AbouttheBook

Inthisebookexclusiveshortstory,#1SundayTimesbestsellingauthorLeeChildgoesbackto1989,whenJackReacherisservingasanofficerinthemilitarypolice.

Ayounglieutenantcolonel,inastylishhandmade

uniform,roarsthroughthedampwoodsofGeorgiainhernewsilverPorsche–untilshemeetsaverytallsoldierwithabroken-downcar.Whatcouldconnectacold-bloodedoff-postshootingwithReacher,hiselderbrotherJoe,andasecretiveunitofpointy-headsfromthePentagon?

Contents

CoverAbouttheBookTitlePage

SmallWars

ExtractfromMakeMeHaveYouReadThemAll?AbouttheAuthorCopyright

SMALLWARS

LeeChild

SMALLWARS

INTHESPRINGof1989CarolineCrawfordwaspromotedtotherankoflieutenantcolonel.SheboughtasilverPorschetocelebrate.Shehadfamilymoney,peoplesaid,andplentyofit.Atrustfund,maybe.Someeminentrelative.Maybeaninventor.

HeruniformsweretailoredinD.C.bythesameshopthatmadesuitsforthepresident.Shewasheldtobetherichestwomaninthearmy.Notthatthebarwashigh.Withthenewrankcamea

newposting,sothesilverPorsche’sfirsttripwassouthfromWarPlansinthePentagontoFortSmithinGeorgia.AllpartoftheWarPlansmethod.Therewasnopointmakingplansthat

couldn’tbeexecuted.High-levelon-the-groundliaisonwascrucial.Withalittlesurreptitiousbehind-the-scenesobservationmixedin.Everynewlightcolonel’sfirstrotation.Crawfordwashappytodoit.EventhoughFortSmithturnedouttobeasmalldampplaceinthewoods,fullofdesperatecharacters.SpecialForces,ofvarioustypes.Notailoreduniforms.WhichwasOK.

Promising,even.Rawmaterial,possibly,forthekindofnewunitsshewasgoingtoneed.Inputatanearlystagecouldbevital.Theymightevennametheunitsafterher.Shewouldmakefullbirdwithinayearandahalf.Shewouldbefast-trackedtoherfirststar.Andshewasentitledtohavesomeinput.Wasn’tshe?Liaisonwasatwo-waystreet.Shewasentitledtosuggestwhat

theyshoulddo,aswellaslistentowhattheycouldn’t.Thefirstweekwentwell,

eventhoughitrainedalot.Therumourmillhaditstraightwithinanhour:shewasunmarriedandavailable,butnotcooltohiton,becauseWarPlanswasseriousshit.Sorelationshipswerecordial,butwithenoughofahintofabuzztobeinteresting,too.Thevisitingofficers’quarterswereadequateinevery

respect.Likeamotel,butmoreearnest.Thewoodswerealwaysdampandstretchedformilesallaround,buttherewereroadsthrough,someofthemjustforesttracksorfirebreaks,otherswithlit-upsignsontheirmuddyshoulders,eventually,anhourorsoout,forbarbecuesometimes,orbarswithdancing.Lifewasn’tbad.

AttheendofthefirstweeksheleftFortSmithinhertailoredClassAuniform,inhersilverPorsche,andsheturnedoffthecountyroadatthefirstbigfork,whicheventuallyledtoahiddennot-quite-two-laneroad-to-nowherethroughthetrees,mostlystraightandsunlit,perfectwiththewindowsdown,withthewetsmelloftherichmudontheshoulders,andthewoody

echooftheexhaustcomingbackoffthebark,partthroaty,partwhine,parthowl.Then,abroken-downcar

upahead.Asedan,stoppeddiagonallyacrosstheroad,itsfrontwheelsturnedalltheway,itshoodup,aguypeeringinatthemotor.Atallguy,obviousevenfromahundredyardsaway.Notlightlybuilt.Bigfeet.

Sheslowed,lateandhard,justforthefunofit,changingdown,theexhaustpoppingbehindherlikeafireworkshow.ThestalledsedanwasaDetroitproductpaintedgreen.Theguyunderitshoodstraightenedupandturnedtolook.Hewastallindeed,maybesix-six,instandardbattledressuniform,woodlandpattern.Hewasallinproportion,andthereforefarfromdelicate,butheheld

himselfgracefully.Helookedslender,excepthewasn’t.Shestoppedthecar.She

restedherelbowonthedoorandherchinonherelbow,justlooking,partquizzical,partresigned,partreadytohelp,maybeaftersometeasing.Allthosethings,andnotsuspiciousatall.Theraisedhoodtriggeredsomekindofancientearly-motoristinstinct.Helpful,andsympathetic.

That,andthefamiliaruniform.Thetallguywalkedcloser.

Bigclumsyfeet,inbatteredtanboots,butotherwiseanelegantlong-leggedlope.Nohat.Croppedfairhair,receding.Blueeyes,anopengaze,somehowbothnaïveandknowing.Anotherwiseunremarkableface,withfeaturesjusttherightsideofblunt.

Hehadafullcolonel’seagleinhiscollar.Abovehisrightpockethistapesaid:U.S.Army.Abovehisleftpockethistapesaid:Reacher.Hesaid,‘Forgivemefor

interruptingyourjourney,butIcan’tpushitouttheway.Can’tturnthewheel.Ithinkthepowersteeringbroke.’Shesaid,‘Colonel,I’m

sorry.’Hesaid,‘I’mguessing

yourcardoesn’thaveatrailer

hitch.’‘Icouldhelpyoupush.’‘That’skindofyou,butit

wouldtaketenofus.’Shesaid,‘AreyouwhoI

thinkyouare?’‘Thatdepends.’‘You’reJoeReacher.You

justgotanewcounterintelligencecommand.’‘Correctonbothcounts,’

JoeReachersaid.‘I’mpleasedtomeetyou.’He

glanceddownathernameplate.Plastic,whiteonblack,becauseofthetailoredClassAs.Thenameplateisadjustedtoindividualfiguredifferences,centredhorizontallyontherightsidebetweenoneandtwoinchesabovethetopbuttonofthecoat.Helookedatherunitinsigniaandherbadgesofrank.Hesaid,‘YoumustbeCarolineCrawford.Congratulations.’

‘You’veheardofme?’‘Partofmyjob.Butit’snot

partofyourstoknowwhoIam.’‘Notpartofmyjob,but

partofmyinterest.Iliketotrackthekeyplayers.’‘I’mnotakeyplayer.’‘Sir,bullshit,withrespect,

sir.’‘Academicinterest,or

careerinterest?’Shehalfsmiled,half

shrugged,butdidn’tanswer.

Hesaid,‘Both,right?’Shesaid,‘Idon’tseewhy

itcan’tbe.’‘Howhighdoyouplanto

get?’‘Threestars,’shesaid.‘In

theJointChiefs’office,maybe.Anythingmorewouldbeinthelapofthegods.’JoeReachersaid,‘Well,

goodluckwithallofthat,’andheputhishandinhisbattledresspocket,andhecameoutwithastandard

army-issueBerettaM9semi-automaticpistol,andheshotCarolineCrawfordwithit,twiceinthechestandonceinthehead.

AlsowithanewpostingthesameweekasCarolineCrawfordwasamilitarypolicemajornamedDavidNoble.HewasdetachingfromhiscurrentcommandandheadingtoFortBenning,Georgia,fromwherehe

wouldoverseecriminalinvestigationsthroughoutthesoutheasternmilitarydistricts.Abrand-newreorganization.Someone’sbaby.Unlikelytolast,buttemporarilyimportantwork.Noblenevergottodoit.Hewasinacarwreckontheway.InSouthCarolina.Anadjacentstate.Nearlythere.Notfatal,butheendedupatWalterReed.Hehadacollapsedlung.Hecouldn’tbreatheright.Soan

emergencysubstitutewasdecidedonandhunteddownandpulledoffhiscurrentmanoeuvresandhustlednorthtoBenning.Justhowitalwayswas,forthearmy.Situationentirelynormal.Abigjob,thesecond-bestguy,aweeklate.Onthebrightsidepeoplesaidthisnewonewasafaststudyandahardworker.Hemightcatchup.Ifhegotstartedrightaway.

SoitwasthatthesamemomentJoeReachersaid,‘I’mnotakeyplayer,’hisyoungerbrotherJackReacherwalkedintoabrand-newofficemorethanahundredmilesaway,andthenoutagain,insearchofcoffee,almostreadytobeginoverseeingcriminalinvestigationsthroughoutthesoutheasternmilitarydistricts.

ThePorschewasfoundearlythenextmorning,byfoursoldiersinaHumvee,whoweretryingtofindashortcutbacktoSmithafteranightexercisehadgoneallkindsofwrongintermsofnavigation.Theyrecognizedthecarfromadistance.Itwasalreadyfamousonthebase.ThenewWarPlanslady.Hot,smart,andrich.Nothingwrongwithanyofthat.Nothingatall.Maybeshehadaflattyre.

Maybeshewasinneedofassistance.Astheypulledcloserthey

thoughtthecarwasempty.Thentheysawitwasn’t.Theyrolledbyatwalking

speedandtheirhighseatingpositionsletthemlookdowninsidethePorsche,wheretheysawawomaninClassAuniformfloppedoverbackwardacrosstheseats,shottwiceinthechestandonceinthehead.

Theyparkednearby,andcalleditinontheradio.Thentheysattight.Crimesceneswerenottheirproblem.WithinfortyminutesanMPcrewgotthere.FromFortSmith.WithtwoJAGlawyers.AlsofromFortSmith.Theyalltookalook,andthentheyallsteppedback.Therewasaquestionofjurisdiction.Theroadbelongedtothecounty.Hencethecountypolicehad

beeninformed.Nochoice.Theywereontheirway,foradiscussion.

FortBenningheardaboutitalmostimmediately.Abrand-newreorganization.Toofreshtobescrewedupyet.Reacherhadspentuntillateintheeveningstudyingthenewunitmanual,andreviewingopencases,andreadingfiles,andtalkingtopeople.Thenhehadgrabbedafewhoursof

sleep,andgottenupagainwithaplaninhishead.Hefiguredhehadalotofworktodo.Theplacewasdrowninginpaper.AndtheNCOswerebadlychosen.Inhisexperienceunitsraneitherwellornotdependingonthequalityoftheirsergeants.Hewantedexpertbureaucrats,buthedidn’twantthemtobeinlovewithbureaucracy.Therewasadifference.Hewantedpeoplewhotreated

taskslikeanenemy,tobedispatchedfastandefficientlyandruthlessly.Orpunitively,even.Theywon’tsendmethatformagain.Thenewunitdidn’thavesuchpeople.Theywerealltoocomfortable.Alittlesoft.Liketheguywhobroughtthetorn-offtelexfirstthinginthemorning.Asoft,comfortableguy.Hardtoputinwords,buthedidn’thavethespiritReacherwanted.He

didn’thavetheedge.Hedidn’tlookdangerous.ThetelexsaidOnerepeat

one(1)active-dutypersonnelfoundshottodeathtenmilesnorthofFortSmith.Circumstancesunknown.Reacherpicturedabar

fight,aprivateormaybeaspecialist,insomekindofanaltercationwithalocal.MaybeaHarleyfelloverintheparkinglot,oraglassofbeergotspilled.Barsnear

baseswerealwaysfulloflocalcivilianhotheadswithgunsintheirpocketsandpointstoprove.Hesaid,‘Bringmethe

detailsasandwhentheycomein.’Thesoftsergeant

undertooksotodo,andlefttheroom.Reacherpickedupthe

phoneandcalledhisnewCO.Amongotherthingshesaid,‘Ineedabettersergeanthere.

