Page 76 of Chain Reaction

Chapter 28

Reacher and Turner and Elwood stepped inside the coffee shop. They walked around to where the journalist could see them and Reacher said, “Good morning, Mr. Tow.”

The guy looked up blankly. Then he remembered. He said, “Oh, hi.”

“How’s it going?”

Tow gestured at his laptop screen. “Still killing me,” he said.

“Want to take a break? We might have a better story for you. We could make a deal. You help us, we’ll help you.”

“What kind of better story?”

“A big exclusive. Embargoed a couple of days, but then it’s all yours.”

“Subject?”

“Homicide, scandal and general skullduggery.”

“Where?”

“Right here in the Valley.”

“Homicide?”

“Two that we know about, plus several more attempted.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“Who are you?”

“Military police. A special unit from the Pentagon.”

“Can I see ID?”

“No,” Reacher said.

Tow was quiet a long moment.

“What’s my end of the deal?” he said.

“We need deep background from an independent expert. I figure you’re our guy. We were going to call you today, but here we are anyway. A happy coincidence. Let us buy you breakfast, at least.”

Tow was quiet another long moment.

Then he said, “Pull up a chair.”

They had to pull up a table. They jammed it next to Tow’s, in a figure eight. Two chairs at each, Reacher next to Tow, Turner and Elwood opposite. Reacher made the introductions. Names only, no ranks, no unit designation. Elwood took out his phone. He called up the page he had shown them before and held it out to Tow. Local Attorney Found Slain in Menlo Park Residence.

“Did you see this?” Elwood asked.

“Sure,” Tow said. “Hugo somebody. Worked here in Palo Alto. Disturbed a burglar.”

“We don’t think he did.”

“So what happened?”