Page 78 of Silent Target

“You’ve caused considerable trouble.”

“So I’ve been told.”

Cobra climbs past him. “Careful, Mac. She shoots people.”

“The man was trying to kill us.”

“I’m not criticizing.”

Rook’s attention goes to Caleb’s bloody side.

“How bad?”

“Fine.”

I answer at the same time. “He needs stitches.”

Caleb looks at me.

Rook almost smiles. “We’ll go with her answer.”

Fathom sets down the padded case and checks his tablet.

“I copied every drive I could reach before the purge finished.”

“How much survived?” I ask.

“Approximately thirty percent.”

My heart sinks. “That’s all?”

“It may be enough. The files weren’t erased in order. I have recruitment records, financial transfers, assassination directives, and part of the First Circle membership archive.”

“Can you open them?”

“Eventually.”

“How long?”

“If they used the encryption I think they did, a few hours.”

Cobra laughs. “So, Tuesday?”

Fathom rolls his eyes. “Very funny.”

Mac leans against a tree.

Rook hands him a canteen but keeps his weapon positioned where Mac can see it.

“I suppose this doesn’t mean we’re friends,” Mac says.

Cobra snorts. “Don’t push your luck.”

Mac drinks, then looks at the evidence case.

“If Graves knows you have those drives, he won’t stop.”

“He already isn’t,” I say.