Page 86 of Silent Target

It detonates down the slope.

White light floods the forest.

“Move!” Rook orders.

We race along the upper trail as federal officers enter the ridge behind us.

No one fires.

Not Shadow Division.

Not yet.

Mac leads us toward a wall of rock covered with vines. He finds an old metal ring and pulls.

A narrow door opens in the mountainside.

“A tunnel?” Cobra asks.

“Part of an abandoned relay system,” Mac says.

Rook gestures toward the opening. “Inside.”

Cobra and Fathom enter first.

Mac follows.

I start after them, but Caleb remains outside.

“Caleb.”

“Go.”

“The federal team is less than fifty yards away.”

“I’m closing the door.”

“I can do that from inside.”

His eyes meet mine.

For one terrible second, I understand.

He’s preparing to stay behind if the door won’t close in time.

Just as his file said he always did.

I grab his jacket.

“No.”

“Evie.”

“You don’t get to stay behind.”

“They’re almost here.”

“Then we’d better move.”