Page 72 of Exit Strategy
Kasselwood said, ‘I turned a blind eye in ’03. I learned my lesson. We’re staying.’
Reacher decided to start with Strickland’s office. He was hoping Strickland would be there to answer in person but when they arrived, the door was open, the lights were off, and the room was deserted. Reacher hit the light switch and they congregated around the desk, since that seemed to have more potential than the cot.
Kasselwood picked up the iPad. She said, ‘I’ll see what’s in here.’
Gilmour looped around to the far side of the desk and sat down at the keyboard.
Reacher made a start on the In/Out tray. The upper tray was empty but there was a sheaf of stapled papers in the lower one. Reacher flicked through it. The pages were printed, and some had handwritten notes added to them. It was the draft of a contract between the Department of Defense and Strickland Security. Reacher started to skim through the sections and clauses. The whole thing seemed bizarre to him. A dry, arcane document in an underground room in Maryland, meaningless because it wasn’t signed – but with the addition of a couple of squiggles of ink, it would translate into boots on the ground on the other side of the world. And inevitably dead bodies on the other side of the world. Reacher was more interested in a link to the dead bodies that were already herebut he couldn’t see one. He got to the last page. The one with the most scribbled notes. And suddenly everything came into focus.
Reacher said, ‘That son of a bitch.’
Kasselwood looked up from the iPad and said, ‘Found something?’
Reacher held the document with its last page facing out. He said, ‘See that last paragraph? The title is “Special Compensatory Consideration.” What do you think that means?’
Kasselwood shook her head.
Gilmour said, ‘Damned if I know.’
Vardanyan was sitting on the cot. She didn’t respond at all.
Reacher said, ‘It means that if any of Strickland Security’s contractors get killed in an action carried out on behalf of the US government, the president of the company – Morgan Strickland – gets a compensation payment. Not the family of the dead guy. Not the company. Strickland, personally.’
Kasselwood said, ‘That’s so wrong.’
Gilmour said, ‘How much does he get per body?’
Reacher said, ‘One million dollars.’
FORTY
Kasselwood said, ‘This compensation clause. Is it a new thing?’
Reacher said, ‘It must be. The contract isn’t signed yet.’
Kasselwood said, ‘That explains the refrigerated room. And why the bodies are in uniform. They must be KIAs from the last operation Strickland’s company was involved in. Some minor fracas in Haiti, I think. The bodies weren’t worth any money then. Now the contents of that room are worth twenty-five million dollars. That’s why Strickland’s faking the case for invading Armenia. He’s going to pretend those guys got killed over there.’
Gilmour said, ‘Will that work? Even refrigerated, those bodies aren’t going to look like fresh ones. Surely any decent medic will see through that.’
‘Definedecent medic. I’m sure any doctorcouldtell thedifference. And would over here, anyway. In peacetime. With their medical license at stake. But overseas? In the fog of war? With some of that million-dollar love to spread around? I can see it working. Once the shooting starts he’ll take them over there. And I can see Strickland trying it, at least. I told you. He’s a creative guy.’
‘What about when the bodies come home? If even one family gets suspicious and calls for an autopsy …’
‘The bodies won’t come home. These are contractors. Not the US Army. There’s no obligation to repatriate. It’ll be in the operators’ contracts. The company will have the right to dispose of the bodies as it sees fit.’
‘That’s grim.’
Reacher said, ‘Strickland’s not going to try this time. I’ll see to that. I don’t care how creative he is.’
Gilmour said, ‘I can’t believe anyone at the Pentagon would sign off on this.’
Reacher said, ‘I bet Kathryn will believe it.’
Kasselwood said, ‘Why?’
‘The signature page is set up for Mark Hewson. I bet he’s going to sign it tomorrow when he’s here to see Vardanyan. I bet that’s the plan, anyway.’
Gilmour said, ‘How are you going to stop it?’
