章 178: Chapter 178: The Truth
Joey Reacher recovered quickly and had been moved from the ICU to a regular double room. Naturally, his roommate was Chris, who had been shot in the leg.
However, in Jack's view, the two received quite different treatments. Dana, who he hadn't seen in a while, was feeding Chris fruit by his bedside, while Joey looked quite pitiful alone.
The Hunters didn't enter the hospital. The two elders took the Hubble kids to a nearby hotel to rest, while Charlie followed the group into the hospital room.
Dana looked much more confident than before, dressed in a black professional outfit. Jack keenly observed that she even carried a gun.
"Dana is now an IRS analyst. Until Ray King arrives, she's the acting representative," Hannah whispered after greeting everyone. Jack was somewhat stunned. Had the IRS started hiring without training?
"Joe!" The Reacher brothers reunited after a long separation. Seeing his brother lying on the bed with an oxygen mask, Jack Reacher's tough exterior melted, and his eyes reddened instantly.
"Hey, brother," Joey weakly greeted.
"I never thought I'd see you here. When I mentioned Blind Blake, it was just because I knew you liked blues. Maybe you'd visit that town someday," Jack Reacher said, squatting by the bed like a big bear, holding Joey's hand tightly.
"You should have asked for my help. Don't you remember Mom's dying wish? You can't shoulder everything alone."
Joey showed a bitter smile. "Now that I'm lying here, I can't do anything. The rest is up to you. Take down the Kleiner family for me."
Their conversation quickly turned to business after a brief catch-up.
Jack introduced himself simply. Joey had been in a coma, so this was their first official meeting.
"Those two ladies filled me in on your purpose while they were taking care of me," Joey said, his eyes sweeping over Hannah and Zoe.
"I asked them to contact my colleague in the Secret Service, Mollybeth Gordon. She's bringing the information to Atlanta."
"Frankly, a congressman once supported the Kleiner family. They've infiltrated various law enforcement agencies," Jack admitted. It was no secret that someone aware of Joey's identity had tipped off the Kleiners.
Joey smiled. "I know, but Molly is trustworthy. We're very close."
Another office romance?
Joey laid out his findings, finally giving everyone a clear picture of the Kleiner family.
Joey was the director of the Secret Service's investigation office, mainly responsible for combating counterfeit antiques and currency. Over three years, through administrative orders and related procedures, he completely blocked the production of counterfeit money in the USA.
Though he didn't elaborate, Jack could guess it involved controlling the sale of acid-free paper, tracking the entire process from production to purchase.
Joey then turned to international counterfeit money.
"Unlike in the USA where hundred-dollar bills are rare, 80% of international counterfeit money is in hundred-dollar bills, circulating through underground trades like drugs, weapons, and human trafficking."
"Through my research with two Columbia University economics professors, we found that in the past decade, nearly ten billion counterfeit dollars flowed out of Venezuela globally. Even after I blocked the raw material paper, it didn't decrease. So, I did something."
Joey lightly coughed, and Jack Reacher quickly fetched a cup and moistened his brother's lips with a cotton swab.
"Never thought you'd be taking care of me, little brother," Joey said with a bitter smile, then continued.
"I convinced my superiors to allocate extra funds to the Coast Guard. They maintained strict patrols along the southeastern coast for six months. As a result, Venezuela's counterfeit money shipments almost stopped."
"After that, a group of South American mercenaries started frequenting the country. Following the trail led me to Margrave."
Jack nodded repeatedly. This was a smart use of resources. If the Kleiner family hadn't played dirty by flipping the table, Joey might have single-handedly dismantled the entire operation.
"So, you suspect the source of the counterfeit money is in Margrave, Georgia?"
Joey nodded. "Yes, and I found out how they do it."
"They collect large amounts of small bills, use a special technique to wash off the ink, and reprint them as old hundred-dollar bills from before the 1990s, bypassing modern security features."
"Unfortunately, the truck driver willing to testify and transport the counterfeit money to Florida was shot dead when we met."
"Even though I hindered their retail acquisition of small bills, they somehow found a new channel recently."
Jack called Charlie Hubble forward. "I think she can explain the new channels."
Understanding the situation after the chase and listening to the conversation, Charlie no longer hid anything. She revealed that Paul was coerced into collaborating with the Kleiner family, collecting small bills through banking channels.
"When you see a man nailed to the wall and castrated in front of you, you do what they say. Paul was forced. The Kleiners ruined our family."
Charlie finished, tears streaming down her face.
Everything connected now, and both Jacks exchanged a knowing look, each forming a plan.
Hannah still had questions and asked, "How is all this related to my parents' and the EPA investigator's deaths?"
Seeing Joey exhausted from talking, Jack Reacher answered for his brother.
"Sewage. Washing the ink off produces a lot of industrial sewage."
Jack nodded. "Yes, the Kleiner family originally printed counterfeit money in Texas. The sewage polluted the river near your home. They murdered the investigator and your parents and moved the factory to Margrave."
Hannah clenched her teeth, shaking with anger. Zoe gently hugged her, whispering comforting words, then asked.
"Why isn't there a sewage problem here? I checked the map; there's no river or lake nearby."
"Ranches. They treat the sewage," Roscoe, who had been listening, suddenly realized.
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