Page 71 of Silent Target

“The photograph isn’t the only one. The bunker walls are covered with them. Government ceremonies. Military awards. State dinners. Graves appears in every picture.”

“Who’s with him?”

“Generals. Judges. Intelligence directors. Cabinet members. Diplomats. Corporate executives. Some of the photographs go back decades.”

Evie looks at me. “Black Banner isn’t new.”

“No.”

Fathom continues. “I found recruitment files. Compromising photographs. Financial statements. It looks like they identified people with influence, then recruited, bribed, or blackmailed them.”

“Black Banner was the tool,” Evie says.

Fathom exhales. “That’s what I think. The real organization calls itself the First Circle.”

The name settles into place.

Graves didn’t create the conspiracy.

He inherited it.

He may not even control it.

“Copy everything,” I order.

“I’m pulling drives now.”

“Fast.”

“The purge is at sixty-four percent.”

“Then be faster.”

“Always supportive.”

I glance over the tree trunk.

No flash.

No movement.

The other sniper is waiting for me to expose myself.

Evie is studying the compound through the lowest edge of the binoculars.

“Walter is reorganizing his men.”

“How?”

“He stopped sending them toward the bunker.”

“Where are they going?”

“Three teams are moving toward the eastern road. Another is heading into the trees below us.”

He’s tightening the perimeter.

Trying to prevent us from extracting the drives.