IneedyoutosendmeFrancesNeagley.Beforetheendoftheday,preferably.’

Thecountysheriffwhoshowedupinthewoodsknewthevalueofmudasanevidentiarymedium.Heparkedwayshortandskirtedthesceneayardofftheroad,pausingoftentocrouchandstudythemarksinthefineblacktilth,whichcoveredtheblacktopmoreorlesssideto

side,likeascrim,moleculesthininthecentreandinchesthickontheedges.Therewerealotofmarks,someofthemcrisp,someofthemoozingblackwater,someofthemoverwrittenbythefoursoldiersrollingbyintheirHumvee.Thecountyguymadeitall

thewaytothegaggleofSmithguys,andtheyallintroducedthemselvesandshookhandsandthenstood

aroundmute,maybetakingthelegaltemperature,mayberehearsingtheirarguments.Thecountyguyspokefirst.Hesaid,‘WasshebasedatFortSmith?’AJAGlawyersaid,‘Yes.’‘Anyindicationthiswas

blueonblue?’Meaning,wasthereaprofessionaldisputeIdon’tneedtoknowabout?Isthisallinthefamily?TheJAGlawyersaid,

‘No.’

‘Thereforeshe’smainlymine.UntilIknowforsuretheshooterwasn’tacivilian.Ineedtopayattentiontoathinglikethis.Icouldhaveacrazypersonrunningaroundinthewoods.Whatwashername?’‘Crawford.’‘WhatdidshedoatFort

Smith?’‘I’mafraidIcan’ttellyou

that.’

‘Shewasambushed,’thecountyguysaid.‘Icantellyouthat.Themarksareclear.Someonefakedabreakdown.Shestoppedtohelp.Hehadbigfeet.’TherankingMPsaid,

‘Whatnext?’Thecountyguysaid,‘It’s

abovemypaygrade.Literally,inthetownshipby-laws.IhavetopassitontoState.Nochoice.’‘When?’

‘Ialreadycalled.They’llbeheresoon.ThentheycandecidetokeepitorpassitontotheGeorgiaBureauofInvestigation.’‘Wecan’twaitforever.’‘Youwon’thaveto.Halfa

day,maybe.’Andthentheguycrabbedbackaroundthemud,tohiscar,wherehegotinandsatbyhimself.

Thenexttelexcameinanhourlater.Thesamesoft

sergeanttoreitoutofthemachineandbroughtittoReacher’sdesk.ItsaidGunshotvictimpreviouslyreportedwasLTCCarolineC.Crawford.DOAinsidePOVstationaryonisolatedforestroad.POVmeantpersonally

ownedvehicle.DOAmeantdeadonarrival.LTCmeantlieutenantcolonel.Allofwhichtogetheraddeduptoanissue.Veryfewsenior

officersofReacher’sacquaintancefoughttothedeathinbars.EspeciallynotseniorofficersnamedCaroline.Andeveniftheydid,theydidn’twindupinsidetheirownprivatecarsonremotewoodlandtracks.Howwouldthey?Notabarfight.Hesaid,‘Whowasshe?’Thesergeantsaid,‘Sir,I

don’tknow.’

Whichwasacaseinpoint.AdecentNCOwouldhavedetouredtoabookoraphoneandbroughtwithhimatleastacapsulebiographyandacopyofcurrentorders.FrancesNeagleywouldhavehadallofthatfiveminutesago.Plusaphotograph.Plusalockofbabyhair,ifyouwantedone.Reachersaid,‘Gofindout

whoshewas.’

Thedisputeoverjurisdictionlastedlongerthanexpected.TheStatecopwhoshowedupletsliphewasn’tsureifthewoodswerefederalproperty.FortSmith’sacreagewas,obviously.Maybetheundevelopedlandallaroundwastoo.Thecountyguysaidtheroadwasmaintainedbythecounty.Thatwasforsure.Andthecarwasontheroad,andthevictimwasinthecar.TheJAGlawyerssaidkilling

afederalemployeewasafederalcrime,andalieutenantcolonelintheU.S.Armywasassuredlyafederalemployee.Andsoonandsoforth.Darkcloudsgatheredinthesky.Morerainwasontheway.Themarksinthemudwereabouttogetwashedout.Soacompromisewasoffered.TheStatePolicewouldbetheleadagency,butthearmywouldbefullyaccommodated.Access

wouldbeguaranteed.Acceptable,tothemeningreen.TheautopsywouldbeperformedbythestateinAtlanta.Alsoacceptable,becauseeveryonealreadyknewwhattheautopsywasgoingtosay.Otherwisehealthy,exceptshottwiceinthechestandonceinthehead.Thedealwasagreed,whereuponimmediatelyallthreefactionsgotintoaflurryofcrime-scenephotography.

Thenahardrainstartedtofall,andatarpaulinwasdrapedoverthePorsche,andtheyallwaitedintheircarsforthemeatwagonandthetowtruck.

Reacherlookedupandsawhissergeantstandinginfrontofhim.Asilentapproach.Theguyhadasheetofpaperinhishand.Buthedidn’tpassitover.Hespokeinstead.Hesaid,‘Sir,

permissiontoaskaquestion?’Whichwasabadthingto

hear,fromaunitNCO.Itwasn’twhatitsoundedlike.Itwasawholedifferentannouncement.Likeagirlfriendsaying,‘Honey,weneedtotalk.’Reachersaid,‘Fireaway.’‘I’veheardyoudon’tlike

myworkandyou’rehavingmepostedelsewhere.’‘Incorrectonbothcounts.’

‘Really?’‘Likesanddislikesdwellin

therealmofemotion.Areyouaccusingmeofhavingfeelings,sergeant?’‘No,sir.’‘Iassessyourworkcoldly

andrationallyagainstacustommetricofmyowndesign.Whichis,areyouaguyIcouldcallinthemiddleofthenightwithanemergency?’‘AmI,sir?’

‘Notevenclose.’‘SoI’mtobeposted.’‘Negative.’‘Sir,nottochallengeyour

answerinanyway,butIalreadyknowSergeantNeagleyhasorderstoproceedherewithoutdelay.’Reachersmiled.‘TheNCO

grapevinegetsfasterallthetime.’‘Shecomes,Igo.Howelse

coulditwork?’

‘Itcouldworkbyyoustickingaroundandlearningsomething.That’swhat’sgoingtohappen.Neagleywillreporttomeandyou’llreporttoNeagley.Attimesshe’llofferadviceandencouragementabouthowtoimproveyourperformance.’‘We’reofequalrank.’‘Pretendshecomesfroma

planetwithdoublethegravity.Herrankisworthmorethanyours.’

‘Howlongwillshebehere?’‘Aslongasittakes.You

peopleneedtothinkahead.Thisreorganizationisgoingtocomeoutexactlyass-backward.You’renotgoingtobeuponahill,peeringdownonallyousurvey.You’regoingtobedeepinahole,gettingburiedinpaper.Becausethisisgoingtobethecover-your-assunit.Everyoneinthearmyisgoing

toreporteverything,sowhateverturnsbadintheendisautomaticallyourfault,becausewedidn’tfollowitupatthetime.Soyouneedtodevelopaveryaggressiveattitudetowardspaperwork.Ifyouhesitate,itwillburyyou.’‘Yes,sir.’‘Thereforeyoualsoneedto

trustyourintuition.Youneedtosmelltheonesthatmatter.Notimeforextensivestudy.

Areyouanaggressivepersonwhotrustshisintuition,sergeant?’‘Maybenotenough,sir.’‘What’sonthepieceof

paperyou’reholdinginyourhand?’‘It’safax,sir.Ahistoryof

ColonelCrawford’spostings.’‘Didyoureaditontheway

in?’‘Yes,sir.’‘And?’

‘She’sinWarPlans.CurrentlyliaisingwiththespecialoperationsschoolatFortSmith.’‘Whichtellsuswhat?’‘Idon’tknowhowtoput

it.’‘Inyourownwords,

sergeant.’‘She’sapointy-head.’‘Thepointiestofall.War

Plansisspecial.Regularpointy-headscan’tevengetinthedoor.We’retalking

needlesharphere.Shottodeath.Shouldwebeworried?’‘Ithinkweshould,sir.’‘Intuition,’Reachersaid.

‘It’sawonderfulthing.’‘Anypracticalsteps?’‘Startplayingbadcopwith

theguysatSmith.Tellthemweneedmorethingssooner.InfacttellthemwerequireaXeroxofeverything.Acompletefile,asperprotocol.’

‘Ithinkthat’soneoftheissuesnotyetdecided.’‘Fakeittillyoumakeit,

sergeant.Gettheminthehabit.’‘Yes,sir.’‘Andclosethedooronthe

wayout.’Whichtheguydid.

Reacherdialledhisphone.ThePentagon.Anumberonadeskoutsideanofficewithawindow.Answeredbyasergeant,inevitably.

Reachersaid,‘Ishethere?It’shisbrother.’‘Waitone,major.’Thena

shout,muffledbyapalmonthereceiver:Joe,yourbrotherisonlinetwo.Thenaclick,andthenJoe’svoice,asking,‘AreyoustillinCentralAmerica?’Reachersaid,‘No,they

pulledmeoutandsentmetoBenning.Someotherguygotinacarwreck.SoI’madaylateandadollarshort.’

‘What’satBenning?’‘It’sanewthing.Alotof

incomingreports.Successorfailurewilldependonhigh-speedtriage.WhichiswhyI’mcalling.IneedbackgroundonanameatWarPlans.Itwouldtakealldaytogetitanyplaceelse.’‘What’shappeningatWar

Plans?’‘Oneofthemdied.’‘Whatexactlyisityou’re

doingatBenning?’

‘Themissionistosuperviseallcriminalinvestigationsinthesoutheasternmilitarydistricts.Thelikelihoodisitwillbecomeagiganticfilecabinet.’‘Whowassupposedtoget

thecommand?’‘AguynamedDavid

Noble.Nevermethim.Fellasleepatthewheel,probably.Tooeagertogethere.’‘Soyougotit.’

