Page 249 of Silent Target

Senator Vance is waiting on the secure monitor.

“The stand-down order is holding,” Vance says. “I have six officials in custody, including Alan Miller and Jerry Rhodes.”

“Graves?” Evie asks.

“Gone.”

“Grayson?”

“His plane left American airspace four hours ago.”

“Whitmore?”

Vance’s mouth tightens. “Officially, Charles Whitmore died eleven years ago.”

“We saw him alive,” Evie says.

“I believe you. Proving it will be more difficult.”

Mac places both hands on the table.

“I can prove it.”

Rook looks toward him.

“How?”

“Whitmore used voice authorization for the deepest Circle accounts. The archive contains biometric records.”

Fathom searches.

A voiceprint file appears.

Charles Whitmore.

The Chairman.

Senator Vance leans closer to the camera.

“That’s enough to reopen Whitmore’s death investigation. It won’t put him in custody.”

“No,” Evie says. “But it makes hiding harder.”

Vance turns toward Mac.

“And you are?”

“Mac Stenson.”

Recognition passes across the senator’s face.

“You were listed as a hostile intelligence asset.”

“I was a coward who helped the wrong men.”

Mac doesn’t soften the truth.

“I approved facilities, financial transfers, and security operations. I ignored what I suspected because knowing would have required me to act.”