Page 98 of Bulletproof Jack: Hunting Lee Child's Jack Reacher

“Reacher wanted Westwood to expose the new weapon Liam Stuart designed. Reacher doesn’t like how they planned to use it,” Gaspar said. “He thought the exposure would be enough to kill the project. He didn’t expect them to kill two civilians to cover up. The murders were a bridge too far, he said.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kim said.

“Did Reacher whisk Chang out of the hotel back there?” Russell asked.

“Probably,” Gaspar replied.

“Where are they going?” Kim asked.

“He didn’t say. I think he needs Chang to help him figure that out. Which means he’s with her, wherever she is,” Gaspar replied. “Maybe you should ask him yourself.”

Tiny beads of sweat popped out on Kim’s upper lip and her stomach increased the churning. Nerves. Anxiety. The usual.

She had been hunting Reacher for months. Every time she got close to him, he managed to evade her.

This time felt different. A little crazier than usual, maybe. But more immediate, too.

Reacher was here. Close by. He’d told Gaspar and there was no reason for either of them to lie about that.

She didn’t have Cooper to rely on.

She didn’t even have an FBI partner with her.

This whole mission was illegal, but so much worse now in so many ways.

What the hell was she doing?

First things first. She needed cover, and lots of it.

“I have to call Cooper,” Kim said.

“Finally.” Russell sighed. “That’s the first thing you’ve said that makes sense. I’ll call Finlay. He’ll be faster.”

“Because he doesn’t ask as many questions, you mean?” Kim said shaking her head. “Forget it. I’m not handing Reacher over to Finlay. No chance. Cooper is angry with me now. I can’t even imagine how livid he’d be if I did that. My career at the FBI would be over. I’d be lucky to avoid prison. You, too, for that matter.”

“Cooper has no control over me or my career,” Russell replied huffily.

“Yeah, you keep thinking that,” Kim replied with a decisive nod. “See how that works out for you.”

“Kids, stop squabbling. You’ve got a narrow window of opportunity here. You don’t have time for either Cooper or Finlay to intervene,” Gaspar interrupted. “You’re in Canada. Without official permission or approval, for starters. You have no jurisdiction of any kind. If you call Cooper, he’ll tell you to stand down until he gets all the intel and makes his own plan. You’ll miss Reacher. Again. Is that what you want?”

A long silence settled over them.

This was Kim’s decision to make. She’d be the one to take the heat, too. They’d follow her lead.

Indecision twisted her belly into knots.

She pulled another antacid out of her pocket and plopped it into her mouth, stalling. Not that the situation would get any better with less stomach acid.

“Gaspar, check this plate.” Russell sped up to get closer to the sedan and read the number aloud. “Looks like a late model rental. Should have trackable tech installed. Can you locate it?”

“I see it. I’ve got you, too,” Gaspar replied. “Looks like you’re headed to Hamilton, Ontario. I gather you’re following that sedan because you think Reacher and Chang are traveling in it.”

“But is he? In the sedan?” Kim asked.

“How the hell would I know?” Gaspar replied.

“Use one of the cameras in the sedan and take a look around,” Kim said flatly.

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