Page 68 of Silent Target

A laugh escapes me. “You missed one?”

“It bothers me.”

The radio crackles.

Fathom’s voice comes through. “Bunker access is open.”

Rook answers. “Status?”

“I’m entering now.”

Mac is still in the yard.

One guard holds him by the shirt while another raises his rifle.

Before Caleb can fire, Mac swings the broken chain around the guard’s throat. He drives his elbow into the second man’s face, tears the pistol from his holster, and points it at Rook as he approaches.

My breath catches.

Rook doesn’t slow.

Even from this distance, I see his weapon aimed directly at Mac’s heart.

The two men face each other.

Mac lowers his pistol first.

Rook takes the last few steps and says something I can’t hear.

Mac answers.

Then Rook hands him a second magazine.

“He trusts him,” I say.

“No.”

Caleb moves his scope toward the bunker.

“He trusts Mac to understand the consequences if he betrays us.”

“That isn’t the same thing.”

“No.”

Walter Graves emerges from the bunker with two bodyguards.

He no longer looks composed.

His suit is dirty. His tie is gone, and his silver hair has fallen across his forehead.

He points toward the helicopter and shouts an order.

“They’re trying to move him,” I say.

“I see.”

Walter runs toward the aircraft.