Killing Floor

For a moment, Reacher is sure he and Finlay are going to die. Teale walks in, also armed, and Picard reminds Finlay that he warned him not to take the Margrave job. Kliner joins them a minute later, and Teale asks Baker to bring in two cassette tapes. The first tape he plays has Roscoe’s voice, saying she is in the same kind of trouble Morrison’s wife was in. The second tape has Charlene’s voice. She speaks to Hubble, asking him to come back or “they” will hurt the children. Picard tells Reacher to find Hubble and play the tape for him. Reacher says he does not know where Hubble is, since he thinks Kliner’s men killed him days ago. Kliner sends Reacher and Picard to find Hubble, and if they do not find him by dawn Sunday, Kliner will kill Finlay, Roscoe, Charlene, and the children. Reacher leans forward and asks Kliner, “Can’t your son get him for you?” (449).

Picard and Reacher stop at Eno’s for breakfast. Reacher forces himself to eat while he consults a map of the surrounding area. While Picard is not looking, Reacher pockets his knife and fork.