Page 73 of No Plan B

Reacher crossed the room. He opened his door a crack and peered out into the corridor.

Harold barged into his door with his shoulder and shoved the unconscious guy’s legs far enough aside to make a gap he could squeeze through.

Reacher stepped out into the corridor. He said, “Looking for me?”

The nearest guy turned around. The one who’d been driving the BMW in Colorado. Reacher was already moving toward him. He drove the heel of his right hand into the guy’s chin. The guy’s head snapped back. His feet left the ground and he slammed down on his back like a roll of carpet. The next guy in line had to jump to the sideand press himself against the wall to avoid getting flattened. It was the guy who had killed Angela St. Vrain. Reacher swiveled at the waist and buried his left fist in his solar plexus. The guy doubled over. He bent at the waist. His body was momentarily horizontal. Reacher brought the side of his right fist down onto the back of his head like a club. The guy’s knees buckled and he collapsed across his buddy’s back in an X shape with his forehead pressed against the wall. The third guy took a glance at what was happening and began to run. Away from Reacher, along the corridor, toward an emergency exit at the far end. Reacher hurdled the tangled bodies and chased after him. But the Minerva guy was lighter. He was faster. And he was desperate. There was nothing Reacher could do. It was a race he had no chance of winning.

—

A door onthe right-hand side of the corridor swung open. The last but one. Room 121. Hannah stepped out. She turned to face the running guy. Her feet were apart, planted securely on the ground. She was holding her SIG out in front, steadily, in a two-handed grip.

She said, “Stop.” The tone of her voice made it clear she was serious.

The guy slowed, raised his hands, and stopped. Then he lunged for the gun. Hannah pulled it aside, out of his reach. She kicked him in the crotch. Hard. He doubled over. He was gagging. A scream was cut off in his throat. Hannah kneed him in the face. He fell back. He was sprawling and struggling, but still moving. For another split second. Then Reacher caught up and kicked him in the head.

Hannah switched the gun to her right hand, crouched down, and checked the guy’s neck for a pulse. There was a sound from down the corridor. It was Harold. He had wrestled the door to room 114 open again. He stepped out. He was so broad he seemed to fill the entirespace between the walls. Hannah straightened up and stood next to Reacher. For a moment no one spoke.

Harold broke the silence. He said, “Drop the gun, little girl. Let’s talk.”

Hannah raised the gun and switched back to a two-handed grip. She said, “No. And let’s not.”

Harold took a long step forward.

Hannah said, “Stop.”

Harold’s face twisted into a mean, cruel grin. He took another step.

Hannah said, “I’m not kidding. Stop.”

Harold took another step.

Hannah took a breath, held it, aimed at Harold’s center mass, and pulled her trigger. The noise was devastating. The spent cartridge hit the wall and fizzed down onto the carpet by Reacher’s foot. Harold staggered back. He fell. And lay still.

—

Hannah stepped forward,already leaning down to check Harold for signs of life. Reacher grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“Let go.” Hannah tried to wriggle free. “I need to know if—”

Harold sat up. His face was twisted with fury. His shirt was ripped. Metal glinted through the hole in the fabric. He was wearing a ballistic vest. The fibers had flexed like a soccer net stopping a well struck ball. The surface had distorted. The bullet had pancaked. But the structure had done its job. The bullet had not gotten through.

Reacher had a rule for that kind of situation. Your enemy gets knocked down, they do not get back up. You finish them, there and then. No mercy. No hesitation. But Hannah’s intervention had slowed him down. Cost him a second. And that was enough for Harold to haul himself the rest of the way up.

Harold’s feet were spread wide. His knuckles were practically brushing the sides of the corridor. His arms and legs were as long as Reacher’s. Maybe longer. Which was a problem. It took away one of Reacher’s regular advantages. In a fight he could normally stay out of harm’s way and still be able to inflict massive damage. But there was no way to hit Harold without the risk of getting hit in return. Of taking some serious punishment. That wasn’t a prospect Reacher was keen on. It would reduce his efficiency. Lower his odds of success.

Harold shifted his stance and squared up like some old-school bruiser. It was like he had read Reacher’s mind. A mean smile spread across his face. His fists were like sledgehammers. Weight was on his side. If he could land one blow it would be game over, and he knew it.

Reacher knew it, too. But he also knew there are times when a needle is more effective than a hammer.

“Careful,” Reacher said. “Don’t let your knuckles drag on the ground.”

Harold’s eyes narrowed.

“They won’t let you in the hospital if you hurt yourself. They’ll send you to a vet. Lock you in a zoo afterward. Or a circus.”

Harold charged forward. He launched an immense right hook. The motion was smooth. Practiced. Reacher had no doubt that if Harold’s fist made contact with his skull the result would be devastating. But he was expecting it. He snapped his body back from the waist. Just far enough. Harold’s fist zipped past his nose. It kept moving. And made contact with the wall. It shattered the surface and smashed through the lattice of wooden slats that supported the plaster. Harold yelled and wrenched back his arm but his hand would not come free. It was stuck like a fish on a barbed hook.

Reacher danced in close and threw a punch of his own. It was vicious. Brutal. It caught Harold right by his ear. It rocked his head tothe side. It would have knocked anyone else down. They’d have been unconscious. For a long time. Maybe forever. But Harold shook his head. Spat out some blood. And grinned.

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