The crowd exchanged glances, but Reacher's tone softened as he addressed Finlay.
"Since the mastermind controlled Morrison, they'll only put their own people in the chief's position. Theoretically, you, the detective, should take over, but clearly, you're not with them; Tiller is."
"Thank you. Your trust is more aningful to than anything else." Finlay nodded, his words a mix of sarcasm and self-deprecation, causing Reacher's lips to curl into a barely perceptible smile. The tension between the two was probably over.
"I need to call my FBI friend. I can't let these guys control the rest of the investigation." Finlay reached for his phone, but Jack stopped him.
"Have you forgotten why I'm here?"
Jack then introduced himself to the only unaware person present, Roscoe, and recounted the ordeal of Hannah's family over a decade ago, including the Kleiner family's past attempts to harm Zoe using their connections.
"...They even tried to lay a hand on our police chief, so now you should understand just how ruthless the Kleiner Foundation is, right?"
"Wait, you're really only 22 years old? You were just a patrol officer with the LAPD, and you were recruited by the FBI after less than a year?" Roscoe asked incredulously. Although she had long suspected Jack's identity, especially after seeing him conduct a calm on-site investigation at such a bloody cri scene, just like Reacher, it only strengthened her suspicions.
But after hearing his introduction, she was still sowhat incredulous, not only about his resu but also about his age.
"That's not the point." Jack 'modestly' waved his hand, eting the eyes of each of the three, and began to tell the story from the beginning.
"After the congressman behind the Kleiner Foundation fell from power, we decided to take action. A week ago, two of my friends arrived here ahead of ti. They rescued a suspected federal agent, and I rushed to the scene to erase the evidence of their presence."
Finlay's face darkened upon hearing this. Although he had already been humiliated more than once today, he couldn't help but roll his eyes repeatedly upon realizing that his initial investigative approach had been misled.
"What happened next is obviously clear to everyone here. So, first, Reacher, rember you said yesterday that you would give an answer today?"
Seeing that Reacher was about to speak, Jack interrupted and continued, "Actually, this answer is no longer important. I rember Finlay ntioned when he questioned you that you have an older brother. Do you know what he does now?"
"I don't know. Since I left the military and started this kind of life, we haven't been in contact for a long ti. What do you an by asking this?" A sense of foreboding welled up in Reacher's heart, and he looked at Jack with suspicion and uncertainty.
"That call was from my girlfriend Hannah. She told the rescued federal agent has woken up. He admitted to being from the Secret Service, and his full na is Joe Reacher. I was wondering what the odds are of eting two outsiders with the sa last na in this remote town."
Jack abruptly stood up, nimbly dodging Reacher's hand that reached for his shoulder. "Don't get excited, he's out of danger."
"Where is he? Take to him imdiately." Reacher's impulsiveness was fleeting; he quickly cald down.
"He's still weak, but he's out of danger. Trust , he's safe under the protection of my friends. We need to figure out how to get you to the hospital safely." Jack reassured him.
Reacher's usually expressionless face was now clouded with rage, and the anger in his eyes could no longer be concealed.
"I need a gun right now, really."
Jack, thinking he was delirious with anger, pointed to his waist, where the Glock he had given him earlier was tucked. "What's this?"
Reacher drew his Glock from his waist and placed it on the table. "Not so little police toy. I need a big one like the one you have."
Jack's eye twitched. So, he wanted his FK 7.5mm. "Sorry, this gun is too special to . I can't give it to you."
"Do you want a gun? Wait here." Roscoe got up and went inside, quickly returning with a heavy wooden box.
"This was given to by my adoptive father, Gray, a few years ago. He said he wanted to pass it down to his family, and I'm his only family."
Roscoe opened the box, revealing a silver Desert Eagle and two loaded steel magazines.
Reacher smiled with satisfaction. "This gun is quite suitable."
"Everyone around knows I have this gun, so be careful. You'd better use it where it's needed." Roscoe took the silver Desert Eagle from the box and handed it to Reacher.
"I'll take good care of it," Reacher said, looking into her eyes, his gaze softening.
He then skillfully disassembled the Desert Eagle, carefully inspecting it inside and out, before finally inserting the magazine and firing a shot directly at a nearby tree stump.
The loud bang startled Roscoe, who hadn't yet reacted. "Are you kidding ? I told you to be careful with this gun."
"Never trust a weapon you haven't personally tested," Reacher said, releasing the safety and tucking the gun into his back pocket.
Jack, however, beca interested in the wooden box containing the gun; he rembered that in the original storyline, Roscoe's adoptive father seed to have hidden sothing in it.
Seeing him examining the wooden box inside and out, Finlay asked with great confusion, "What are you looking for? It's just an empty box."
"Not necessarily. When I was learning carpentry in my spare ti, I think I saw a similar style of box. This one looks quite old. These antique styles usually have hidden compartnts."
Jack continued his examination, asking Roscoe, "You said your adoptive father committed suicide, right? When did he give you this box?"
Roscoe frowned, trying to recall. "About a year before he died. What's wrong?"
Reacher also frowned. "That's not right. Usually, people who commit suicide entrust their most precious possessions to soone before, not a full year before."
"Found it!" Jack pressed on a spot disguised as a latch on the box. With a click, a small hidden compartnt popped out, and a key fell out.
"Fuck!" Roscoe blurted out.
"Watch your words." Finlay habitually added.
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