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“Doesn’t everyone?”

“Then where?”

“When in doubt, take the first bus out. Could be anywhere.”

“How long are you going to keep that shirt?”

“Depends where the bus goes. Chances are it will be somewhere warmer, so I won’t need it anymore.”

“I’ll remember it fondly.”

“Me too,” Reacher said. “Especially the parts where it was in a tangle on the floor, and we were doing other stuff.”

“Its finest hours.”

“Remember Wernher von Braun?”

“World War Two Nazi rocket scientist who we hired to take us to the moon.”

“Why aren’t you offering Saxby Cameron to the government?”

“As a poacher turned gamekeeper? It never works. It’s been tried dozens of times. They don’t thrive in captivity. Current government policy says it’s cheaper to delete the hacker than rewrite the software. Which is convenient for us. You would have deleted him anyway, for Amanda.”

“And for Julia,” Reacher said. “And for Bisley himself, I guess. And for you. This way you stay in business. G-99 is a good unit. You deserve it.”

“Did you bring a weapon?”

“I kept the spare pistol.”

“Will that be enough?”

“A butter knife would be enough.”

“They’re prepared. I’m sure they have a plan.”

“It won’t survive first contact.”

“I’m going to miss you, Reacher.”

“You know how to find me.”

—

A two-hour flight across a one-hour time zone meant the day was sixty minutes closer to gone when they came in to land at Moffett Field. It was three-quarters dark. Some light in the west, but none in the east. Their approach looped them around the EEF building and brought them in over the golf course. The building was all lit up, every bulb, every floor. The giant red letters glowed like coals. Everything Everywhere Forever. Not as scary as before. No sinister Big Brother ambitions. Just a couple of smart-guy scufflers, making the con believable, with literal window dressing.

They touched down and taxied. Now came the goodbyes, Reacher thought. No big deal with Elwood. A handshake, probably, and some muttered platitudes. Neither would remember the other two weeks in the future. Harder with Julia and Amanda. They faced a long road. He would wish them the very best of luck. Maybe kiss the baby on the cheek. Something else he had never done in his life.

Hardest of all with Turner, obviously.

But not yet, apparently.

“Command decision,” she said.

“Is that a thing again?”

“You need back-up tonight. I’m coming with you.”

Chapter 48