Never Go Back

again any time soon. No free refills for him.
    The girl was still watching.
    He tried the coffee. It was OK. The counter man brought the girl a plate, and she broke eye contact long enough to say something to him that made him smile. He had an embroidered patch on his uniform, with his name, which was Arthur. He said something back, and the girl smiled, and he moved away again.
    Then the girl picked up her silverware and her napkin in one hand, and her plate in the other, and she slid off her stool, and she stepped over to Reacher’s booth, and she said, ‘Why don’t I join you?’

FIFTY-THREE
    THE GIRL PUT her silverware down, and her napkin, and her plate, and then she ducked back to the counter to retrieve her glass of water. She waved to the guy called Arthur and pointed at the booth, as if to say I’m moving , and then she came back with her water and put it next to her plate, and she slid along the vinyl bench, and she ended up directly opposite Reacher. Up close she looked the same as she did from a distance, but all the details were clearer. In particular her eyes, which seemed to work well with her mouth, in terms of getting all quizzical.
    He said, ‘Why would you want to join me?’
    She said, ‘Why wouldn’t I?’
    ‘You don’t know me.’
    ‘Are you dangerous?’
    ‘I could be.’
    ‘Arthur keeps a Colt Python under the counter, about opposite where you’re sitting. And another one at the other end. They’re both loaded. With .357 Magnums. Out of eight-inch barrels.’
    ‘You eat here a lot?’
    ‘Practically every meal, but the word would be often. Not a lot. Lot refers to quantity, and I prefer small portions.’
    Reacher said nothing.
    ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I can’t help it. I’m naturally pedantic.’
    He said, ‘Why did you want to join me?’
    ‘Why did I see your car three times today?’
    ‘When was the third time?’
    ‘Technically it was the first time. I was at the lawyer’s office.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Curiosity.’
    ‘About what?’
    ‘About why we see the same cars three times a day.’
    ‘We?’
    ‘Those of us paying attention,’ she said. ‘Don’t play dumb, mister. There’s something going on in the neighbourhood, and we would love to know what it is. And you look like you might tell us. If I asked you nicely.’
    ‘Why do you think I could tell you?’
    ‘Because you’re one of them, cruising around all day, snooping.’
    Reacher said, ‘What do you think is happening?’
    ‘We know you’re all over the lawyer’s office. And we know you’re all over my street. So we’re guessing someone on my street is the lawyer’s client, and they’re in some shady business together.’
    ‘Who on your street?’
    ‘That’s the big question, isn’t it? It depends on how much of a head fake you use with your parking places. We think you would want to be close to your target, but not right in front of it, because that would be too obvious. But how close? That’s what we don’t know. You could be watching a lot of different houses, if you go left and right a little ways, up and down the street.’
    Reacher said, ‘What’s your name?’
    ‘Remember that Colt Python?’
    ‘Loaded.’
    ‘My name is Sam.’
    ‘Sam what?’
    ‘Sam Dayton. What’s your name?’
    ‘Is that really all you know about the operation on your street?’
    ‘Don’t damn us with faint praise. I think we did very well to piece that much together. You’re all very tight-lipped about it. Which is a great expression, isn’t it? Tight-lipped? But the tell is the way you move your cars between the law office and where I live. I understand why you do it, but it gives away the connection.’
    ‘No one has talked to you about it?’
    ‘Why would they?’
    ‘Has your mom said anything?’
    ‘She doesn’t pay attention. She’s very stressed.’
    ‘What about?’
    ‘Everything.’
    ‘What about your dad?’
    ‘I don’t have one. I mean, obviously I must, biologically, but I’ve never met him.’
    ‘Brothers or sisters?’
    ‘I don’t have any.’
    Reacher said, ‘Who do you think we are?’
    ‘Federal agents, obviously. Either DEA, ATF, or FBI. This is Los Angeles. It’s always drugs or guns or money.’
    ‘How old are you?’
    ‘Almost fifteen. You didn’t tell me your name yet.’
    Reacher said, ‘Reacher,’ and watched her very carefully. But there was no reaction. No spark. No aha! moment. Or no OMG!! moment, which Reacher understood to be more likely with