‘Luckofthedraw.’‘WhodiedfromWar

Plans?’‘CarolineCrawford.’‘Soyou’llbeinvestigating

that.’‘Iexpectsomeonewill,

eventually.’‘Howdidshedie?’‘Shotonalonelyroad.’‘Whoby?’‘Wedon’tknow.’‘Shewasabigstar,’Joe

said.‘Shewasgoingallthe

way.LieutenantGeneralatleast.TheJointChiefs’office,probably.’‘Doingwhatexactly?’‘Therearethreepossible

vectorsfortheColdWar.Itcouldgohot,oritcouldstaythesame,ortheSovietUnioncouldfallapartunderitsownweight.Obviouslyadiligentplannerlooksatoptionthreeandasks,OK,what’snext?Andsmallwarsarenext.Againsthalf-assednuisance

countries,mostlyintheMiddleEast.CarolineCrawfordwasworkingonIraq.Shewasstartingearlyandplayingareallonggame.Abiggamble.Butthepayoffwashuge.ShewouldhaveownedtheMiddleEastdoctrine.That’saboutasgoodasitgets,foraplanner.’Reachersaid,‘Iassumeall

ofthatwasbehindcloseddoors.IassumeIdon’tneed

togolookingforIraqiassassins.’‘Conventionalwisdom

wouldsaytheIraqisdidn’tknowwhoshewas.Asyousay,itwasbehindcloseddoors,andthereweremanyofthem,andtheywereallclosedtight,andshewastoojuniortoattractattentionanyway.’‘Anyotherexternal

enemies?’‘Externaltowhat?’

‘TheUnitedStates.Eitherthearmyorthegeneralpopulation.’‘Ican’tthinkofone.’‘OK,’Reachersaid.

‘Thanks.Areyouwellandhappy?’‘Whatareyougoingto

do?’‘Aboutwhat?’‘Crawford.’‘Nothing,probably.I’m

surethere’sajurisdictionthing.StatePolicewillclaim

it.Ithinktheyopenedanewmortuary,upinAtlanta.They’reproudofit.It’slikeanewtheatregettingthebestplays.’‘Yes,I’mwellandhappy.

Doyouhavetimetodriveupandhavedinner?’‘It’saboutathousand

miles.’‘No,it’saboutsixhundred

andninety-three.That’snotfar.’

‘MaybeI’llgetthereforaweekend.’‘Keepmeintheloopabout

Crawford.Ifanythingweirdshowsup,Imean.Partofmyjob.’‘Iwill,’Reachersaid,and

hehungupthephone.Hissergeantknockedonthedoorandcameinwithafaxedreportandashortstackofphotographs.Theguyputthemneatlyonthedeskandsaid,‘ThisallisfromtheMP

XOatSmith.It’severythingthey’vegotsofar.Weknowwhattheyknow.’‘Didyoureaditontheway

in?’‘Yes,sir.’‘And?’‘Therearetyretracksand

footprints.Probablyasecondvehiclewasdeployedasabarrier.Theperpetratorseemstobeatallmanwithalongstrideandlargefeet.Alsonoteworthyisthefactthat

JAGlawyerswentwiththeMPstothescene.Andtherewerethreegunshotwounds.Twointhechestandoneinthehead.’‘Goodwork,sergeant.’Theguysaid,‘Thankyou,’

andwalkedout,andaminutelaterFrancesNeagleywalkedin.

Neagleywasaboutthesizeofamaleflyweightboxer,andcouldhavebeatenoneeasily,

unlesstherefereehappenedtobewatching.Shewasinwoodland-patternBDUs,newlywashedandpressed.Shehaddarkhaircutshort,andasolidtan.Shehadspentthewinteroverseas.Thatwasclear.Shesaid,‘Iheardaboutthedeadpointy-head.’Reachersmiled.TheNCO

grapevine.Hesaid,‘Howareyou?’‘Grumpy.Youpulledme

outofaneasyweekatFort

Bragg.Practicallyavacation.’‘Doingwhat?’‘Securityforthespecial

forcescommand.Theydon’ttendtoneedmuch.Notthatitisn’tgoodtoseeyou.’‘Whatdoyouknowabout

FortSmith?’‘It’stheirversionof

pointy-heads.Thetheoryandpracticeofirregularwarfare.Theycallitaschool.’

‘WhywouldtheyhaveJAGlawyerspermanentlyonbase?’‘Thetheory,Isuppose.

Rulesofengagement,andsoforth.Iimaginethey’repushingtheenvelope.’‘Mybrothersaysthedead

pointy-headwasstakingoutawholenewdoctrinefortheMiddleEast.ShewantedtoownPlanB.Ifwedon’tgetthebigwar,wegetabunchofsmallwarsinstead.

StartingwithIraq,maybe.Shewasrollingthedice.AndIguessspecialforceswererollingthemrightalongwithher.Theydon’tfitwellwiththebigwar.Theironlyplayissmall.WasanyonetalkingaboutthatatBragg?’Neagleyshookherhead.

‘ThatkindofthingwouldhavetostartatSmith.It’slikeespionage.Youhavetoinfiltratetheintellectualheart.Orlikeapoliticalcampaign.

Youhavetobuildaconstituency.Youneedkeyendorsements.’‘Soifshewins,who

loses?’‘Nooneloses.She

wouldn’tdivertresourcesawayfromthebigwar.Itwouldbeextraspending.ThepresidentisaRepublican.’‘Soshewasawomanwith

noenemies.’‘Shewasrich,’Neagley

said.‘Didyouknowthat?’

Reachersaid,‘No.’‘Peoplesayitwasfamily

money.Sheboughtasportscartocelebrateherpromotion.’‘Whatkindofsportscar?’‘German.’‘AVolkswagen?’‘Idon’tthinkso.’Reacherleafedthroughthe

faxedreport.‘APorsche,’hesaid.‘The

POVshewasfoundin.’

Hescannedtherestofthereport.Words,maps,charts.Andthephotographs.Mud,marks,wounds.HepasseditalltoNeagley.Shescanneditinturn,thesameway,words,maps,charts,mud,marks,andwounds.Shesaid,‘Twointhechest

andoneinthehead.That’sanexecution.’Reachernodded.‘The

womanwithnoenemies.Butnotexactly.Becauseitcan’t

havebeenrandom.Itwasn’tarobbery.Notjustsomepunk.Evenahillbillywouldhavetakenthecar.He’dhavedrivenithardallnightandburneditinthemorning.’‘Twointhechestandone

intheheadisstandardmilitarypractice.Undercertaincircumstances,incertainunits.Youcanlookitup.’‘Isitexclusivelymilitary?’‘Probablynot.’

‘AndthereareplentyofvetsinthestateofGeorgia.Weshouldn’tnarrowitdowntoomuch.Weshouldn’tputtheblinderson.’Neagleyturnedtothelast

pageofthewrittenreport.Shesaid,‘Wemightaswellputblindfoldson.Itisn’tourcase.TheStatePolicehasgotit.’‘Howmanyrichpeopleare

thereinthearmy?’‘Veryfew.’

‘Howmanyarealsosmartenoughtofast-trackthroughonetoughgigafteranother?’‘Veryfew.’‘Sodoesthisfeelrandom

toyou?’‘Notwiththeexecution-

styleplacement,no.’‘Soshewasaspecific

target,deliberatelyambushed.’‘Youcanseethetyre

marksinthemud.Theguyparkedacrosstheroad.

Sawedbackandforthabit,tomakeitlookgood.Thenhegotouttowait.Bigfeet.That’showtonarrowitdown.Thisguywearssizefifteenboots.’Reachertookthe

paperworkbackfromher.Heflippedforwardtothemaps.Notthekindofthingforsaleatthegasstation.Detailedgovernmentsurveys,ofwoodlandandstreamsandroadsandtracksofevery

descriptionandpurpose,allXeroxedandtiledtogetheronslightlyoverlappingpages.Hesaid,‘Butthatroad

doesn’treallygoanywhere.Maybeit’sjustafirebreak.There’snologicalreasontobeonthatroad.You’dhavetodetourtogetthere,andthengetyourselfbackontrackagainafterwards.Whereveryouweregoing.Thereforethere’snologicalwaytopredictshewoulduse

thatroad.Theoddsgetworseandworseafterthefirstbigfork.Shecouldhaveusedanyroad.It’stentooneatbest.Andwhosetsupadeliberateambushonaten-to-onechance?Soitmusthavebeenrandom.’‘SolettheStatePolice

haveit.They’llchaseitthroughtheshoesize.Thisguymustbeabasketballplayer.Imean,whatsizeareyourfeet?’

‘Eleven.’‘Isthatbigorsmall?’‘Idon’tknow.’‘Weneedalargersample.

WhataboutJoe,forinstance?’Reacherdidn’tanswer.Neagleysaid,‘What?’‘Sorry,Iwasthinking.’‘Whatabout?’‘AboutJoeandhis

footwearhabits.He’ssameasme,Ithink.Maybeelevenandahalf.’

‘Andhe’saninchtaller,asIrecall,aswellasbetterlooking,soifweballparkitwecouldrounditupandsayasizetwelveisaboutrightforguysaboutyourheight,andwecouldpushituptosizefourteen,maybe,toallowforsomegeneticvariation,whichhastomeanaguywhowearsasizefifteenisnotgoingtobeanysmallerthanyou,atleast,andprobablybigger,whichmakeshim

somekindofapemanwholivesinthewoods.Shouldbeeasytospot.Shouldbeeasytoeliminatesuspects.TheStatePolicewillhandleitfine.’‘We’resupposedto

supervise.TheJAGsgotusaccess.’‘Ibelievewe’realready

gettingallofFortSmith’spaperwork.’‘Ithinkweneedtobe

proactive.’

‘Inwhatway?’‘Inwhateverwayworks.It

hadtoberandom,butitcan’thavebeen.There’sawholespanofassumptionsrightthere,andatleastoneofthemcan’tbetrue.We’llhavetofigureitoutsoonerorlater.BecausetheStatePolicewillask.Alsosoonerorlater.That’sfordamnsure.’‘OK.We’lldowhatwe

can.Plustheautopsywillbehappening.’

Twohourslatertheautopsyreportedexactlywhateveryoneexpected.Otherwisehealthy.Thefatalshotwasprobablythefirst,intothechest.Hardtobesure,forbothpathologistandperpetrator,hencethetwofollow-ups.Theverticaltriangle.Chest,chest,head.Jobdone.Allthreebulletshadbeen

recoveredinsidethePorsche.Theywerebadlymangled,

buttheywerealmostcertainlynine-millimetreParabellum.Theentrywoundintheforeheadwasexactlyninemillimetreswide.Theanglewasplausible,foratallmanfiringdownwardintoastationarycar.Whichmatchedtheearlierphotographs.Thebigfeethadwalkedclose,thenshuffledaround,possiblyduringamomentofconversation,andthentheyhadsteppedback

andbraced.Forthemomentoftruth.Recoilofftheninewasn’tterrible,butasoundfootingwasalwaysagoodidea.Rangeabouteightfeet,Reacherguessed.Ideal.Chest,chest,head.Hardtomiss,ateightfeet.Nobrassinthephotographs.Theguyhadpickeduphisshellcases.Anddrivenaway,inthedecoyvehicle.Askilledworker.Anexecution.

