Page 179 of Silent Target

One sentence is underlined twice.

DESTROY CONFIDENCE. NATIONS COLLAPSE ON THEIR OWN.

Silence spreads through the vault.

The Chairman didn’t want to invade countries.

He wanted their citizens to stop trusting elections, courts, militaries, banks, and one another.

After that, the nations would tear themselves apart.

Mac sinks into a chair.

“I helped build this.”

His voice breaks.

“I approved budgets and construction requests. I told myself I didn’t know enough to object.”

“You didn’t pull the trigger,” Rook says.

“I enabled the men who did.”

“You walked away.”

“After people died.”

Rook crouches in front of him.

He doesn’t offer forgiveness.

Doesn’t tell him his guilt is misplaced.

“Then make today count.”

Mac looks at him.

Slowly, he nods.

“I will.”

The barricade shifts inward.

Victor’s silhouette appears through the fractured concrete.

Cobra raises his weapon. “We need another exit.”

“There isn’t one,” Mac says.

Then his eyes move toward an old cabinet bolted against the wall.

A decision passes across his face.

“Yes, there is.”

He crosses the vault and reaches beneath the cabinet.

A hidden lever releases.