Page 172 of Silent Target

“The Chairman entered first,” Mac says. “The Warden second. The administrator last.”

We step away.

Then return in sequence.

Me.

Rook.

Shark.

A deep metallic sound rolls through the wall.

Clunk.

Ancient gears begin turning.

Victor’s voice comes through the broken corridor.

“Stop!”

For the first time, he doesn’t sound controlled.

He sounds afraid.

The vault door shudders.

And begins to open.

38

EVIE

Cold air escapes through the widening gap.

Not stale air.

Conditioned.

Preserved.

The Warden fires through the breach behind us.

A bullet strikes the vault door and ricochets into the ceiling.

“Hold the entrance!” Rook orders.

Shark and Falcon take position behind the collapsed shelving.

Cobra adds two steel cabinets to their cover.

Caleb starts toward them.

I catch his hand.

“You’re hurt.”

“So is Falcon.”