Page 192 of Silent Target

Nine minutes, fifty-two seconds.

We stopped the evidence from being erased.

Now the First Circle intends to bury it with us.

43

CALEB

Nine minutes.

The numbers burn across Fathom’s screen.

Nine minutes to stop the transfer.

Reach the control room.

Escape the mountain.

Mac studies the demolition warning.

“They armed charges throughout the foundation.”

“Can you disarm them?” Reef asks.

“No. They’re independent circuits. Once the sequence begins, each section detonates on its own.”

Rook nods. “Then the mission remains the same.”

Falcon gives him an incredulous look. “It does?”

“We came for the evidence. We leave with it.”

He points toward Maverick, Rogue, and Reef.

“Take the archive bags through the Chairman’s escape tunnel. Get everything outside.”

Maverick looks toward the gunfire behind us. “And you?”

“We stop the purge and follow.”

“You’re sure?”

Rook’s expression hardens. “That was an order.”

Maverick grips his forearm.

“We’ll be waiting.”

Maverick’s team takes the evidence bags and disappears toward the escape route.

Fathom keeps one pack—the Chairman’s digital archive.

Mac leads the rest of us toward a narrow conduit behind the exposed pipes.

“The command room is less than a hundred yards away.”

“What’s between us and it?” I ask.