Page 175 of Silent Target

Military graduations.

Families at parks and county fairs.

At first, they look harmless.

Then I turn over a photograph of a little girl sitting on her father’s shoulders.

A note is written across the back.

USE IF SUBJECT 184 REFUSES REASSIGNMENT.

My stomach turns.

“They kept records on the families.”

“Hostages,” Shark says.

“Leverage,” I correct.

A man might accept death for himself.

The First Circle threatened the people he loved until obedience looked like protection.

Caleb enters the vault.

Blood darkens his side again.

“What did you find?”

I hand him the photograph.

His jaw locks.

“They did this to our fathers.”

“Yes.”

His eyes move toward me.

“And they would have used you against mine.”

“Or you against mine.”

For one breath, we simply look at each other.

Then I notice a smaller cabinet against the far wall.

Its door requires a key.

But the lock is already open.

Inside rests a black leather journal embossed with three concentric circles.

Mac stops when he sees it.

“I know that book.”

“Whose is it?”