Page 98 of Silent Target

Mac takes a slow breath.

“The First Circle doesn’t recruit soldiers. It recruits influence.”

“Generals,” Evie says.

“Judges. Intelligence directors. Corporate executives. Foreign ministers. People who will someday make decisions powerful enough to alter nations.”

Fathom stares at him. “They don’t need to control the government.”

Mac’s expression turns grim. “They become the government.”

Wind moves through the pines.

Something about the trail still feels wrong.

Walter isn’t running.

He’s leading us somewhere.

The bunker may be real, but that doesn’t mean it’s his destination.

I trace Ridge Road to the rail tunnel.

A narrow branch continues beneath the mountain.

“Where does the tunnel exit?”

“It doesn’t,” Mac says.

“Everything exits.”

“It collapsed forty years ago.”

“Officially.”

Mac looks at me.

Then away.

Rook sees it. “Talk.”

“There’s another exit beneath the command bunker. An underground rail spur.”

“Transport?”

“Emergency evacuation.”

“So Graves can enter through the cabin and leave beneath the mountain.”

“Yes.”

Evie studies the terrain. “If we approach from Ridge Road, he’ll see us coming.”

“That’s what he expects.”

“What’s the alternative?”

I point to an old streambed cutting across the northern side of the mountain.