a captain in the East. I've pulled some military files and I have a few candidates, though I can't be sure Gunther's story isn't exaggerated at all.

He also told me about a strange man named Scholz. Gunther says Scholz gives him the creeps. He's like Hoffman's weird little pet. Nobody really knows him, but the other Knights sometimes call him "the angel of death." If you want someone gone, no strings attached, he's your man. He moves like a ghost and nobody ever sees him coming. I'd reckon that, whoever this guy is, he's probably behind the Maercker murders last month, among others. Unfortunately, Gunther didn't seem to know anything else about him.

Junker's wife pattered down the hallway with a giant mug of coffee and opened the door to the study to see her husband sitting on the couch, reading with such intense concentration that he hadn't heard her enter.

"I brought you some more coffee."

Junker was stirred and he rose to greet his wife. "Oh, thank you, Maria." He took the mug from her hands and set it down on the coffee table. He kissed her and embraced her tenderly. "I love you!"

"You're working so much. Come to bed soon, dear."

"I will, but I'm not sure I can sleep. This whole thing is a nightmare."

"Who is-"

Maria's neck was suddenly wide open. A torrent burst forth and dyed the front of her white dress a deep crimson as she fell back away from her husband. Junker began to turn around and saw the shadow of a man in the lamplight, but his heart was pierced before he could see its caster. His body fell forward and he landed beside his wife, seizing briefly and then going limp.

The man drifted out of the study, down the stairs, and back outside into the cold night. He snuck past the servants' quarters, the guest house, and into the alleyway behind the estate. He greeted the driver of a black car and then climbed into the passenger's seat.

"They're all dead?" asked the driver.

"Yes. The judge and his wife. And the secret police sniper posted across the street."

The driver laughed. "The angel of death strikes again! Excellent work, Scholz."

"Thank you, captain."

Hoffman started the car and made to take the long way to drop off Scholz at his apartment, keeping an eye in the rearview for anyone who might be tailing them.

"You know that guy Gunther's been talking to? The one calling himself Steiner?"

"Yeah."

"He's an agent. Gunther told him about us."

"Ah. What did he say?"

"Nothing all that interesting. He called you a 'gigantic blond beast.'"

Hoffman laughed heartily. "Well that's nice of him. Did he use anyone's real name?"

"No. I don't think he knows any."

"Good. Did he mention our oracle?"

"I didn't see anything about that."

"Alright. Let's not worry about him for now then. I'll make sure he knows he's being watched. I presume you want to pay Steiner a visit though?"

"Yeah. Make a turn up here and head west. He lives in the Karlsruhe district."