Page 171 of Silent Target

Three concentric circles are carved across its surface.

Victor’s blood marks the floor beside it.

Evie joins Mac.

“They’ve spent decades murdering anyone who came close to this room.”

Rook looks at the team. “We aren’t leaving without opening it.”

A heavy impact shakes the hidden corridor behind us.

Victor has returned.

Cobra looks toward the breach.

“He brought company.”

Rook points toward the vault. “Mac, open it.”

“I don’t know how.”

“You remembered the tunnel.”

“That was different.”

Another impact sends cracks through the weakened wall.

Mac’s gaze drops to three circular plates set into the floor.

He becomes still.

“The pledge.”

“What?” Fathom asks.

“The Chairman used to say power is never trusted to one man.”

Mac kneels and brushes dust from the plates.

“The Chairman, the Warden, and an administrator opened the vault together.”

“Weight sensors,” Fathom says. “Mechanical. Nothing for me to hack.”

“We need three people,” Mac replies.

Rook steps onto the center plate.

I take the outer.

Shark stands on the inner.

Nothing happens.

Mac stares at the circles. “The sequence.”

Fathom examines the wear on the plates.

“The outer ring has the deepest markings.”