Page 70 of Silent Target

“That’s impossible.”

“He’s young, but it’s him. He’s standing with six senior intelligence officers outside an old training facility.”

Caleb lowers his rifle slightly.

“Anything written on it?”

“Yes.”

Fathom’s voice becomes quiet.

“The First Circle.”

Before any of us can respond, a shot strikes the rocks beside Caleb’s head.

The second sniper has found us again.

13

CALEB

Stone fragments cut across my cheek.

I roll away from the rifle and pull Evie behind the fallen pine.

“Stay down.”

“So should you.”

“I need to find him.”

“And he’s trying to find you.”

“He already has.”

The second sniper isn’t shooting to adjust anymore.

He’s shooting to kill.

I study the angle of impact.

The bullet came from lower ground than before.

He moved off the ridge and crossed part of the valley while I was focused on the compound.

Fast.

Disciplined.

Good.

I hate good.

It means Evie remains in danger longer.

Fathom’s voice comes through my radio. “Did you hear me?”

“We heard.”