Contents
Chapter 24
Overview
Reacher and Chang fly to Los Angeles and meet science editor Westwood in Inglewood. Reacher argues the “200 deaths” figure is specific and that “Maloney” is likely an alias used by Keever’s client. They plan a follow-up at the LA Times to trace blocked callers. Meanwhile, the surveillance network monitors their calls and meeting, confirming the pursuit continues.
Summary
Reacher and Michelle Chang board an early flight to Los Angeles, discussing logistics for meeting LA Times science editor Westwood and their plan to call upon landing. Their rapport deepens with brief personal talk before the plane chases dawn west.
Back in Mother’s Rest, daily routines resume. The one-eyed motel clerk notes rooms 214 and 215 are empty and concludes Reacher and Chang are gone, while townspeople settle into normal business, suggesting local vigilance is easing.
At LAX, Chang calls Westwood, waking him. She frames the urgency: a credible claim of two hundred deaths, her FBI background, Reacher’s military experience, and the promise of book rights. Westwood proposes a meeting at a coffee shop in Inglewood.
South of Mother’s Rest, the surveillance coordinator receives a report: Hackett has logged the Westwood–Chang call and will monitor the rendezvous. The net remains active and coordinated.
At the coffee shop, Westwood arrives late. Chang explains they’ve hit a wall on Keever’s disappearance and lack grounds for police action. Reacher argues that “two hundred” sounds like a specific, evidenced figure. He proposes the name “Maloney” on Keever’s note is a client alias, created after Westwood blocked the original caller.
They agree to meet at Westwood’s LA Times office to review call records, starting with blocked numbers prior to the first “Maloney” call, filtered by likely geography and behavior. As Reacher and Chang depart, the surveillance team notes the meeting outcome and plans to keep following Westwood to the next location.
Who Appears
- Jack ReacherLeads the meeting with Westwood; argues the specificity of “200” and that “Maloney” is an alias; pushes plan to trace blocked callers.
- Michelle ChangCalls Westwood, frames urgency, and coordinates meetings; shares personal details with Reacher; agrees to follow up at the Times.
- WestwoodLA Times science editor; meets in Inglewood; skeptical but agrees to check records and host a follow-up at his office.
- HackettSurveillance operative tracking Westwood and the meeting; reports details to his coordinator.
- Man with ironed jeans and blow-dried hairSurveillance coordinator; receives updates on calls and meetings, directs continued monitoring.
- One-eyed motel clerkObserves Reacher and Chang’s rooms empty in Mother’s Rest and assumes they are gone.