Neagleysaid,‘Thecareergossipsoundsfairlynormal,forapointy-head.ShewasaclassroomsuperstaratWestPoint.Adecentphysicalsoldier,butmostlyageek.Thereforealwaysdestinedforthebackrooms.Smoothaccelerationalltheway.ReallyblossomedinWarPlans.Itsuitedhersomehow.Shebecameherownperson.Sheloosenedupalittle.Evenstartedspendingsomeofher

money.Maybeshefeltawkwardbefore.Thatwaswhenshefirstgotthefancyuniforms.’Reachersaid,‘Doweknow

anythingaboutthemoneyyet?Asin,whereitoriginallycamefrom?’‘Youthinkthisisa

financialcrime?’‘Whoknows,withrich

people?They’redifferentfromyouandme.’

‘I’vegotacallin,tothefamily.Difficulttoday,obviously.Withherbeingdead,andsoon.Thereareprotocolsinvolvedandprocedurestofollow.We’llprobablyenduptalkingtothefamilylawyer.Butthat’sfine.Thesethingscanbecomplicated.We’llneedhimanyway.’‘Anythingusefulfromthe

StatePolice?’

‘They’relookingforatallguywithbigfeet.Notnecessarilyactive-dutymilitary.Theirmindsareopen.Theyacknowledgetheyhavealotofveterans.PlusalotofkidswhohaveseeneveryexecutionstyleinhistoryoncableTV.Andwhohaveguns.Andvehicles.’‘Motive?’‘Theysayrobbery.Casting

anetandseeingwhatshowed

up.Likefishingonalazyafternoon.’‘Onaroadtonowhere?’‘Theysaypeopletakethat

roadsometimes.Shetookitthatday,obviously.’‘Lowodds.’‘Butaquietand

undisturbedlocation.’‘Theydidn’tsteal

anything.’‘Theypanickedandran.’‘DoestheStatePolice

reallybelieveanyofthat?’

‘No.It’sapolitehypothetical.They’rebendingoverbackwardstobefair,becauseJAGisrightthereattheirelbows.ButIheardeepdownthey’resureit’sasoldier.They’reassumingromantic,becausetheyhaven’tbeentoldexactlyhowpointyherheadwas.’‘Coulditberomantic?’‘There’snoevidenceof

boyfriendspastorpresent.Orgirlfriends.’

‘Thewomanwithnoenemies.Shewins,nooneloses.Extraspending.It’sallgood.Exceptitisn’t.Oneofthosefactsiswrong.Whichoneisit?’‘Yousaiditwasrandom,

Reacher.Itwasaroadtonowhere.Youjusttoldmethat.’‘Whatwasthedecoy

vehicle?Dotheyknow?’‘Thetyretrackswere

genericFirestones.Ona

milliondomesticproducts.Uptomid-sizecars,andmid-rangepick-uptrucks.Andbeforeyouask,yes,thearmyusesthemextensively.Ichecked,andthere’sasetonthecarIdrovedownin.’‘YoudrovefromBragg?’‘It’snotthatfar.Normal

peoplelikedrivingmorethanyoudo.’Reachersaid,‘They’re

goingtoaskusforalistof

shoesizesatFortSmith.That’swhat’scomingnext.’‘Smithisallspecialforces.

Thoseguysrunsmallerthannormal.Ibetthey’reallsizenine.’‘That’snotthepoint.We

can’tgivethemsomethinglikethat.Notwithoutlawyers.They’llbetalkingformonths.Thisthingisgoingtoturnintoanightmare.’

Thirtyminuteslaterthefineprintfromtheautopsycameinonthefaxmachine,andthenthetelexchunteredintolifewithanewreportfromFortSmith.ThepathologistinAtlantahadweighedandmeasuredandpokedandproddedandX-rayed.Crawfordhadbeenslenderbutwelltoned.Allherorganswereinperfectworkingorder.Shehadlong-healedchildhoodbreakstoherright

collarboneandherrightforearm.Shehadrecentcosmeticdentistry.Toxicologywasclear,andtherewasnoevidenceofrecentsex,andshehadneverbeenpregnant.Heartandlungslikeateenager.Nothingwrongwithheratall,exceptforthebullets.ThetelexfromSmith

showedsomeinitiative.TheMPsouttherehaddonesomegoodwork,onatimelinefor

Crawford’sfirstweekonpost.Sevencompleteddays.Alotoftalking.Alotofmeetings.Differentagendas,differentconstituencies.Notjustofficers.ShehadtalkedtoNCOsandenlistedmen.Shehadeateninthemesstwonights,andgoneoutfive.Shehadtakenrecommendationsfromthemessstewards.Whichwassmart.Theyhadlong-termpostings,andcouldbereliedupontoknowthe

localjoints.Whichweremostlyanhouraway,atleast,ontheroadsthroughthewoods.Reachercheckedbackwiththemaps,andtracedthemall.Barbecue,bars,afamilyrestaurant,andevenamovietheatre.Noplacehadanobviouslinearwaytogetthere.Everydestinationcouldbearrivedatbyanumberofdifferentloopingroutes.Theroadshadbeenmadeforforestrypurposes,noteaseof

transportation.Therehadbeenspeculationthatthelow-slungPorschewouldn’thandlethemwell.ButCrawfordhadreportednoproblems.Shehadgoneoutandcomebacksafe,fivestraighttimes.Ayoungstaffofficer,foronceoutsidetheD.C.bubble,makingthemostofthings.Reacherhadseenitbefore.Neagleycameinandsaid,

‘Theprotocolofficecan’t

findtheparents.Theythinkthefathermightbedeceased.Butthey’renotsure.Andtheydon’thaveanumberforthemother.Oranaddress.They’restilllooking.’Thenthesoftsergeant

trailedinbehindher,withatorn-offtelexinhishand.TheGeorgiaStatePolice

hadmadeanarrest.Notasoldier.Notamilitaryveteran.

ReachercalledFortSmithdirectfortheskinny.Thesuspectwasablackmanwholivedaloneinacabinonthemuddyshoreofalakefortymilesnorthandwestofthepost.Hewassixfeetseveninchestall,andworesizefifteenshoes.HedroveaFordRangerpick-uptruckwithFirestonetyres,andheownedanine-millimetrehandgun.Hedeniedeverything.

Reacherlookedupatthesoftsergeantstandinginfrontofhimandsaid,‘You’reinchargenow,soldier.SergeantNeagleyandIaregoingtoSmith.’

Neagleydrove,inherpoolcarfromBragg.ItwasagreenChevrolet,withFirestonetyres.Thetripwasaboutahundredandtenmiles,moreorlessdueeastfromBenning.Mostofthe

scenerywaswoods.Newspring-greenleavesflashedbyinthesun.Reachersaid,‘Sowe’llcallthisthecasting-the-nettheory.Likefishingonalazyafternoon.Onceinawhiletheguycomesdownfromthelakeandsetsuponabackroadandcatchessomething.LikeRobinHood.Oranogrefromunderabridge.Whenthemoonisfull.Orwheneverheneedsto

eat.Orsomething.Likeafairytale.’‘Ormaybehecomesdown

everyday.Butcatchessomethingonlyonceinawhile.Eitherwayispossible.ThesearetheGeorgiawoods.ThinkaboutcarjackinginLA.OrgettingmuggedinNewYorkCity.Routine.Maybethisisthelocalversion.Adaptedtotheenvironment.’

‘Thenwhydidthecarjackernotjackhercar?Whydidheexecuteherveryclinicallyinstead?’‘Idon’tknow.’‘Whydidshestopinthe

firstplace?’‘Hewasblockingthe

road.’‘Shedidn’tneedtocome

closeandtalktotheguy.BeinginWarPlansdoesn’tmakeheratotalidiot.ShewenttoWestPoint.She’sa

womandrivingalone.Sheshouldhavestoodbackahundredyardsandmadeathreatassessment.’‘Maybeshedid.’‘Yesorno?’‘Yes.Shedid.Shewasa

womandrivingalone.’‘Inwhichcasewe

concludetheguywasnothreat.Shedroverightuptohim,withherwindowopen.Wouldshedothat,foraweirdsix-sevenstrangershe

hadneverseenbefore?Withabroken-downpick-uptruck?I’msureshesawallthemovies.Withthechainsawsandthebanjomusic.’‘OK,shefeltsafewiththe

guy.Maybesheknewhim.Orthoughtsheknewhim.Orknewhistype.’‘Exactly,’Reachersaid.

‘Whichwouldmakehimactive-dutymilitary.Probablyinuniform.Possiblyevenwithamilitaryvehicle.Not

toofarbelowinrank.Ormaybeequalorevenhigher.Forhertofeeltrulycomfortable.Thiswasawholecomplicatedperformance.Iwanttogettherightguy.Otherwisewhat’sthepoint?AndI’vealwaysfoundabigpartofgettingtherightguyisnotgettingthewrongguy.’‘They’regoingtosaythis

guyhastherighttyres.’

‘Sodoamillionotherpeople.’‘Hehastherightbullets.’‘Sodoamillionother

people.’‘Hehastherightfeet.’

Neagleyhadreadalotofresearchintofirstimpressions,thosemercilesssubliminalsplitsecondswhereonehumanjudgesanother,onamilliondifferentthings,allatoncelikea

computer,allleadingtoaninstantandinevitableyes-noanswer:shouldIstayorshouldIgo?SadlytheStatePolice’ssuspectscoredverylowonthattest.NeagleyknewherownsenseofthreatassessmentwaslikelytobemorerobustthanCrawford’s,byanorderofmagnitude,butevensoshewouldhavekeptherdistanceandapproachedwarily,andonlyafterlocking

herdoorsandgettinghergunout.Theysawtheguyina

holdingcellatthecountypolicestation,whichwastenminutesfromSmith.Hehadsomekindofgrowthdisorder.Pituitary,maybe.Ahormoneimbalance.Heshouldhavebeenaveragesize,butthelongbonesinhisarmsandlegshadbeenrackedoutwaylongerthannaturecouldhaveintended,andhishandsand

feetwereequallyhuge,andhisfacewasverylong,withachiselofachinbelowit,andanarrow-domedforeheadabove.Reacherasked,‘Hashe

lawyeredup?’Thecountysheriffsaid,

‘Hewaived.Hebelievesinnocentmendon’tneedlawyers.’‘That’sgroundworkforan

insanityplea.’‘No,Ithinkhemeansit.’

‘Thenitmightbetrue.Itsometimesis.’‘He’sgotthefeetandthe

gunandthetyres.That’sararecombination.’‘Aguywithhandsthatbig

prefersashotgun.’‘Hetoldusheownsa

nine.’‘Hemight.Butdoesheuse

it?’‘ThinkIshouldaskhim?

