Page 113 of Silent Target

The Inner Guard begins another cycle.

Left.

Right.

Left.

“Now,” Evie says.

Cobra throws both canisters.

Smoke erupts through the corridor.

The enemy continues firing, but their rounds cut through positions we’ve already abandoned.

“They have thermal,” Fathom warns.

“So do we,” Rook answers.

I switch optics.

Heat signatures glow through the smoke.

Rook and Shark disable the left team.

Falcon hits the right flank from the maintenance doorway.

I move beside Evie, placing myself between her and the nearest firing position.

She notices.

“Caleb.”

“Later.”

“You promised to consider ducking.”

“I considered it.”

“And?”

“No.”

We move.

Fathom reaches the terminal and connects his tablet.

The countdown reads two minutes, fifty-eight seconds.

“Get me thirty seconds.”

A maintenance hatch bursts open behind us.

Three guards enter.

Evie drops to one knee before I can turn.

She fires twice.