Never Go Back

little triangle.
    Reacher said, ‘Samantha Dayton, Susan Turner, Susan Turner, Samantha Dayton.’
    The kid twisted around on the vinyl and shook hands with Turner and said, ‘Are you his assistant?’
    Turner said, ‘No, I’m his commanding officer.’
    ‘Way cool. What agency?’
    ‘Military police.’
    ‘Awesome. Who are all the others?’
    ‘There’s only us and the FBI.’
    ‘Are you leading or are they leading?’
    ‘We are, of course.’
    ‘So it’s your guy in the white car?’
    ‘Yes, he’s ours.’
    ‘Parachuted in from where?’
    ‘I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.’
    The kid laughed, and looked happy as a clam. The inside scoop, and a woman CO, and jokes. She said, ‘So the guy due to show up is a military guy? Like an AWOL soldier saying goodbye to his family before disappearing for ever? But why would his family have a lawyer? Or is it his lawyer? Is he a spy, or something? Like a very senior officer, all old and distinguished, but tragically disillusioned? Is he selling secrets?’
    Reacher said, ‘Have you seen anyone today?’
    ‘The same people as yesterday.’
    ‘No men on their own?’
    ‘The man with the cropped ears is on his own today. In the rental. Maybe his partner is out sick.’
    ‘Where did you see him?’
    ‘He came down Vineland in his car. I was in the coffee shop for breakfast. Near the lawyer’s office. Although we’ll need to rethink that involvement. This thing is a triangle, isn’t it? And we don’t know which one the lawyer is working for. Could be the neighbour, could be the soldier. Could be both of them, I suppose, although I don’t see how. Or why, actually.’
    Reacher asked, ‘What time did you eat breakfast?’
    ‘It was early. Just after the agents left.’
    ‘They left?’
    ‘Just for twenty minutes. That seems to be the pattern. You should coordinate better. Everyone moves at the same time, which leaves a gap.’
    ‘That’s bad.’
    ‘It’s OK with me. It means I can get out without them knowing. Then when I come back they’re all surprised, because they thought I was still in there.’
    ‘Is that what you did this morning?’
    ‘It’s what I’m going to do every morning.’
    ‘Did the man with the ears see you leave?’
    ‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘Did he see you anyplace else?’
    ‘I don’t think so. I was trying to blend in. Because of your people, not him. I didn’t see him. But I saw his car again later. It was parked where there was a fender bender.’
    Reacher said, ‘You need to stay away from that guy.’
    ‘I know. You told me that yesterday. But I can’t stay in the house all day.’
    Turner paused a beat, and asked, ‘How long have you lived in that house?’
    ‘Always, I think. I don’t remember any other houses. I’m pretty sure I was born in that house. That’s what people say, isn’t it? Even when they weren’t, exactly. Which I wasn’t, either. I was born in the hospital. But I went home to that house. Which is what the phrase means these days, I suppose, now that the whole parturition business has been institutionalized.’
    Turner said, ‘Have you ever lived in a car?’
    ‘That’s a weird question.’
    ‘You can tell us. We know people who would love to get that high on the food chain.’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘Lots of people. What I mean is, we don’t judge.’
    ‘Am I in trouble?’
    Reacher said, ‘No, you’re not in trouble. We’re just checking a couple of things. What’s your mom’s name?’
    ‘Is she in trouble?’
    ‘No one’s in trouble. Not on your street, anyway. This is about the other guy.’
    ‘Does he know my mom? Oh my God, is it us you’re watching? You’re waiting for him to come see my mom?’
    ‘One step at a time,’ Reacher said. ‘What’s your mom’s name? And, yes, I know about the Colt Python.’
    ‘My mom’s name is Candice Dayton.’
    ‘In that case I would like to meet her.’
    ‘Why? Is she a suspect?’
    ‘No, this would be personal.’
    ‘How could it be?’
    ‘I’m the guy they’re looking for. They think I know your mother.’
    ‘You?’
    ‘Yes, me.’
    ‘You don’t know my mother.’
    ‘They think face to face I might recognize her, or she might recognize me.’
    ‘She wouldn’t. And you wouldn’t.’
    ‘It’s hard to say for sure, without actually trying it.’
    ‘Trust me.’
    ‘I would like to.’
    ‘Mister, I can tell you quite categorically you don’t know my mom and she doesn’t know