If Jack hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he'd have never guessed that the guy "tricked" into buying these "Little Wing" air defense missiles was actually a North Korean terrorist defector.
This completely solidified the congressman's guilt. Remember, their brother in the north of South Korea has long been under strict US national security as a terrorist country.
Terrorists defecting from a terrorist country might sound a bit darkly humorous, but their significance isn't simply the sum of twos, or even the sum of twos equaling a positive, but the sum of twos multiplied.
Of course, the rest of the story doesn't concern Jack much; the FBI's International Division will have to deal with it. The relationship between the US and North Korea is a bit delicate right now, especially since the president has always called someone born in the 1980s a good friend and advocated for reconciliation.
The FBI's International Division is currently undergoing restructuring. Aside from Uncle Baozi Mike Taylor's newly established field team, the rest of the division has been disbanded or reorganized, leaving only a handful of the original management team. It's unclear how they will handle this North Korean terrorist.
All Jack had to do now was go back and divide the money, then figure out how to trick Jiejie and Hannah into sharing some of the paperwork.
He didn't need to worry about taking down the congressman; the Andersons were already negotiating the aftermath with the political family behind Lavoie.
But there was one more pressing matter he needed to attend to. Looking at Anna, who had always clung to him, a splitting headache gripped him.
The fact that this beautiful young woman was willing to join "Shangri-La" was a good thing. Her cover identity had always been a supermodel. While her cleaned-up identity made it difficult for her to mingle in the Paris fashion world, she could easily become a minor star in Hollywood.
After her minor plastic surgery, Anna could avoid two stylists who knew her well, even occasionally returning to Paris for Fashion Week without worrying about any problems.
The European and American fashion world wasn't big, but it wasn't small either. The crucial factor was the rapid turnover of models; describing them as fleeting wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Every year, countless newcomers enter the industry, while countless veterans sadly retire. While Anna's previous identity was somewhat renowned, her disappearance hasn't attracted the slightest attention.
Therefore, Anna's identity isn't the issue. Even if she doesn't want to appear before the camera anymore, Shangri-La's current scale doesn't mind keeping two idle people. As long as she's on call to help Jack handle matters he might not otherwise be involved in, that's enough.
Take, for example, the intermediary's escort this time. Although it was orchestrated by the bald Frank, even Jack was unaware of it.
If a similar case were to occur in the future, with someone behind the scenes, Reacher wouldn't have to brazenly run off with a suitcase of cash in public.
The problem, however, is that Anna's personality has become a bit too much since her recent appearance. Not only did she give Jack a passionate kiss upon their initial encounter, but even after returning to the Most Wanted squad base, she's still clinging to Jack like a green tea, completely ignoring the unfriendly glances from Jiejie and Hannah.
Less than ten minutes after everyone sat down, the three girls were discussing self-defense techniques amidst the crowd's eager eyes. Then, naturally, they decided to head to the adjacent combat training room for a sparring match.
After giving the onlookers a fierce look, seeing it was futile, someone could only be thankful that Jubal, Clay, and the others had gone home to bed, otherwise, they would have been embarrassed in the group for a long time.
They cracked a few preserved eggs, chopped two pounds of shredded beef, cooked a large pot of fragrant preserved egg and lean meat congee, and fried a hefty stack of omelets. Paired with steaming hot coffee, a brunch—not particularly sumptuous, but deliciously flavorful—was served.
The three girls, having finished their sparring match, returned to the restaurant. Their pretty faces showed no signs of abnormality, but they were all rubbing their shoulders and holding their waists, clearly having gained nothing.
Anna, with her professional training as a special agent, was theoretically the strongest of the three, but even without a two-on-one situation, Jack doubted she would have gotten away with anything.
Hannah and Jiejie might lack some skill, but their physical fitness far surpassed that of a former FSB operative. After all, with Jack's frequent healing tricks, any sports injuries wouldn't have left a lasting impression.
Seeing Anna finally stop her antics and sit down to eat, Jack breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject. "So, what are you going to do with the $65 million? Will it help to undo some of the pain you've caused?"
The former members of the 110th Special Investigations Unit were already starving, and they had already begun devouring their food as soon as it was served. They paused at his words and glanced at the large man.
"Of course, but how to do it specifically is a huge decision." Negley puffed on the hot air and sipped his porridge with great relish.
O'Donnell, his mouth full of omelet, took a long time to swallow. "I'm thankful I've always played a minor role in the group, doing odd jobs. I don't have to make any decisions."
Reacher kicked the suitcase toward Jack. "Don't look at me. I'm the poorest of you. Shouldn't this be best left to someone with experience?"
Jack kicked him back without even looking. "I can help with the money for free and maximize the profits, but I can't decide how to divide it. After all, I don't know your people well."
He meant it literally, including for the families of the innocent people who died in this case. Sometimes an equal share isn't the fairest option, and sudden wealth doesn't always bring happiness.
"In my opinion, someone without a car loan, mortgage, or job is the most suitable person to handle this job." And he would also be the most convincing, Jack added in his mind.
"You're the most money-conscious person I've ever met, Reacher. I'm sure you can handle this. Come on, big guy," Dixon encouraged the reluctant man.
—
Reacher spent two weeks repairing Jack's door before finally giving up and simply replacing it with a new one, including the door frame, for $200 of the $65 million.
Meanwhile, during that same two weeks, Angela Frantz, Calvin Frantz's widow, received a check for $1 million and a stock transfer agreement.
The agreement promised Shangri-La a minimum annual dividend of $200,000 and offered to redeem the shares for at least $5 million after 20 years.
Orozco's family also received a check and a similar stock transfer agreement, while Sanchez's girlfriend, Milena, received a sum of cash, enough to allow her to become the owner of that lucky bar and embark on a world tour.
A stray animal rescue center received a long-term donation agreement, also from Shangri-La, but signed by Tony Swan.
(End of Chapter)