Whatelseishegoingtosay?’

‘Didyoumatchthefootwear?’‘Itwasrainingagain

almostimmediately.Photographswereallwegot.Nocasts.Notthatwecouldhavegottencastsanyway.Wrongkindofmud.Morelikeliquidpeat.Toospongy.IapologizeonbehalfofthestateofGeorgiaforthepoorqualityofourmud.Notwhatyouexpect,Iknow.Butspongyornot,wemeasured

theprintswitharuler.Theyweresizefifteen.Justlikethebootshewaswearingwhentheybroughthimin.’‘Soyoucan’tmatchthe

tyreseither.Notexactly.Fornicksorwear.’‘Thephotographisclearas

tobrand.’‘Hashesaidwherehewas

atthetime?’‘Homealone.No

witnesses.’‘Soit’saclosedcase?’

‘TheStatePoliceisexpressingconsiderablesatisfactionintheoutcome.Butnocaseiscloseduntilthegrandjurysaysso.’‘Aretheystilllooking?’‘Notashard.What’syour

problem,major?’‘Thisguylivesaloneina

cabin.Youknowwhythatis?Peoplearescaredtolookathim.He’srepellent.That’sallhe’severheard,eversincehewasalittlekid.Thesegrowth

thingsstartearly.Sowhenitcametimetoearnsomecoin,whywouldhechoosetheroleofsmooth-talkingconman,lullingpassingdriversintoafalsesenseofsecurity?Whywouldheexpecttosucceedatthat,giventhewayhe’sbeenlookedatallhislife?Ithinkhe’sugly,butIthinkhe’sinnocent.InfactIthinkhe’sinnocentbecausehe’sugly.’‘Lotsofpeoplelookalittle

funny.Doesn’tstopthem

working.’‘Doesthishappenoften?Is

itabigthinghere?Stickingpeopleupbyfakingbreakdowns?’‘Ineverheardofitbefore.’‘Sothisguyinventedit

too?’‘He’sgotthefeetandthe

gunandthetyres,’thecountyguysaid.‘That’sararecombination.’

TheygaveReacherCarolineCrawford’sroom,intheFortSmithvisitingofficers’quarters.TheMPshadtakenallherpossessionsout,aspartoftheinvestigation,andthestewardshadcleanedtheplaceup.Someofthesurfaceswerestilldamp.NeagleywasinNCOaccommodation.Theymetfirstthingthenextmorninginhermessforcoffeeandbreakfast,andthenthey

headedtotheMPofficetolookatmaps.ThelocalcommanderwasacaptainnamedEllsbury.Hewasasquared-awayindividualrunningatightship,andrightlyproudofit.Heproducedeverykindofmaptherewas,includingthegovernmentsurveystheyhadseenbefore,pluslarge-scaletopographicalsheetsboundintoanatlas,andevenanAAAgiveawayofthe

southernpartofthestate.Reacherstartedatthefar

endofarandompotentialjourney,atwhatthegovernmentsurveylabelledabar,andwhatthemucholdertopographicalsheetscalledaNegroNightClub.Itwasaboutthirtymilesout.Anhourbycar,probably,giventheprevailingconditions.Therewasnoreallydirectwaytogetthere.Anintendingpatrondeparting

FortSmithwouldhavetoleavethecountyroadatthefirstfork,andthenthreadthroughthewoodsonanyoneoftenpotentialroutes,allloopingandcurving,noneobviouslybetterthananother.TheroadCrawfordhadusedhadnothingtorecommendit.Notintermsofefficiency.Itmightevenhaveaddedunnecessarydistance.Amileortwo.

Reachersaid,‘Whywouldtheguywiththebigfeetsetupthere?Hecouldgodayswithoutseeingtraffic.Andninetimesoutoftenwhattraffichesawwouldbesoldiers.Fromhere.Whatkindofabusinessplanisthat?HedecidestomakealivingbymuggingDeltaForceandArmyRangers?Goodluckwiththatcareerchoice.’

‘Whywouldanyonesetupthere?’Ellsburysaid.‘Butweknowsomeonedid.’‘Youthinktheguytheygot

didit?Twotothechestandonetothehead?That’salearnedtechnique.Centremass,skipleft,centremassagain,skipup,onetotheheadjustincasetheygetoverthechestwounds.It’srelativelyprecise.It’sbeenpractised.’

‘Theypractiseithere.Butnooneisunaccountedforaheadofwhensheleft.Itwasn’toneofourslyinginwait.’‘AndIdoubtitwasaguy

withaskeletaldisorderthatprobablyhurtshisfinemotorcontrol,either.’‘He’sgotthetyresandthe

gunandthefeet.He’saweirdblackguywholivesaloneinahut.Thisis1989,butit’sGeorgia.Sometimesit’sstill

1959.Thisguywilldo.Hewon’tbethefirstandhewon’tbethelast.’‘Iwanttoseethatroadfor

myself,’Reachersaid.

Neagleydrove,withReacherinthefrontandEllsburyintheback.Offthecountyroadatthefirstfork,intothecapillarynetwork,andthenfinallyontoanot-quite-two-laneblacktopribbonthroughthetrees,mostlystraightand

sunlit,borderedbyfineblackmudwashedsmoothagainbytherain.Ellsburypeeredaheadbetweentheseats,andpointedNeagleytoaspotaboutthreehundredyardsafteraslightbend.Hesaid,‘That’sthescene.’Therewasplentyofscope

forathreatassessment.Neagleypretendedtoseethebroken-downvehicle,andliftedoffandcoasted,andshecouldhavestoppedtwo

hundredyardsout,orahundred,orfifty,orwherevershewanted.ShecametorestrightwhereEllsburysaidithappened.Therewasnothingtosee.Themudwasdullandflatanduniform,lightlypockedbyrainspatter.Butthemarksinthephotographshadtoldthestory.Avehiclehadbeenparkedrightthere,acrossthenot-quite-twotrafficlanes,andaguyhadgottenoutandwaitednearthe

front,probablypretendingtolookunderthehood.Theyallgotout,making

freshmarksinthemud,deepandoozingwhereitwasthick,andspongyandblottedwhereitwasn’t.Theairsmelledofrainandsunandearthandpine.Reacherlookedback,andlookedahead.Hesaid,‘OK,I’veseen

enough.’

Thenhelookedaheadagain.Acarwascoming.Black

andwhite.Acopcar.StatePolice.Aspotlightonthepillar,andabubbleontheroof,likealittleredhat.Oneguybehindthewheel.Otherwiseempty.Thecarcametoastop

symmetricalwithNeagley’s,nosetonoseintheothertrafficlane.Thetrooperclimbedout.Ayoungguy,

withfairhairandaredface.Builtlikeasideofbeef.Hehadsmalldeep-seteyes.Theymadehimlookmean.Hesaid,‘Thearmyis

supposedtoinformusbeforeinterferingwiththecrimescene.’Reachersaid,‘Areyou

workingthiscase?’‘Justtakingalook,outof

curiosity.’‘Thengetlost.’‘Getwhat?’

‘Lost.’Theguysteppedcloserand

lookedatReacher’schest.U.S.Army.Reacher.Hesaid,‘You’retheboywhodon’tlikeourwork.’Reachersaid,‘I’mthe

boy?’‘Youthinkwegotthe

wrongguy.’‘Youthinkyougotthe

rightguy?’‘SureIdo.It’sscientific.

Plentyofpeoplehave

Firestonetyres,andplentyhavenine-millimetreammunition,butnotmanyhavesizefifteenfeet,sowhenyouputitalltogetherit’slikethreecherriesonaslotmachine.’‘Willtheguygeta

lawyer?’‘Ofcourse.Thepublic

defender.’‘Doesthepublicdefender

haveapulse?’‘Ofcourse.’

‘Doesn’tthatworryyou?Youthinkthethree-cherriesargumentwillstanduptotheslightestscrutiny?Wereyououtsickthedaytheytaughtthinking?’‘Nowyou’rebeing

unpleasant.’‘Notyet,’Reachersaid.

‘You’llnoticethedifference.’‘Thisisapublicroad.I

couldarrestyou.’‘Theoreticallypossible.

LikeIcouldgetadatewith

MissAmerica.’‘Youplanningtoresist?’‘MaybeI’llarrestyou

instead.’‘Forwhat?’‘I’msurewecouldfigure

somethingout.Abitofthis,andabitofthat.Wecouldgetthreecherriesofourown.’Theguysaid,‘Tryit.’Hesteppedupandsquared

hisshoulders.Localcivilian

hotheadswithgunsintheirpocketsandpointstoprove.Reachersaid,‘Sergeant,

arrestthisman.’Neagleysteppedup.Facetofacewiththe

trooper.Shesaid,‘Sir,I’mgoingto

leanforwardandtakeyourweaponfromitsholster.’Theguysaid,‘Littlelady,I

don’tthinkyouare.’Neagleysaid,‘Ifyou

impedemeinanyway,you

willbehandcuffed.’Theguyshovedherinthe

chest.Whichwasamistakeon

severaldifferentlevels.Militarydisciplinecouldnotallowassaultsbydetainees.AndNeagleyhatedphysicalcontact.Nooneknewwhy.Butitwasarecognizedissue.Shecouldn’tbeartobetouched.Shewouldn’tevenshakehands.Notevenwithafriend.Thusaglovelaidon

herinangerwasbeyondthepale,andliabletoproduceareaction.Forthetrooperthereaction

resultedinabrokennoseandakickintheballs.Shecameoffthebackfootanddrovetheheelofherhandintotheguy’sface,frombelow,anarchingblowlikeaflyweightboxerthumpingtheheavybag,andtherewasapuffofbloodintheair,andtheguyskitteredbackonhisheels,

andshepuntedhimanothersixfeetwiththekick,andhewentdownonhisasswithhisbackagainstthefrontwheelofhiscar,huffingandpuffingandsquealing.Reachersaid,‘Feelfreeto

makeanofficialcomplaint.I’llswearoutawitnessstatement.Abouthowyougotyourclockcleanedbyagirl.Youwantthatintherecord?’Theguydidn’t,apparently.

Hejustflappedhishands,

mute.Getlost.Inthecaronthewayback

tobaseNeagleysaid,‘Iagreetheguywasanidiot.’Reachersaid,‘But?’‘Whyme?Whydidn’tyou

doit?’‘LiketheysayinEngland,

whybuyadogandbarkyourself?’

BackonthebaseEllsbury’ssergeanthadaphonemessage

forNeagley.Shereturnedthecallandcameoutandsaid,‘TheyfoundanaddressforCrawford’sparents.Plural.Nowtheythinkthefatherisstillalive.Butthephonenumberdoesn’tgetthempasttheservants’quarters.Theycan’tevenestablishwhethertheCrawfordsarehomeornotrightnow.Iguessthebutleristoodiscreet.Theywantsomeonetodoadrive-by,togetthelieoftheland.’

Reachersaid,‘Whereisit?’‘MyrtleBeach.’‘That’sinSouthCarolina.’‘Whichisanadjacentstate.

