Page 66 of In Too Deep

“Then tell me more. Make me believe you.”

—

Reacher and Knightset off together, strolling, taking their time. When they were halfway across the gap between the buildings a shadow broke away from the side of the motel. It split into four separate shapes. Arms and legs and heads came into focus. The guy who had tried to run Reacher off the day before was at the left-hand end of the line. He was wearing a black bike jacket, with sleeves this time, and jeans. The three other guys were dressed the same way.

The familiar guy looked at Knight. He said, “You can leave. Go back to your car. Drive away.”

Knight said, “While you boys have all the fun? Not a chance.”

The guy turned to Reacher. He said, “I told you if you came back you’d regret it.”

Reacher said, “Shows what you know.”

“What?”

“I’m having a great time.” He glanced at Knight. “And the evening isn’t over yet.”

“It is over.” The guy gave a signal with his right hand. The other three took a step forward. “For you.”

“Really?” Reacher looked at each of the other guys in turn. He said, “You don’t have to do this. You can walk away. Right now we’re in a no-harm, no-foul situation. But when the first one of you tries something, all bets are off.”

None of the three new guys said anything.

Knight said, “This is ridiculous. Where do you guys get off? Attacking a guy with a broken arm. You’re pathetic.”

The guy from the previous night pointed at Reacher. “That’s on him. He should have thought before he came back.”

A line of deep creases appeared along Reacher’s forehead. He leaned toward the guy. “You have something in your hair. Is it lettuce? Didn’t you shower after I threw you in the pig swill?” He stretched out his right arm as if he was going to brush something away with his finger. “Did you make it all the way to the farm before they let you out of that dumpster? Did you feel at home with the hogs?” The guy went to push Reacher’s hand away but before he made contact Reacher jerked it back. He twisted his shoulders and transferred the momentum to his left arm. It shot out and around and his fist caught the guy on the hinge of his jaw. He fell sideways into his buddy and wound up sprawled on the ground at the guy’s feet.

Reacher said, “Last chance. You can leave now, if you take your garbage with you.”

The guys closed ranks and stepped closer to Reacher and Knight.

The one on the right said, “Or we could stay and take your chick.”

The guy stuck out his tongue and leaned forward, like he was going to lick Knight’s cheek. She kicked him in the balls. He jackknifed at the waist and made a sound somewhere between a cough and a scream. Knight punched him in the face. He staggered back like he was trying to find his footing on an icy sidewalk, stayed upright for another moment. Then crashed down onto the ground in a position that was almost the mirror image of the guy Reacher had hit.

The guy who was closer to Reacher held up both his hands. He started to slink away backward. He said, “This wasn’t our idea. We don’t want any trouble.”

Reacher said, “You want to leave in one piece, you clean up. Take your trash with you.”

The guy leaned down. He grabbed the original guy’s arms. Hauled him up. Flipped him over his shoulder. And started toward the parking lot. His buddy did the same with the guy who had wound up on the ground nearer him.

Reacher said, “You’re going the wrong way.”

“What?”

He pointed to the gap between the diner and the motel. “Take them through there. Throw them in the pig swill.”

“You don’t mean it.”

“Don’t I?”

—

The Ford wasn’tgoing anywhere under its own steam. That was clear. So when Kane had finished using his tools he took them toone of his guys’ cars and started loading them into the trunk. Paris grabbed Vidic by the sleeve and pulled him aside, out of earshot.

She said, “Why the hell did you bring Kane on board? He’s an oaf. A disgusting piece of crap. You know I can’t stand him.”

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