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“So?”
“Amazing tests, right?”
She nodded.
“Real science-fiction stuff, right?”
She nodded again.
“OK,” he said. “Amazing, science-fiction tests. But this guy killed Amy Callan and beat all of those tests, right?”
“Right.”
“So what do you call that type of a guy?”
“What?”
“A very clever guy, is what.”
She made a face. “Among other things.”
“Sure, a lot of other things, but whatever else, a very clever guy. Then he did it again, with Cooke. Now what do we call him?”
“What?”
“A very, very clever guy. Once might have been luck. Twice, he’s damn good.”
“So?”
“Then he did it again, with Stanley. Now what do we call him?”
“A very, very, very clever guy?”
Reacher nodded. “Exactly.”
“C V
So?
“So that’s the clue. We’re looking for a very, very, very clever guy.”
“I think we know that already.”
Reacher shook his head. “I don’t think you do. You’re not factoring it in.”
“In what sense?”
“You think about it. I’m only an errand boy. You Bureau people can do all the hard work.”
The stewardess came out of the galley with the breakfast trolley. It was first class, so the food was reasonable. Reacher smelled bacon and egg and sausage. Strong coffee. He flipped his tray open. The cabin was half-empty, so he got the girl to give him two breakfasts. Two airline meals made for a pleasant snack. She caught on quick and kept his coffee cup full.
“How aren’t we faccoring it in?” Harper asked.
“Figure it out for yourself,” Reacher said. “I’m not in a helpful mood.”
“Is it that he’s not a soldier?”
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He turned to stare at her. “That’s great. We agree he’s a really smart guy, and so you say well, then he’s obviously not a soldier. Thanks a bunch, Harper.”
She looked away, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just can’t see how we’re not factoring it in.”
He said nothing in reply. Just drained his coffee and climbed over her legs to get to the bathroom. When he got back, she was still looking contrite.
“Tell me,” she said.
“No.”
“You should, Reacher. Blake’s going to ask me about your attitude.”
“My attitude? Tell him my attitude is if a hair on Jodie’s head gets hurt, I’ll tear his legs off and beat him to death with them.”
She nodded. “You really mean that, right?”
He nodded back. “You bet your ass I do.”
“That’s what I don’t understand. Why aren’t you feeling a little bit of the same way about these women? You liked Amy Callan, right? Not the same way as Jodie, but you liked her.”
“I don’t understand you, either. Blake wanted to use you like a hooker, and you’re acting like he’s still your best buddy.”
She shrugged. “He was desperate. He gets like that. He’s under a lot of stress. He gets a case like this, he’s just desperate to crack it.”
“And you admire that?”
She nodded. “Sure I do. I admire dedication.”
“But you don’t share it. Or you wouldn’t have said no to him. You’d have seduced me on camera, for the good of the cause. So maybe it’s you who doesn’t care enough about these women.”
She was quiet for a spell. “It was immoral. It annoyed me.”
He nodded. “And threatening Jodie was immoral, too. It annoyed me?
“But I’m not letting my annoyance get in the way of justice.”
“Well, I am. And if you don’t like that, tough shit.”
s/
I faff didn’t speak again, all the way to Seattle. Five hours, without a word. Reacher was comfortable enough with that. He was not a compulsively sociable guy. He was happier not talking. He didn’t see anything odd about it. There was no strain involved. He just sat there, not talking, like he was making the journey on his own.
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Harper was having more trouble with it. He could see she was worried about it. She was like most people. Put her alongside somebody she was acquainted with, she felt she had to be conversing. For her, it was unnatural not to be. But he didn’t relent. Five hours, without a single word.