Page 137 of Silent Target

Evie sits back on her heels.

The tendons in her neck tighten as she stares at the dead man.

The First Circle killed him long before the poison stopped his heart.

It trained him to believe death was preferable to truth.

Shark searches the body.

“No identification. His fingerprints have been burned away.”

Mac touches the silver coin.

“The Inner Guard.”

Fathom checks the evidence case.

His expression changes.

“The seventh drive stopped moving.”

“Disconnected?” Rook asks.

“No. The connection transferred again.”

“Where?”

Fathom turns the screen.

The signal is no longer ahead of us.

It’s behind.

Far above.

Back inside the command bunker.

Mac looks toward Specter.

“He wasn’t trying to kill Evie.”

My gaze drops to the dead sniper.

“He was keeping us here.”

The Chairman used the train as bait.

Used Specter as a delay.

While we chased both, the seventh drive never left the bunker.

The speakers hidden inside the tunnel crackle.

The older voice returns.

“Congratulations, Mr. McDougal.”

I rise slowly.