Page 115 of Silent Target

The timer reaches one minute.

Then forty-five seconds.

Thirty.

“Fathom.”

“I know.”

Twenty seconds.

Evie’s hand finds mine.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Fathom drives an override key into the terminal.

The lights go out.

Every screen dies.

The timer freezes.

Three seconds.

For one breath, the entire bunker is silent.

Then emergency lighting floods the corridor in red.

A calm, older voice emerges through hidden speakers.

“Impressive.”

Mac goes pale.

“Who is that?” Evie asks.

The voice continues.

“Caleb McDougal. Evelyn Hart. Shadow Division.”

It knows all of us.

But when it says Evie’s name, the tone changes.

“Your fathers tried to warn you.”

My blood turns cold.

Fathers.

Not father.

The First Circle knew hers too.