In Colorado the towns of Hope and Despair are separated by twelve miles of empty road. Jack Reacher arrives in Despair and all he wants is a cup of coffee but only finds trouble. The town folks just ignore him in the only diner in town and then order him to leave.
Despair is a company town owned by a powerful, wealthy, ultra-religious businessman and everyone works in this man’s scrap metal recycling plant. This only adds to Reacher’s suspicions that the town is hiding something.
After being kicked out of Despair Reacher goes back to the town o Hope. He gains the interest and help of a local police lady. He learns more about Despair finding out that each night a small plane takes off like clockwork returning 7 hours later while a small well-armed group of military cops stand guard around the scrape metal plant.
He returns to investigate and learns of two men who have disappeared and of a connection to a distant war that's killing Americans by the thousand.
The conflict quickly becomes one between the man who owns the town and Reacher and of course Reacher doesn’t lose.
Another exciting Jack Reacher story well worth the read.
Quotes
“No, I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they don't, I don't.”
“A person less fortunate than yourself deserves the best you can give. Because of duty, and honor, and service. You understand those words? You should do your job right, and you should do it well, simply because you can, without looking for notice or reward.”
“I have to warn you. I promised my mother, a long time ago. She said I had to give folks a chance to walk away.”
“Where are the deputies?'
'On their way up to the first-aid post.'
'What happened to them?'
'I did.”
“That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear. Like: New Hampshire, Live Free or Die. It should be: Despair, You Need To Leave Now.”
“Because deep down to the army a wounded soldier that can’t fight anymore is garbage. So we depend on civilians, and civilians don’t care either.”
