The Sentinel (Jack Reacher #25)(19)

‘Nothing got screwed up. It was the correct decision. The drifter left the diner ahead of Rutherford. He made like he was going to stick around so the team held position, waiting for either Rutherford to catch up or the drifter to move away. Then a wild card got played. The drifter got in a fight. It came out of nothing, right there on the sidewalk. There was no way anyone could have anticipated it.’

‘OK. So who did he fight?’

‘Three men. Two big, one scrawny. Locals, presumably. No one we’ve seen before.’

‘How badly was he hurt? Is he in the hospital?’

‘No. He wasn’t hurt. He won. Easily. He demolished all three guys. But just as the fight was winding up a police car responded. They arrested him on the spot.’

‘And Rutherford? Did he get hurt?’

‘No. He didn’t get involved. He avoided the whole thing. He stayed in the diner until the last one went down, then he must have sneaked out through a back door into the alley. He was seen crossing the street and running into his building.’

‘Seen? Why was action not taken?’

‘The police were still there. The team had to let him pass. There was no alternative.’

‘So where’s Rutherford now?’

‘Still in his building. I don’t imagine he’ll come out any time soon.’

Speranski took a moment to think. ‘So it was only the drifter and the police who were involved? Not any of our people?’

‘Correct,’ the voice said.

‘No attention drawn? No spectacle? Nothing for the Center to get in a wad about?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Good. Where is the team now?’

‘Watching Rutherford’s building.’

‘Excellent. You know, this may work in our favour. It will be easier to deal with them separately. We know their exact locations, and the drifter will be secure until the morning, at least. OK. Here’s what I propose. Leave two people to watch Rutherford’s building. The remainder of the team should rest. If Rutherford has not appeared by six a.m. they should go to a location I will confirm in due course. They should conceal themselves there and wait. The drifter will be delivered to them. I’ll make the arrangements for that myself. They should subdue him using any means necessary and bring him here. Then the whole team can focus on Rutherford. With the drifter out of the way they shouldn’t have any further problems.’

The next call came through on the burner. It was short. From a man a short distance away. A report. First, facts. Then opinions. Brief and concise. The way Speranski liked it. Only this time Speranski followed up the information he received with a set of instructions. Which meant that when the burner phone rang again a few moments later, Speranski already knew what the caller was going to say: ‘This is Marty. I have something you may be interested in.’

There were four cells in the basement of the courthouse, and no occupants that night aside from Reacher. He didn’t know if that kind of ratio was normal. Maybe the crime rate in the town was low. Maybe the police were bad at catching criminals. Or maybe the current situation gave the cops an incentive to avoid filling in forms and filing reports by hand. But whatever the reason, Reacher was happy with the result. He needed a place to sleep, and here was a solution that didn’t require him to part with any cash. He took off his jacket and rolled it up to make a pillow. Lay down on the metal bench. Closed his eyes and let Howlin’ Wolf loose in his head. Next up was Magic Slim. He gave them a couple of songs each. Then he counted to three and drifted straight off.

Reacher woke himself at 7:00 a.m. so he had been lying awake for an hour weighing his priorities for the day when he heard footsteps approaching. Someone quick and light. Reacher opened his eyes and saw a uniformed cop he didn’t recognize. She was about five foot eight and looked like she could run a marathon before breakfast without thinking twice. She had a thick twist of dark shiny hair knotted at the back of her head and a warm, welcoming smile. Her name plate said Rule. Reacher could only imagine the ribbing that had bought her at the academy.

‘Rise and shine.’ Officer Rule opened the cell door and gestured for Reacher to come out. ‘A detective wants to see you.’

‘Goodyear?’ Reacher didn’t move.

‘Someone new.’ Officer Rule shrugged. ‘I don’t know who he is. He just got here. Must be from another jurisdiction.’

‘Suppose I go see him.’ Reacher stood up. ‘What then?’

‘That’s up to him. And Detective Goodyear.’

‘Any word on the idiots who jumped me?’

‘They— The new detective should have the most up-to-date information.’

‘Any idea why they did it?’

‘You already said it.’ Officer Rule smiled. ‘They’re idiots.’

‘Who are they?’

‘Just a bunch of local yahoos. No one for you to worry about.’ Officer Rule paused and looked more closely at Reacher. ‘Although I’m guessing there aren’t too many people you worry about.’

‘That’s not so.’ Reacher picked up his jacket and came out of the cell. ‘Just the other day I got into a debate over the well-being of a group of up-and-coming musicians.’

‘That’s not what I meant.’ Officer Rule took Reacher’s elbow and guided him towards the corridor. ‘And I think you know it.’