Page 239 of Silent Target

“You’re standing six inches away.”

“Convenient distance.”

Her mouth curves.

We return to the evidence room together.

Senator Richard Vance appears on the isolated monitor. He’s in his late sixties, with silver threaded through his dark hair and exhaustion beneath his eyes.

He looks from Evie to Rook.

“Agent Hart.”

“Senator.”

“I was told you died in an explosion at Langley.”

“Walter Graves will be disappointed to learn otherwise.”

Vance’s expression hardens. “Graves claimed you murdered three analysts before helping Shadow Division attack a classified facility.”

Pain moves across Evie’s face.

Those analysts had names.

Families.

Lauren had children.

“Daniel Morris, Amanda Keyes, and Lauren Shaw were murdered because Graves believed they might know about his plans.”

“What plans?”

Evie places the recording beside the secure terminal.

“Your assassination.”

For the first time, Vance loses his composure.

He listens without interrupting as Graves’s voice fills the room.

Vance has been asking questions.

If he pushes, he becomes part of the story.

When the recording ends, the senator removes his glasses and rubs one hand across his face.

“How much evidence do you have?”

Rook answers. “Enough to prove Graves, Miller, Rhodes, and Grayson were involved in the West Virginia facility. Enough to expose financial transfers, assassinations, and compromised officials.”

“And enough to prove Shadow Division was framed?”

“Yes.”

Vance looks toward the evidence case.

“Send it to me.”