Ithinkweshouldvolunteer.’‘Why?’‘Whynot?It’sadonedeal

here.’

Neagleydrove.Anadjacentstate,butstillhundredsofmiles.TheytookI-16toI-95,andheadednorth,andthen

jumpedoffcross-countryforthefinalshortdistance,inthemiddleoftheafternoon.Theyhadanaddressbutnostreetmap,sotheyaskedatgasstationsuntiltheygotpointedintherightdirection,whichturnedouttobearitzyenclavebetweenaninlandwaterwayandtheocean.Amanicuredroadranthroughit,withlittledead-endstreetscomingoffitleftandrightlikeribs.TheCrawfords’

streetwasontheoceanside.Theirhousewasabigmansionfacingthesea,onadeeplotwithaprivatebeach.Itlookedclosedup.Thewindowswere

shutteredfromtheinside.Paintedsurfaces,reflectingblindlythroughtheglass.Neagleysaid,‘They’reobviouslyaway.Inwhichcaseweshouldgotalktothebutler.Weshouldn’ttakenoforananswer.Evasionis

easyonthephone.Facetofaceisharder.’‘Worksforme,’Reacher

said.Theydrovein,onalong

cobblestonedriveway,theirFirestonetyrespattering,andtheypausedbrieflyatthefrontdoor,butitwasblankandbolted,sotheyfollowedthecobblestonesaroundtotheback,whereabackdoorwasalsoblankandbolted.

Theservants’entrance,currentlynotinuse.‘Sowhereistheservant?’

Reachersaid.‘Howdiscreetcanonemanbe?’Therewasagarageblock.

Mostofthebayshaddoors,butonewasapass-throughtoautilityyardinback.Therewasacarparkedinthepass-through.Anoldcompact,allsun-fadedanddingedupwithage.AplausiblePOVforabutler.

Therewasanapartmentabovethegaragebays.Alldormerwindowsandgingerbreadtrim,slimyfromthesaltair.Therewasanexternalstaircaseleadingtothedoor.Reachersaid,‘Thisplaceis

soupscaleeventhedownstairspeopleareupstairs.’Hewentfirst,withNeagley

athisshoulder,andheknockedonthedoor.The

doorwasopenedimmediately.Asiftheywereexpected.Whichtheywere,Reachersupposed.Theircarhadmadeacertainamountofnoise.Awoman.Maybesixty

yearsold,andcareworn.Ahousedress.Knuckleslikewalnuts.Ahardworker.Shesaid,‘Yes?’Reachersaid,‘Ma’am,

we’refromtheU.S.Army,andweneedtoknowMr.and

MrsCrawford’scurrentlocation.’‘Doesitconcerntheir

daughter?’‘Atthispoint,untilIknow

theirwhereabouts,I’mnotatlibertytosaywhatitconcerns.’Thewomansaid,‘You’d

bettercomeinandspeaktomyhusband.’Whowasnotthebutler.

NotiftheshowsReacherhadseenonTVweretrue.This

wasahangdogfellow,thinandbentoverfromlabour,withbigroughhands.Agardener,maybe.Reachersaid,‘What’syour

phonenumber?’Theytoldhim,and

Neagleynodded.Reachersaid,‘Areyoutheonlypeoplehereatthemoment?’Theysaidyes,andReacher

said,‘SoIbelievethearmyhasalreadycalledyou.For

somereasonyoursistheonlynumberwehave.’Thehangdogguysaid,

‘Thefamilyisaway.’‘Where?’Thewomansaid,‘We

shouldknowwhatthisisabout.’‘Youcan’tfiltertheir

news.Youdon’thavethatright.’‘Soitisabouttheir

daughter.It’sbadnews,isn’tit?’

Theroomwassmallandcramped.Theceilingwaslow,becauseoftheeaves.Thefurniturewasplain,andnotgenerousinquantity.Storagewasinadequate,clearly.Essentialpaperworkwasstackedonthediningtable.Bills,andmail.Thefloorwasbareboard.Therewasatelevisionset.Therewasashelfwiththreebooks,andatoyfrogpaintedsilver.Oranarmadillo.Something

humped.Maybetwoincheslong.Somethingcrouching.‘Excuseme,’Reachersaid.Hesteppedcloser.Notafrog.Notan

armadillo.Atoycar.Asportscoupé.Paintedsilver.APorsche.Reachersteppedoverto

thediningtable.Pickedupapieceofopenedmail.Abankstatement.A

savingsaccount.Almostahundreddollarsinit.

ItwasaddressedtoH.&R.Crawford,attheaddressthearmyhad,andthephonenumberwasthesame.Notfilteringthenews.Reachersaid,‘Sir,ma’am,

Iverymuchregretit’smydutyonbehalfoftheCommander-in-Chieftoinformyouyourdaughterwasthevictimofanoff-posthomicidetwoeveningsago.Thecircumstancesarestillbeinginvestigated,butwedo

knowitmusthavebeeninstantaneousandshecanhavefeltnopain.’

LikemostMPsReacherandNeagleyhaddelivereddeathmessagesbefore,andtheyknewthedrill.Nottouchy-feelylikeneighbours.Thearmywaywasappropriatelygrim,butwiththestalwartradiationofwholesomesentimentssuchascourageandserviceandsacrifice.

Eventuallytheparentsstartedaskingthemquestions,andtheyansweredwhattheycould.Careergood,luckbad.ThenNeagleysaid,‘Tellusabouther,’whichReacherassumedwas100percentprofessionalinterest,butwhichalsoplayedwellinthepsychologicalcontext.Thewomantoldthestory.

Themother.Itcamerightoutofher.Shewasthecook.Thehangdogguywasa

groundskeeper.Thefather.Carolinewastheirdaughter.Anonlychild.Shehadgrownuprightthere,abovethegarages.Shehadn’tenjoyedit.Shewantedwhatwasinthebighouse.Shewastentimessmarterthanthem.Wasn’tfair.Reachersaid,‘Shegavethe

impressionshehadfamilymoney.’Thehangdogguysaid,

‘No,thatwasallhers.She

getspaidafortune.It’sagovernmentjob.Thosepeoplelookaftereachother.Pensionstoo,Iexpect.Allkindsofbenefits.’‘Nolegacies?No

inheritances?’‘Wegaveherthirty-five

dollarswhenshewenttoWestPoint.Itwasallwehadsaved.That’sallsheevergot.Anythingelse,sheearned.’Reachersaid,‘MayIuse

yourphone?’

Theysaidyes,andhedialledthePentagon.Anumberonadeskoutsideanofficewithawindow.Answeredbyasergeant.Reachersaid,‘Ishethere?

It’shisbrother.’Joe’svoicecameonthe

line.Reachersaid,‘Namea

goodsteakhouseinAlexandriaopenlate.’Joedid.

Reachersaid,‘I’llmeetyouthereatnineo’clocktonight.’‘Why?’‘Tokeepyouintheloop.’‘WithCrawford?Isthere

somethingweird?’‘Manythings.Ineedtorun

anideabyyou.’

Neagleydrove.BackonI-95.Hundredsofmiles.AsfarasfromFortSmithtoMyrtleBeach,alloveragain.They

stayedontheleftofthePotomacandgottoAlexandrianinetyminutesafterdark.Theywerefiveminuteslatetotherestaurant.Therewasaguynearthedoor,doingnothing.Plainclothes.Almostconvincing.Neagleywentinandgota

tableforone.ThenReacherwentinandsatwithJoe.Whitelinen,dimcandlelight,rubywines,ahushedatmosphere.Therewas

anotherguyinplainclothesallaloneatatable,ontheothersideoftheroomfromNeagley.Symmetrical.Joesaid,‘Iseeyoubrought

yourattackdogwithyou.’Reachersaid,‘Iseeyou

broughttwoofyours.’‘Crawfordisseriousshit.

Immediateactionmightberequired.’‘That’swhyNeagleyis

here.’

Theyordered.Onionsoupandarib-eyeforReacher,foiegrasandafilletmignonforJoe.Friesforboth,redwineforJoe,coffeeforReacher.Plustapwater.Nosmalltalk.Reachersaid,‘Iwas

worriedabouttheroadfromthebeginning.Itdoesn’tgoanywhere.Stupidplacetosetatrap.Can’thavebeenrandom.Butdeliberatemakesnosenseeither.Shehada

choiceofthreeorfourdestinations,andaboutfortydifferentwaysofgettingthere.ThenIfigureditout.Atrulysmartguywouldignorethedestinations.Hewouldn’ttrytopredicthowshewouldgetfromAtoBorCorD.Hewouldfigureallroadswereequal.Atleastintermsoftransportation.Butnotequalinotherways.Notemotionally,forinstance.SometimesIforgetthat

normalpeoplelikedrivingmorethanIdo.Soasmartguywouldask,whichroadwouldsheusejustforthehellofit?Ayoungwomanwithabrand-newsportscar?Nocontest.Thatwasagreatroad.Straightaways,nicebends,trees,sunshine,thesmelloffreshair.Greatnoisetoo,probably.Awindows-downkindofaroad.Asmartguywouldbeabletopredictit.’

Joesaid,‘Asmartguywithmilitarytraining.’‘Becauseofthetripleshot?

Iagree.It’sahigh-stressmoment.Thatwasautomatic.Musclememory.Yearsatthegunrange.Theguywasoneofours.’‘Butwhichoneofours,

andwhy?’‘Thisiswhereitgets

highlyspeculative.Shewasn’trich.Iknowthatnow.Ishouldhaveknownlong

ago.Itwasrightthereinthefineprintfromtheautopsy.Shehadrecentcosmeticdentistry.Arichgirlwouldhavehadityearsbefore.Asateenager.So,nofamilymoney.Imetherparents.Theyhadthirty-fivedollarsinhercollegefund.Therearenorichuncles.Theythinksheearneditall.Governmentjob.Theythinksheearnedafortune.Butweknowshedidn’t.Tenlightcolonels

couldn’taffordabrand-newPorsche.Butshegotone.Withwhat?’‘Youtellme.’‘ShewasinWarPlans.

Supposeshewassellinginformationtoaforeigngovernment?Iraq,maybe.They’dpayafortune.She’swritingtheplan.They’dbegettingitstraightfromthehorse’smouth.’‘Possible,’Joesaid.

‘Theoretically.Asaworst-

casescenario.’‘Arewegoingtohavea

problemwithIraq?’‘Likely,’Joesaid.‘He

wantsKuwait.Nextyear,ortheyearafter.We’llhavetothrowhimout.ProbablystageinSaudi,putthenavyintheGulf.Thewholenineyards.’‘Sohewantsthatplan.

