章 188: Chapter 188: Farewell
In the distance, the sound of helicopter rotors and police sirens could be heard. Jack Reacher stood up from the ground, stubbed out his cigar, and pulled Roscoe into a hug. As they staggered away, Jack called out.
"Peach pie tomorrow, bring your girl, Big Jack."
Reacher replied without turning his head, "Got it, Shaggy Jack."
"Why does he call you Shaggy Jack?" Hanna asked curiously.
"You'll find out later."
Jack discreetly adjusted his pants pocket in an awkward manner. Today's events were intense, not as thrilling as those in New Mexico, but it was the first time he had spent so many bullets on one person.
Braxton pulled up in a Ford F450 Raptor and beckoned Chris and Dana to get in.
"Is this your loot?" Jack remembered the truck belonged to Little Kleiner.
"Yes, it's almost new, custom-made. I'm driving it back to Los Angeles."
This heavy-duty off-road pickup suited a big man like Braxton. The petite Dana seemed to struggle getting in, making Jack envious. He waved goodbye.
"See you in Los Angeles."
"We should be going too." Jack put an arm around Hanna and headed to his Firebird.
Zoey drove the Hunter couple back to Atlanta. Only Fenley, along with the Heberg family and the Stevenson couple as "hostages" and witnesses, remained to handle the IRS, FBI, and Georgia state police.
The Secret Service was probably on their way too. Jack had the foresight to call Rossi.
A case this big, even split three ways, would bring plenty of credit. Though the BAU had nothing to do with counterfeit cases, that was an internal FBI matter. Rossi, with a detailed report in advance, could gain significant benefits even by doing someone a favor.
Moreover, the local office would be in trouble because of Picard the traitor. Jack needed to show his connections quickly to avoid being accused of betrayal by desperate individuals.
Hanna, about to report to the Los Angeles office, couldn't avoid scrutiny. It was crucial to get a clear stance from above to prevent slander.
Though Rossi was disturbed in the middle of the night, he couldn't hide his excitement. Rebuilding the BAU team had been a huge challenge.
Jack, as a potential subordinate, had delivered two big cases, tipping the scales heavily in his favor.
Rossi was prepared to leverage all his connections, but now it seemed unnecessary. Instead of owing favors, he gained bargaining power.
The New Mexico and Georgia cases, though it appeared Jack sought his help, were handled cleanly without any lingering issues.
So, despite Jack nervously seeking his aid, Rossi saw this as a chance to prove his value as a leader. These gestures of gratitude struck the right chord.
Back at the town motel, compared to the gentle and accommodating Zoey, Hanna was a typical novice but eager. Jack's now-masterful skills quickly overwhelmed her, leaving her exhausted and asleep.
The next day, like his first day in Margrave, Jack sat in the same diner, this time with Hanna by his side, facing Reacher, Fenley, and Roscoe.
"How's the peach pie?" Jack asked, finishing his portion and ordering another.
"I've had better," Reacher said, glancing subtly at Roscoe.
The local girl smiled but had a hint of sorrow in her eyes.
"So, what's everyone's plan?" Jack asked, looking at each person.
"I'll go to Atlanta to take care of my brother until he recovers. It's been a long time since we've spent time together," Reacher said, reminiscing.
Fenley, the most talkative and seemingly happiest, had a lot to say.
"I'll stay here for a few weeks, help Roscoe sort things out, then head back to Boston to restart my life. I'm done with police work. Maybe I'll find something else, maybe even get a dog and name it Jack."
Both Jacks looked at him, speaking in unison, "Are you sure?"
After the laughter, Jack turned to Roscoe. "What about you?"
Roscoe lifted her head, determination, and confidence in her eyes.
"I'll stay here and rebuild the town my family founded, proving that even without Kleiner, the people of Margrave can create wealth with their own hands."
Listening to her passionate speech, Jack handed her a flyer.
"Maybe I can offer some help."
"Although Margrave has declined, its location is excellent. The old national highway runs through here, and it's well-connected by roads. From here, it's easy to transport goods to the main southern states."
"So, if you develop a popular product, the economy will quickly recover, even better than relying on Kleiner's scraps."
Roscoe looked puzzled at the flyer. "What's this?"
"An electric tricycle, perfect for farms and ranches."
Jack grinned, pointing to the vehicle on the flyer. In his past life, these electric tricycles, unable to get licenses in many places, became popular in the West after 2020.
Even in New York, they introduced $80,000 delivery trikes to solve the last mile problem in the courier industry.
While this was an exaggeration, the development of electric vehicles made these trikes common in European rural areas.
In Texas, Jack had ordered one online for the Mexican couple guarding Hanna's farm. It should be arriving soon.
People could easily use it to move in and out of barns, transport feed, and even go fishing.
"You can order a few from Seris to try out. They're cheap, less than $2,000 with shipping, very durable, and easy to maintain."
He spread out a map. "European rural areas already use these imported trikes. Soon, they'll be popular in the southern rural areas here."
"My idea is to import parts from Seris, assemble and rebrand them in Margrave, and sell them to the southern states at a lower price."
This was a spontaneous idea. In a town with less than 2,000 people, even a small business could suffice. Doing some assembly work was just right.
"This is Chris's office number. He has some dealings with that country. If you decide, you can consult him."
This was a minor detail quickly forgotten. That day, Jack and Hanna left Georgia for their final stop, Florida.
___________________
Read Ahead
P@treon.com/Mutter
___________________
✨ Special Offer! ✨
Enjoy a 50% discount on all Patreon tiers until November 30th! 🎉
Use code EDE1A at checkout to unlock this limited-time deal.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット