Once they were back on Main Street the phone directed them to the east, away from the center of town. The hotel was near the river, to the north. It wasn’t far as the crow flies but a ridge of trees meant there was no direct route. The sun was low in the sky. Dense branches overhead cut the available daylight further. The road was quiet. They didn’t see another vehicle for five minutes. Then a car appeared. It came closer and the shape of a lightbar solidified on its roof. It passed them. Its roof bar lit up. The narrow corridor between the trees started to pulse with red and blue. Then the car turned and sped back toward the truck.
Hannah said, “Oh, please, no. What now? What do we do?”
Reacher said, “There’s nothing to worry about. We haven’t done anything wrong.”
“We haven’t? Those six guys you beat up might tell a different story.”
“They’re not here. And they’re in no position to call 911. Trust me. This is just routine bullshit. It’s going to be fine.”
“What if it isn’t?”
Reacher said nothing.
* * *
—
Hannah pulled the truck over to the side of the road. The police car tucked in behind with its lights still flashing. The cop stayed inside for a couple more minutes. Reacher didn’t know if he was checking something, calling for reinforcements, or just trying to play mind games. He didn’t care which, as long as the cop didn’t keep it up for too long. He didn’t want his burgers to get cold.
The cop finally climbed out and approached the driver’s window. He lifted his hand. The knuckle of his middle finger was extended, ready to knock, but Hannah buzzed the window down before he made contact with the glass.
The cop said, “Good afternoon, s…miss. Do you know why I pulled you over?”
Hannah shook her head. “I have no idea. I wasn’t speeding.” She glanced across at Reacher. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You’re driving a vehicle registered to an individual who, according to official records, is currently deceased.”
“Currently? Are you expecting that to change?”
The cop took a deep breath. “I’ll put this plainly. Why are you driving a dead man’s truck?”
“The dead man was my ex-husband. We were close. I had permission. I’m on his insurance. And I’m due to inherit the truck as soon as his will is read.”
“Your name, miss?”
“Hannah Hampton-Roth.”
“ID?”
“In my purse. OK if I get it?”
“Go ahead.”
Hannah took her purse from the backseat, rummaged in it for a moment, and pulled out her wallet. She opened it, then passed her driver’s license to the cop.
The cop studied the license for a moment then said, “Registration? Insurance?”
Hannah leaned across to the passenger side, opened the glove box, and took out a clear plastic pocket. The documents were inside. She straightened and handed it out of the window.
The cop said, “Wait here.” Then he walked back to his car.
Hannah stretched for the keys to switch the engine off but Reacher took her hand.
He said, “Leave it running. If the cop has his gun drawn when he gets back out, floor it. Same applies if another police cruiser shows up. Or anything that could be an unmarked car.”
* * *
—
The cop stayed in his car for five long minutes then returned to Hannah’s window. His gun was still in its holster. He handed the documents and the license back and said, “You’re a long way from home, miss. What brings you to Winson?”
Hannah tucked the license back into her wallet and handed the plastic pocket to Reacher. “My ex-husband has—had—friends here. I need to let them know that Sam has passed. That’s better done in person than on the phone or email, don’t you think?”
“Who were his friends?”
“Angela St. Vrain. Danny Peel. They worked with Sam before Angela and Danny moved out here.”
“Will you be staying with one of them tonight?”
“No. We’ll go to a hotel.”
“Which one?”
“We’re—”
“Still working on that,” Reacher said.
The cop said, “You didn’t think to make a reservation before you left Colorado?”
Reacher said, “No.”
“What if you’d come all this way and the hotels were all full?”
“Is that a common problem here?”
The cop was silent for a moment then he nodded toward the rear of the truck. “What happened to your window?”