Page 60 of Silent Target

The first helicopter lifts from the compound.

A black case is visible through its open door.

My heart stops.

“They’re moving the evidence.”

Caleb raises his rifle.

And the helicopter turns directly toward us.

11

CALEB

The helicopter turns toward us.

Its side door is open.

A gunner kneels behind a mounted weapon, searching the ridge while the black case remains strapped to the bench behind him.

Evie drops beside me.

“Does he see us?”

“Not yet.”

The helicopter descends, sweeping low across the trees.

The gunner’s weapon begins turning toward our position.

He sees movement.

Not us.

The coat I left hanging from the branch.

His hand closes around the trigger.

I settle behind my rifle.

Wind.

Distance.

Speed.

Angle.

The world narrows to a circle of glass.

I fire.

The round strikes the mounting bracket beneath the weapon. Metal fragments burst through the open doorway as the gun jerks sideways.

The gunner falls backward.

The pilot banks hard, pulling away from the ridge.