Page 92 of Bulletproof Jack: Hunting Lee Child's Jack Reacher

Liam nodded because he was still too astonished to speak. No matter. She kept filling the silence without any need for his participation.

She said, “You have the Stiletto 100 prototype with you. You were hoping to demonstrate it to your friend Krause who was planning to meet you here, but he has been permanently delayed.”

Liam’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open into a round “O” almost without his volition. He shook his head, unsure which of her outlandish statements he should rebut first.

He focused on Krause because his friend had been top of mind before he came upon this dangerous watcher. And because Krause was a real person in the real world and Liam could rely on Krause. He knew for sure.

The woman kept talking. Making demands. Ordering Liam around. It seemed like she would never shut up.

And then she came to the end of her soliloquy. “Krause is not coming. You have a job to do tomorrow in Ottawa. We need to get going. Where is the Stiletto 100?”

“Where is Krause? What have you done with him? How do you know he’s not coming?” Liam demanded in rapid-fire succession, mocking her style.

“Krause is dead. You will never see him again.” She paused to smile like a demented clown. “Unless you want to join him in whatever afterlife exists?”

She cocked her head as if she’d posed an actual question to which she was expecting a serious answer.

“Why would I believe you? I don’t know you. I have no idea who you are or where you came from or what you’re doing here. I spoke to Krause he told me he’s coming I will wait here until he shows up.” Liam said with all the belligerence and determination and anger he felt welling in his chest.

If he had the chance, he would take that gun away from her and shoot her in the friggin’ head. She should know that too.

But he felt no need to say so. Surely she could divine his intentions since she was so damn smart.

“Where’s the Stiletto, Liam? Get it. Pick up your stuff and let’s go.”

“Not until you answer my questions. Who are you and why are you here and how do you know these things?” Liam said.

She sighed as if she’d finally resigned herself to his irrational and stubborn behavior.

“My name is Audrey Ruston. Nigel Morin sent me. That should be enough for you to know now. I’ll answer more questions later,” she promised. “We have a lot to do before tomorrow’s parade. We’ll take your suburban. I assume that’s where the Stiletto is. I’m parked behind you. You move my car and I’ll drive yours.”

She stood facing Liam and the door beyond him, still holding the pistol. “Let’s go.”

“Not until you tell me what happened to Krause,” Liam said, planting both feet firmly on the floor and bracing for a physical confrontation.

He was in pretty good shape. He could probably take her. Maybe.

Ruston sighed. “Home invasion, apparently.”

Liam stared. “Home invasion? InAncaster?”

“Right? Hard to believe, but apparently true,” Audrey shrugged. “Speculation is that Krause made a move on the guy, maybe thinking to subdue him, and the scumbag had a gun.”

“Why would Krause attack a man with a gun? That makes no sense,” Liam said, dumbfounded.

“Look, I don’t know. I’m just passing along the information. You can ask Morin when you see him. Now let’s go before you get us both in more trouble than you already are,” Audrey said again.

Liam shrugged. He had intended to move on to Ottawa to prepare for tomorrow anyway. He’d just wanted to show the Stiletto 100 to Krause first and make amends with his mentor.

Liam was leaving the country tomorrow after the Ottawa parade. Today was his last chance to make things right with Krause or live with the regret for ever.

But his last chance to say goodbye to his old friend was already gone. Krause was dead. Aside from Liam’s desire to resist Audrey Ruston, there was no reason to stay here in this cabin anymore.

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Chapter 36

Saturday, June 4

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