Page 52 of Silent Target

No hesitation.

No doubt.

I’ve killed men at greater distances under worse conditions.

But the sniper across this valley already knows my name.

That means he has studied me.

My operational history.

My preferred positions.

The way I move after firing.

This isn’t simply another hired rifle.

Graves chose him for me.

The first shot strikes the fallen pine.

The bullet tears through the trunk inches above Evie’s shoulder.

I throw myself over her.

“Caleb.”

“I’m fine.”

“That went through your jacket.”

I feel the heat across my side where the round grazed me.

“It missed.”

“Barely.”

“Barely is enough.”

I scan the opposite ridge.

The shooter has changed his angle.

He knew I would lead Evie downhill.

He’s predicting me.

But predictions are built on patterns.

And patterns can be broken.

“ predictionsEvie, I need your coat.”

She stares at me. “Why?”

“I’m giving him what he expects.”

I drape her coat across a branch, then attach a strip of reflective material near the collar.