Andhepaysforit,wordforword.Fromawomanwhomaybedidn’twanttobepooranymore.Scuttlebuttsays

shecameoutofhershellinWarPlans.Finallystartedspendingsomeofhermoney.Exceptmaybeitwasn’tfinally.Maybethatwasthefirstmoneysheeverhad.’Joesaidnothing.Reachersaid,

‘Counterintelligencemusthavebeenkeepinganeyeonsuchthings.Butforsomereasontheymissedher,andsoitwentonforalongtime.Itbecamethelegend.Family

money.Therichestwoman.Itwashidinginplainsight.Thensomethingchanged.Suddenlytheyfiguredherout.’Joesaid,‘How?’Reachersaid,‘Couldbea

numberofreasons.Couldbedumbluck.’‘Or?’‘Couldbe

counterintelligencegotanewcommander.Maybethenewcommanderbroughtwithhim

themissingpieceofthejigsawpuzzle.Suddenlytwoplustwomadefour.Whichwouldbedumbluckofadifferentkind.Butithappens.’Joesaidnothing.Reachersaid,‘Butlet’s

freezetheactionrightthere.Let’slookatitfromthenewcommander’spointofview.Rightthenhe’stheonlyonewithallthepieces.He’stheonlyonewhocanseethe

wholepicture.Intheworld.It’salonelyposition.Nooneelseknows.Butit’sallaboutwhoelseknows.Becausenooneelsemustknow.It’sonlyIraq,butwhowillbelievethat?You’llhavemasspanic.Everyplanwillbecalledcompromised.TheSovietstrategywillfallapart.Nothingwillbebelievedeveragain.Soit’svitalnooneelseknows.Literally.Notever.Noone.Twocan’tkeepa

secret.Butshehastobestopped.Andtreasongetsthedeathpenalty.Thenewcommanderconcludeshehastodoithimself.It’stheonlywaytocontainit.Almostahistoricmoment.Theworldwillbesaved.Thatbigofadeal.Buttheworldwillneverknow.Soit’sironic,andstrategicallyastute,andnobleandethical.Likeapatrioticduty.’Joesaidnothing.

Reachersaid,‘Iimagineanewcommanderofsuchaunitwouldbesmartenoughtofigureoutthethingwiththesportscarandtheroad.’Joesaid,‘Theguyhadsize

fifteenfeet.’‘Hehadamaximumsize

fifteen.Youcan’tmakeyourfootprintssmaller,butyoucanmakethembigger.IfigureIcouldputonatennisshoe,somethingtight,andgetmywholefootinsideasize

fifteenboot.Tightandsolid.Notlikeclownshoes.Icouldstomparoundmakingfootprintslikeanastronautonthemoon.YouknowwhereIgotthatidea?’Joesaid,‘No.’‘Thesecondtimewelived

onOkinawa.Youweresix.Maybeseven.YougotintoathingwhereyouwouldgetupearlyinthemorningandclumparoundinDad’sboots.Ididn’tknowwhy.Maybe

it’safirst-bornthing.Maybeyouweretryingtofillhisshoes,literally.ButIwouldhearyou.AndonceyougothimintroublewithMomformakingmarksontherug.That’swhereIgottheidea.’‘Lotsofpeoplemusthave

donethat.’‘Howmanygrewuptobe

recentlypromotedcommandersofcounterespionageunits?’Joesaidnothing.

Reachersaid,‘Thinkingback,youdidprettywellonthephone.Youmusthavebeenveryshocked.Butyoudidn’tforgettoasktheobviousquestions,likewhodied.Andyouaskedhow,whichwasgood,andIsaidshotonalonelyroad,butthenyoushouldhaveaskedshotonalonelyroadhow,becauseasniperinthetreeswasjustasplausibleasastationaryambush.Onthe

backroads.Butyoudidn’taskshotonalonelyroadhow.Youcouldhavescriptedthatpartalittlebetter.Andyougotnervous.Youwouldn’tletitgo.YouaskedmewhatIwasgoingtodoabouther.Andyoutotallyblewitwiththesixhundredandninety-threemiles.You’reapedanticguy,Joe.Youwouldn’tgetitwrong.AndI’msureyoudidn’t.YoufiguredBenningwasona

levelwithadistanceyouknewforsure.Thesameradius.AndthedistanceyouknewforsurewasyourofficetoFortSmith.Becauseyou’djustdrivenit.Twice.Thereandback.’Joesaid,‘Interesting

hypothetical.Whatwouldahypotheticalpolicemandoaboutit?’‘Hewouldfeel

hypotheticallybetterwithout

aguyinthelobbyandaguyintheroom.’‘JustNeagley?’‘She’sdrivingthecar.

She’sentitledtoeat.’‘Crawfordisseriousshit.’Reachersaid,‘Relax.The

hypotheticalpolicemandoesn’tseeaproblem.He’sareal-worldperson.I’msurehisanalysiswouldhavebeenthesameasthehypotheticalunitcommander’s.Butthere’saproblem.Isuppose

thehypotheticalsizefifteensweresupposedtobeadeal-breaker,acoldcaseforever,buttheydidn’twork.They’rerailroadingaguy.Sizefifteenfeet,thesameammoasthehypotheticalunitcommanderdoingithimself,andthesametyres,allapurecoincidence,butthey’recallingitthreecherriesonaslotmachine.Theguyisgoingdown.’‘Whatshoulda

hypotheticalunitcommander

doaboutthat?’‘I’msurethere’sacode

word.Probablythroughtheofficeofthepresident.Thingsgetshutdown.Guysgetletgo.’Joesaidnothing.‘Thencasesstaycoldfor

ever.’Joesaid,‘OK.’Thenhesaid,‘You’rea

hellofapoliceman,tofigureallthatout.’

Reachersaid,‘No,I’mahellofapolicemantonotquitefigureitout,butgetyoutoconfirmitformeanyway.AndI’mproudofyou.Ithadtobecontained.Nochoice.Youdidwell.Goodthinking,andalmostperfectperformance.’‘Almost?’‘Thethreeshotswerebad.

Anobviousexecution.Youshouldhavemadeitmessy.Thethroat,maybe.Everyone

assumesaroundinthethroatisamissfromsomeplaceelse.Automaticamateurhour.Youcanaddaheadshotifitmakesyoufeelbetter,butmakeitweird,likeintheeyeortheear.’‘Thatsoundslikethevoice

ofexperience.’‘WhatdoyouthinkI’ve

beendoinginCentralAmerica?’Theytalkedaboutother

thingsfortherestofthemeal.

Gossip,peopletheyknew,thingstheyhadread,politics,andfamily.Joewasworriedabouttheirmother.Shewasn’therself.

ReacherandNeagleygotbacktoSmithlatethenextday.Ellsbury’ssergeanttoldthemtheStatePolice’ssuspecthadbeenreleasedwithoutcharge,thatdayatnoon,anddrivenhome.Thecaseitselfhadbeen

withdrawnfromallconcerned,andassignedasabedding-intrialforabrand-newinvestigativeunitdeepinsidethePentagon.Noonehadeverheardofit.Conclusionswouldbeannouncedwithinayearortwo,ifavailable.Thenanothertelexcame

in.ApparentlyMajorDavidNoblehadrecoveredfromhisautomobileaccident,andwasanxioustoassumehis

intendedcommand.ReacherwaspostedbacktoCentralAmerica.AndNeagleybacktoBragg,becauseNoblewasbringinghisownsergeant.Thereorganizationlastedlessthanayear.Nooneeverheardofitagain.Possiblythefinest

professionalachievementofJoeReacher’smilitarycareerwastogetthewarplanforIraqchangedwithouteverrevealingwhy.Andayear

andahalflater,whenbootshitthedesertsandinKuwait,itallworkedoutfine,alloverinahundredhours,PlanBornot.

ONE

MOVINGAGUYasbigasKeeverwasn’teasy.Itwasliketryingtowrestleaking-sizemattressoffawaterbed.Sotheyburiedhimclosetothehouse.Whichmadesenseanyway.Theharvestwasstillamonthaway,andadisturbanceinafieldwouldshowupfromtheair.And

theywouldusetheair,foraguylikeKeever.Theywouldusesearchplanes,andhelicopters,andmaybeevendrones.Theystartedatmidnight,

whichtheythoughtwassafeenough.Theywereinthemiddleoftenthousandacresofnothingness,andtheonlyman-madestructuretheirsideofanyhorizonwastherailroadtracktotheeast,butmidnightwasfivehoursafter

theeveningtrainandsevenhoursbeforethemorningtrain.Therefore,nopryingeyes.Theirbackhoehadfourspotlightsonabarabovethecab,thesamewaykidspimpedtheirpick-uptrucks,andtogetherthefourbeamsmadeawidepoolofhalogenbrightness.Therefore,visibilitywasnotaproblemeither.Theystartedtheholeinthehogpen,whichwasapermanentdisturbanceallby

itself.Eachhogweighedtwohundredpounds,andeachhoghadfourfeet.Thedirtwasalwayschewedup.Nothingtoseefromtheair,notevenwithathermalcamera.Thepicturewouldwhiteoutinstantly,fromthesteaminganimalsthemselves,andtheirsteamingpilesandpoolsofwaste.Safeenough.Hogswererootinganimals,

sotheymadesurethehole

wasdeep.Whichwasnotaproblemeither.Theirbackhoe’sarmwaslong,anditbitrhythmically,influentarticulatedseven-footscoops,thehydraulicramsglintingintheelectriclight,theenginestrainingandroaringandpausing,thecabfallingandrising,aseachbucket-loadwasdumpedaside.Whentheholewasdonetheybackedthemachineupandturneditaroundandusedthefront

buckettopushKeeverintohisgrave,scrapinghim,rollinghim,coveringhisbodyindirt,untilfinallyitfelloverthelipandthumpeddownintotheelectricshadows.Onlyonethingwent

wrong,andithappenedrightthen.Theeveningtraincame

throughfivehourslate.ThenextmorningtheyheardontheAMstationthatabroken

locomotivehadcausedajamahundredmilessouth.Buttheydidn’tknowthatatthetime.Alltheyheardwasthemournfulwhistleatthedistantcrossing,andthenalltheycoulddowasturnandstare,atthelonglitcarsrumblingpastinthemiddledistance,oneaftertheother,likeavisioninadream,seeminglyforever.Buteventuallythetrainwasgone,andtherailssangfora

minutemore,andthenthetaillightwasswallowedbythemidnightdarkness,andtheyturnedbacktotheirtask.

