Page 96 of Silent Target

“I don’t know.”

Cobra steps closer. “You expect us to believe that?”

“The deeper circles don’t know who sits above them. That’s how the organization survives.”

Fathom studies the photograph. “If this is the Second Circle, then the First Circle outranks Graves.”

“Yes.”

“What does the seventh drive identify?” Caleb asks.

Mac’s eyes lift to his.

“The path into the First Circle.”

A second file appears beneath the photograph.

An audio recording.

Fathom presses play.

Daniel’s voice fills the forest.

“If you’re hearing this, Graves found me. Don’t trust the seventh drive. It isn’t only an archive. It’s a key—and Walter is taking it to someone who has been waiting for Caleb McDougal.”

The recording ends.

Every eye turns toward Caleb.

His expression doesn’t change.

But his hand closes around the photograph of his father inside his pocket.

19

CALEB

The radio goes quiet.

That bothers me.

Walter Graves doesn’t accept failure.

Silence means he’s adjusting.

The question isn’t whether he’ll strike again.

It’s where.

I unfold the topographic map across a fallen tree.

Rook crouches beside me.

“You’ve looked at that map six times.”

“Seven.”

“I stand corrected.”