Page 121 of Chain Reaction

“We compromised. It was a hell of a lot of money. Seriously. Our original price had a big profit built in, because that’s how you do business. You expect pushback on the first bid. So the double payment made it insane. Construction was hitting hard times. Our women depend on this place. We said the men from Denver could act as independent contractors. Associated with us, but not employed by us. Same money, plus company vehicles provided.”

“Tell me about the vehicles.”

“They made us buy new. A crew cab for a daily driver, and some ridiculous off-road thing from someplace in Utah. Expensive, but we could afford it, of course.”

“Tell me about the night you delivered the gravel.”

“Hugo was in a big hurry. We had said first we should check the ground for a level surface. With a three-inch depth, obviously you can’t have lumps and bumps more than three inches high. We said we should scrape it. Hugo said he would pay the curb crew to get that done, just before we got there. They were due to finish up that evening. They had a backhoe. The gravel delivery itself went exactly like we planned it. We got there at one in the morning. A convoy of trucks, lots of people, lots of lights. Three days’ work in one night. Less than, actually. We had it done by six a.m. Dumped, spread, and raked. I was proud of us.”

“Did you get paid?”

“Sure did.”

“What did the independent contractors do?”

“Absolutely nothing. They had showed up a few days before to collect their vehicles and we never saw them again.”

“Thank you,” Reacher said. “We appreciate your help very much.”

“What is this about?”

“We’re not at liberty to say. But for your own internal bookkeeping purposes, we must inform you that your independent contractors are now deceased, and that their crew cab was stolen days ago and is no doubt already broken up and sold for parts, and that their off-road extravagance was the vehicle on fire in Summertown. You should amend your payroll and your auto insurance accordingly.”

The sister on the right said, “Thank you for letting us know.”

—

They left the sisters at their desks and walked back down the long central corridor to the busy sales office. They went out to the lot and leaned on their truck.

Turner said, “Did you hear what you wanted to hear?”

“Call Julia,” Reacher said.

She tried, but she got no reply.

“Maybe busy with the baby,” she said.

“Did you get the number for the motel in Summertown?”

She had stored it in her phone. She dialed, and she handed the phone to Reacher.

“Hello?” the kid in Summertown said.

“It’s me,” Reacher said. “Your corporate security friend. How are you?”

“Doing well.”

“How many guests do you have tonight?”

“None,” the kid said. “It’s quiet right now.”

“Any bookings in the diary?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Any strangers in town?”

“Haven’t seen any.”