Page 124 of Silent Target

She stiffens in surprise.

Then holds me just as tightly.

“I’m all right,” she whispers.

I pull back enough to see her face.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

“I’ll add it to the list.”

The mountain trembles.

The underground train is gaining speed.

Fathom checks the rail schematics.

“There’s an interception point half a mile ahead.”

“How do we reach it?” Rook asks.

Evie points toward a maintenance vehicle sitting beside the tracks.

Caleb’s father was murdered by the First Circle.

Hers may have been too.

And the man who ordered both deaths is escaping with the only drive capable of identifying him.

I take Evie’s hand.

This time, I don’t release it.

“After this,” she says.

I look toward the tunnel swallowing the train.

“After we catch him.”

The maintenance vehicle roars to life.

And Shadow Division races into the darkness after the Chairman.

26

CALEB

The maintenance vehicle shudders as Rook pushes it to full speed.

Its small electric motor whines beneath us, struggling to gain on the train disappearing into the tunnel ahead.

Red emergency lights flash across the concrete walls.

Light.

Darkness.

Light.