Contents
Chapter 57
Overview
Reacher discovers the outbuilding hatch is a cemented decoy just before two riflemen open fire. He and Chang use suppressive bursts to cross open ground and draw the attackers into the studio’s corridor. Exploiting the bottleneck, Reacher kills the hog farmer with a precise burst, forcing the second gunman to flee and triggering pursuit.
Summary
At the outbuilding, Reacher finds the hatch is a decoy cemented onto a solid slab—no tunnel. A rifle crack confirms the real access is elsewhere as two close-range shooters pepper the structure with blind, through-the-wall fire.
Reacher, Chang, and Westwood crawl out the back. Open ground makes movement risky, so Reacher returns inside with Chang, reasoning the random blind fire statistically favors them. Peeking through bullet holes, Reacher spots both riflemen taking turns at the back left corner of the movie studio: a hog farmer and a man with TV-weatherman hair.
They coordinate suppressive fire and dashes, crossing to the studio’s front corner and slipping inside. Reacher signals their presence with return fire, baiting the gunmen to enter and recover their “business.” Reacher and Chang withdraw down the lit corridor past the grisly set, creating a bottleneck.
Human nature wins: the hog farmer cautiously peeks around the doorway. Reacher delivers a precise forehead burst, dropping him instantly. Hearing the kill, the second gunman panics and runs. Reacher and Chang immediately pursue, seizing the initiative.
Who Appears
- Jack ReacherLeads tactics under fire, identifies shooters’ position, executes suppressive maneuvers, and kills the hog farmer in the corridor trap.
- Michelle ChangRuns the suppression-and-dash plan with Reacher, enters the studio, helps lure attackers into the bottleneck, joins the pursuit.
- WestwoodStays back in cover outside; potential chronicler, kept safe while Reacher and Chang assault the studio.
- Hog farmerOne of the riflemen; cautiously checks the studio corridor and is shot dead by Reacher.
- Weather-guy-haired shooterSecond rifleman at the studio’s back corner; flees after his partner is killed, prompting pursuit.