Twentymilesnorththetrainslowed,andslowed,andtheneasedtoahissingstop,andthedoorssuckedopen,andJackReachersteppeddowntoaconcreterampinfrontofagrainelevatorasbigasanapartmenthouse.Tohisleftwerefourmoreelevators,all

ofthembiggerthanthefirst,andtohisrightwasanenormousmetalshedthesizeofanairplanehangar.Therewerevapourlightsonpoles,setatregularintervals,andtheycutconesofyellowinthedarkness.Therewasmistinthenight-timeair,likeanoteonacalendar.Theendofsummerwascoming.Fallwasonitsway.Reacherstoodstilland

behindhimthetrainmoved

awaywithouthim,straining,grinding,settlingtoaslowrat-a-tatrhythm,andthenaccelerating,itsbuildingslipstreampullingathisclothes.Hewastheonlypassengerwhohadgottenout.Whichwasnotsurprising.Theplacewasnokindofacommuterhub.Itwasallagricultural.Whattokenpassengerfacilitiesithadwerewedgedbetweentheelevatorsandthehugeshed,

andwerelimitedtoacompactbuildingwhichseemedtohavebothaticketwindowandbenchesforwaiting.Itwasbuiltinatraditionalrailroadstyle,anditlookedlikeachild’stoy,temporarilysetdownbetweentwoshinyoildrums.Butonasignboard

runningitswholelengthwaswrittenthereasonReacherwasthere:Mother’sRest.Whichhehadseenonamap,

andwhichhethoughtwasagreatnameforarailroadstop.Hefiguredthelinemustcrossanancientwagontraintrail,rightthere,wheresomethinghadhappenedlongago.Maybeayoungpregnantwomanwentintolabour.Thejostlingcouldnothavehelped.Maybethewagontrainstoppedforacoupleofweeks.Oramonth.Maybesomeonerememberedtheplaceyearslater.A

descendant,perhaps.Afamilylegend.Maybetherewasaone-roommuseum.Orperhapstherewasa

sadderinterpretation.Maybetheyhadburiedawomanthere.Toooldtomakeit.Inwhichcasetherewouldbeacommemorativestone.EitherwayReacherfigured

hemightaswellfindout.Hehadnoplacetogo,andallthetimeintheworldtogetthere,sodetourscosthimnothing.

Whichiswhyhegotoutofthetrain.Toasenseofdisappointment,initially.Hisexpectationshadbeenwayoffbase.Hehadpicturedacoupleofdustyhouses,andalonelyone-horsecorral.Andtheone-roommuseum,mayberunpart-time,onavolunteerbasis.Maybebyanoldguyfromoneofthehouses.Ortheheadstone,maybemarble,behindasquarewrought-ironfence.

Hehadnotexpectedtheimmenseagriculturalinfrastructure.Heshouldhave,hesupposed.Grain,meettherailroad.Ithadtobeloadedsomewhere.Billionsofbushelsandmillionsoftonseachyear.Hesteppedleftandlookedthroughagapbetweenstructures.Theviewwasdark,buthecouldsensearoughsemicircleofhabitation.Houses,obviously,forthedepot

workers.Hecouldseelights,whichhehopedwereamotel,oradiner,orboth.Hewalkedtotheexit,

skirtingthepoolsofvapourlightpurelyoutofhabit,buthesawthatthelastlampwasunavoidable,becauseitwassetdirectlyabovetheexitgate.Sohesavedhimselfafurtherperimeterdiversionbywalkingthroughthenext-to-lastpooloflighttoo.

Atwhichpointawomansteppedoutoftheshadows.Shecametowardshim

withadistinctiveburstofenergy,twofastpaces,eager,likeshewaspleasedtoseehim.Herbodylanguagewasallaboutrelief.Thenitwasn’t.Thenitwas

allaboutdisappointment.Shestoppeddead,andshesaid,‘Oh.’ShewasAsian.Butnot

petite.Five-nine,maybe,or

evenfive-ten.Andbuilttomatch.Notaboneinsight.Nokindofawillowywaif.Shewasaboutforty,Reacherguessed,withblackhairwornlong,withjeansandaT-shirtunderashortcottoncoat.Shehadlace-upshoesonherfeet.Hesaid,‘Goodevening,

ma’am.’Shewaslookingpasthis

shoulder.Hesaid,‘I’mtheonly

passenger.’

Shelookedhimintheeye.Hesaid,‘Nooneelsegot

outofthetrain.SoIguessyourfriendisn’tcoming.’‘Myfriend?’shesaid.A

neutralkindofaccent.RegularAmerican.Thekindheheardeverywhere.Hesaid,‘Whyelsewoulda

personbehere,excepttomeetthetrain?Nopointincomingotherwise.Iguessnormallytherewouldbenothingtoseeatmidnight.’

Shedidn’tanswer.Hesaid,‘Don’ttellme

you’vebeenwaitingheresinceseveno’clock.’‘Ididn’tknowthetrain

waslate,’shesaid.‘There’snocellsignalhere.Andnoonefromtherailroad,totellyouanything.AndIguessthePonyExpressisoutsicktoday.’‘Hewasn’tinmycar.Or

thenexttwo,either.’‘Whowasn’t?’

‘Yourfriend.’‘Youdon’tknowwhathe

lookslike.’‘He’sabigguy,’Reacher

said.‘That’swhyyoujumpedoutwhenyousawme.YouthoughtIwashim.Forasecond,anyway.Andtherewerenobigguysinmycar.Orthenexttwo.’‘Whenisthenexttrain?’‘Seveninthemorning.’Shesaid,‘Whoareyouand

whyhaveyoucomehere?’

‘I’mjustaguypassingthrough.’‘Thetrainpassedthrough.

Notyou.Yougotout.’‘Youknowanythingabout

thisplace?’‘Notathing.’‘Haveyouseenamuseum

oragravestone?’‘Whyareyouhere?’‘Who’sasking?’Shepausedabeat,and

said,‘Nobody.’

Reachersaid,‘Isthereamotelintown?’‘I’mstayingthere.’‘Howisit?’‘It’samotel.’‘Worksforme,’Reacher

said.‘Doesithavevacancies?’‘I’dbeamazedifitdidn’t.’‘OK,youcanshowmethe

way.Don’twaithereallnight.I’llbeupbyfirstlight.I’llknockonyourdoorasI

leave.Hopefullyyourfriendwillbehereinthemorning.’Thewomansaidnothing.

Shejustglancedatthesilentrailsonemoretime,andthenturnedaroundandledthewaythroughtheexitgate.

Haveyoureadthem

all?TheJackReacherthrillersbyLeeChild

–intheorderinwhichtheyfirstappeared.

KILLINGFLOORJackReachergetsoffabusinasmalltowninGeorgia.Andisthrownintothe

countyjail,foramurderhedidn’tcommit.

DIETRYINGReacherislockedinavanwitha

womanclaimingtobeFBI.AndferriedrightacrossAmericaintoabrandnew

country.

TRIPWIREReacherisdiggingswimmingpoolsinKeyWestwhenadetectivecomesroundaskingquestions.Thenthe

detectiveturnsupdead.

THEVISITORTwonakedwomenfounddeadinabathfilledwithpaint.Bothvictimsofaman

justlikeReacher.

ECHOBURNINGIntheheatofTexas,Reachermeetsayoungwomanwhosehusbandisinjail.Whenheisreleased,hewillkillher.

WITHOUTFAILAWashingtonwomanasksReacherforhelp.Herjob?ProtectingtheVice-

President.

PERSUADERAkidnappinginBoston.Acopdies.HasReacherlosthissenseofrightand

wrong?

THEENEMYBackinReacher’sarmydays,ageneral

isfounddeadonhiswatch.

ONESHOTAlonesnipershootsfivepeopledeadinaheartlandcity.Buttheaccusedguy

says,‘GetReacher’.

THEHARDWAYAcoffeeonabusyNewYorkstreetleadstoashoot-outthreethousand

milesawayintheNorfolkcountryside.

BADLUCKANDTROUBLEOneofReacher’sbuddieshasshownup

deadintheCaliforniadesert,andReachermustputhisoldarmyunit

backtogether.

NOTHINGTOLOSEReachercrossesthelinebetweena

towncalledHopeandonenamedDespair.

GONETOMORROWOntheNewYorksubway,Reachercountsdownthetwelvetell-talesigns

ofasuicidebomber.

61HOURSInfreezingSouthDakota,Reacherhitchesaliftonabusheadingfor

trouble.

WORTHDYINGFORReacherrunsintoaclanthat’s

terrifyingtheNebraskalocals,butit’stheunsolvedcaseofamissingchild

thathecan’tletgo.

THEAFFAIRSixmonthsbeforetheeventsinKillingFloor,MajorJackReacheroftheUSMilitaryPolicegoesundercoverinMississippi,toinvestigateamurder.

AWANTEDMANAfreshly-bustednosemakesitdifficultforReachertohitcharide.Whenatlast

he’spickedupbytwomenandawoman,itsoonbecomesclearthey

havesomethingtohide…

NEVERGOBACKWhenReacherreturnstohisold

Virginiaheadquartersheisaccusedofasixteen-year-oldhomicideandhears

thesewords:‘You’rebackinthearmy,major.Andyourassismine.’

PERSONALSomeonehastakenashotattheFrenchpresident.Onlyonemancouldhavedoneit–andReacheristheoneman

whocanfindhim.

AbouttheAuthor

LeeChildisoneoftheworld’sleadingthrillerwriters.ItissaidoneofhisnovelsfeaturinghisheroJackReacherissoldsomewhereintheworldeverytwentyseconds.Hisbooksconsistentlyachievethenumber-oneslotinhardbackandpaperbackonbestseller

listsonbothsidesoftheAtlantic,andaretranslatedintooverfortylanguages.Heistherecipientofmanyprizes,mostrecentlytheCWA’sDiamondDaggerforawriterofanoutstandingbodyofcrimefiction.

Allhisthrillershavebeenoptionedformajormotionpictures,thefirstofwhich,JackReacher,wasbasedonthenovelOneShot.

HewasborninCoventry,broughtupinBirmingham,andnowlivesinNewYork.

TRANSWORLDPUBLISHERS61–63UxbridgeRoad,LondonW5

5SAwww.transworldbooks.co.uk

TransworldispartofthePenguinRandomHousegroupofcompanieswhoseaddressescanbefoundatglobal.penguinrandomhouse.com

FirstpublishedinGreatBritainin2015byTransworldDigital

animprintofTransworldPublishersCopyright©LeeChild2015

LeeChildhasassertedhisrightundertheCopyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988tobeidentifiedastheauthorof

thiswork.

Thisbookisaworkoffictionand,exceptinthecaseofhistoricalfact,anyresemblancetoactualpersonslivingor

dead,ispurelycoincidental.

Everyefforthasbeenmadetoobtainthenecessarypermissionswith

referencetocopyrightmaterial,bothillustrativeandquoted.Weapologizeforanyomissionsinthisrespectandwillbepleasedtomaketheappropriate

acknowledgementsinanyfutureedition.

ACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.

Version1.0EpubISBN9781473540484

Thisebookiscopyrightmaterialandmustnotbecopied,reproduced,

transferred,distributed,leased,licensedorpubliclyperformedorusedinanywayexceptasspecificallypermittedinwritingbythepublishers,asallowedunderthetermsandconditionsunderwhichitwaspurchasedorasstrictlypermittedbyapplicablecopyrightlaw.Anyunauthorizeddistributionoruseofthistextmaybeadirectinfringementoftheauthor’sandpublisher’srightsand

thoseresponsiblemaybeliableinlawaccordingly.

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