Contents
Chapter 55
Overview
Reacher, Chang, and Westwood execute a flanking assault through the wheat. Chang’s suppressive fire lets Reacher kill two gunmen while a third escapes. Expecting a hardened safe room, Reacher deduces a tornado shelter with a secondary exit. They breach the compound with the backhoe and advance on a silent house.
Summary
Reacher crawls through tall wheat to flank three armed defenders sheltering by an outbuilding. Despite a concussion and double vision, he positions for an angled shot as Westwood prepares to drive the backhoe forward behind its raised bucket. Chang crawls to open a second front, intending to pin the defenders for Reacher’s flank shots.
On Reacher’s signal, Westwood rumbles the backhoe ahead; Chang unleashes a full-auto burst to force the gunmen to show themselves. Reacher single-shots the diner counterman in the spine, dropping him, then kills the one-eyed motel clerk with a precise head shot as the man aims toward Chang. The hog farmer bolts; Reacher’s hurried auto burst misses due to instability and dizziness, and Chang’s covering fire goes high. The fleeing farmer escapes sight.
Regrouping, Reacher and Chang assess there are still two of the original crew-cab four unaccounted for. Reacher explains they’ll likely retreat to a preexisting hardened position—a tornado shelter beneath the house—with a secondary exit or tunnel. They plan to find and block any escape hatch, ideally by parking a vehicle on it.
Westwood lowers the bucket for partial visibility and drives the backhoe through the fence into the compound. Expecting contact but receiving none, the trio dismounts. Amid the stench from the hog pens and an unnatural quiet, they line up—Chang left, Westwood center, Reacher right—and advance toward the house to locate the shelter and remaining defenders.
Who Appears
- Jack ReacherLeads the assault; flanks through wheat; kills two defenders; deduces a tornado-shelter safe room.
- Michelle ChangProvides suppressive auto fire; coordinates with Reacher; expends three magazines; helps advance on the house.
- WestwoodDrives the backhoe as mobile cover; breaches the fence; joins the approach on the house.
- Diner countermanArmed defender at the outbuilding; shot by Reacher in the spine and killed.
- One-eyed motel clerkAims toward Chang; Reacher kills him with a precise head shot.
- Hog farmerLocal leader among defenders; dives for cover, then flees out of sight and escapes immediate contact.