Reacher asked her, ‘Are you putting this visit in the official record?’
She said, ‘What visit? And I told the private at the gate not to, either.’
Not tongue-tied any more. Not with the interloper Morgan out of the house. She looked young, but infinitely capable, like sergeants the world over. The tape over her right breast said her name was Leach.
She said, ‘I know who you are.’
Reacher said, ‘Have we met?’
‘No, sir, but you’re a famous name here. You were this unit’s first commander.’
‘Do you know why I’m back?’
‘Yes, sir. We were told.’
‘What was the general reaction?’
‘Mixed.’
‘What’s your personal reaction?’
‘I’m sure there’s a good explanation. And sixteen years is a long time. Which makes it political, probably. Which is usually bullshit. And even if it isn’t, I’m sure the guy deserved it. Or worse.’
Reacher said nothing.
Leach said, ‘I thought about warning you, when you first came in. Best thing for you would have been just to run for it. So I really wanted to turn you around and get you out of here. But I was under orders not to. I’m sorry.’
Reacher asked her, ‘Where is Major Turner?’
Leach said, ‘Long story.’
‘How does it go?’
‘She deployed to Afghanistan.’
‘When?’
‘The middle of the day, yesterday.’
‘Why?’
‘We have people there. There was an issue.’
‘What kind of an issue?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘And?’
‘She never arrived.’
‘You know that for sure?’
‘No question.’
‘So where is she instead?’
‘No one knows.’
‘When did Colonel Morgan get here?’
‘Within hours of Major Turner leaving.’
‘How many hours?’
‘About two.’
‘Did he give a reason for being here?’
‘The implication was Major Turner had been relieved of her command.’
‘Nothing specific?’
‘Nothing at all.’
‘Was she screwing up?’
Leach didn’t answer.
Reacher said, ‘You may speak freely, sergeant.’
‘No, sir, she wasn’t screwing up. She was doing a really good job.’
‘So that’s all you’ve got? Implications and disappearances?’
‘So far.’
‘No gossip?’ Reacher asked. Sergeants were always part of a network. Always had been, always would be. Like rumour mills. Like uniformed versions of tabloid newspapers.
Leach said, ‘I heard one little thing.’
‘Which was?’
