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If the videotape in Jack Reacher’s hand was the deadly tape Henry believed it to be, then it explained one thing.

No matter whether this world’s Helmut Zemo—the mastermind from Captain America: Civil War—was a Hydra member or not, the way he obtained the tape in the future was very likely the same method Reacher had used.

Because according to Henry’s understanding, Hydra’s internal resources were nowhere near as smoothly shared as outsiders imagined.

Branches under different leaders often sabotaged one another.

Suppose the Hydra-controlled S.H.I.E.L.D. faction had also sought to suppress the truth and obtained footage of the crash.

They most likely focused on the digital system.

Even if it was S.H.I.E.L.D.’s doing, they would have had their own reasons for hiding the truth.

Reacher had mentioned that the newly installed digital surveillance system was malfunctioning, which explained why the crash footage was supposedly never saved.

But that could also have been a cover story used by intelligence agencies.

Once surveillance hard drives passed their retention period, recovery became extremely difficult.

Old data would be overwritten to make room for new recordings.

Even traces left in the drive mechanisms themselves would be buried.

Whoever handled the cover-up had clearly only looked at the visible digital system.

They had overlooked the old videotape system beneath the surface—the one that should have been scrapped but hadn’t yet been removed.

That oversight created the opportunity for both Jack Reacher now, and Baron Zemo in the future.

But since Reacher had obtained the tape today, future Zemo was going to have a headache.

At this point, Henry no longer doubted the tape’s authenticity.

Still, he asked one more question.

"Does your source still have any other copies?"

Reacher replied calmly:

"I paid him well.

"If he’s smart, he knows this kind of thing can’t be sold a second or third time.

"If he’s stupid enough not to understand that, then whatever consequences follow are his to bear alone."

"Fair enough."

Henry understood.

The person most likely to care about this information—and pay the highest price for it—was the young master behind him.

Beyond that, Howard Stark’s death was old news from seven or eight years ago.

Whether the truth surfaced or not would not affect the current balance of power.

So Reacher not trying to suppress the information was understandable.

Because to anyone else, the information had little value.

That assumption, of course, depended on Tony Stark already knowing.

After thinking for a moment, Henry asked:

"You watched the contents?"

Reacher nodded.

"Yes.

"And I conducted a preliminary investigation into the killer.

"But pushing further would trigger exactly the kind of problems I mentioned earlier.

"So I stopped there.

"Then I contacted you."

He added:

"My original orders from my superior were only to assist with the investigation.

"They did not include arresting anyone.

"And in this matter, I have no legal authority anyway.

"This isn’t military jurisdiction."

Fully understanding the situation, Henry said directly:

"It sounds like the intelligence you’ve gathered is already enough to notify that person.

"Based on my judgment, once you brief him, your mission is over.

"Because what comes next will be conflict on another level."

Reacher looked relieved.

"If so, that would be excellent.

"This private assignment has taken too much of my time.

"I still have many real criminals who deserve attention—and they’re still walking free."

At that moment, BB-2 rolled out from the hatch beneath the stove again.

This time, balancing on its head was a portable phone unlike any commercial model.

Little Duck floated above it.

Rather than dialing normally, a small connector extended from its utility arm and plugged directly into the phone.

Then it dialed.

Moments later, the call connected.

Since it was the middle of the night, the person on the other end sounded full of murderous irritation.

"Who the hell is calling this number?

"If this isn’t important, I guarantee you won’t see tomorrow’s sun.

"And by important, I mean World War Three—or some unlucky asteroid heading for Earth.

"So speak.

"And you’d better pray I’m fully awake right now."

Through the connection, Henry said plainly:

"The investigation from over a year ago has results.

"You were right.

"If you want to see it, come over."

The words were simultaneously broadcast through Little Duck’s speaker.

"Fu—"

The moment Henry heard the F-word begin, he immediately cut the call.

Then he said cheerfully to Reacher:

"That should make him come as fast as possible.

"If he could open portals, he’d probably appear behind us right now."

He meant it as a joke.

But Reacher suddenly looked like he had seen a ghost.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Henry asked through Little Duck:

"What’s wrong?"

"I thought I just saw sparks appear in midair," Reacher said slowly. "Then they vanished.

"Do you have some kind of strange device here?"

Little Duck immediately spun in place.

One flaw of the drone was that its field of vision only covered the direction of its camera, leaving blind spots.

So Henry asked:

"Where exactly did you see sparks?"

"About five o’clock from where you were floating before.

"Five inches upward."

Little Duck quickly repositioned and examined the indicated location.

"Here?"

"Close enough."

It circled the spot several times.

Unfortunately, the sensors on Little Duck were still too limited.

Or perhaps whatever had happened left no detectable trace.

Henry found nothing unusual.

With no better answer, he shrugged verbally.

"Maybe your eyes were playing tricks on you.

"Forget it. Get some rest.

"You still have to bounce all the way back to the city tomorrow."

The thought of repeating that trip made even a hard man like Jack Reacher feel pain in places best left unnamed.

Henry was about to dock Little Duck on its charging station and put it into standby mode when Reacher spoke again.

"Can I ask you something?"

"If it’s something I can answer, I will."

The hidden meaning was obvious:

If he couldn’t answer, he wouldn’t say a word.

Even so, Little Duck floated back toward him.

Reacher didn’t ask for favors or make deals.

He simply said:

"I want to know about vampires."

Little Duck lowered itself and hovered in front of him again.

Henry asked:

"Why do you want to know about vampires?"

"If they’re living among us, then knowing more can’t hurt.

"And I’ve got a score to settle with them.

"Even if the ones who attacked me already died by your hand."

As dark evil creatures, vampires clearly already had a deep-rooted public image.

No one seemed interested in asking whether any vampires might be decent people.

So Reacher’s attitude was perfectly normal.

Henry asked:

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything.

"Habits. Weaknesses. Traits. Distribution.

"How to find them.

"How to avoid them.

"What to watch out for."

Just as Henry generously funded Blade and his vampire hunters to make life miserable for vampires, he certainly wasn’t going to suppress Reacher’s curiosity.

Under Henry’s control, BB-2 brought out a white projection screen and hung it on the wall directly facing Reacher.

The lights inside the container dimmed.

Then BB-2 moved before the screen and began projecting images.

Little Duck became the lecturer.

Henry explained everything he had personally observed about vampire biology and their situation in Los Angeles.

He also described what he knew of other regions—including Europe.

Though only in broad terms.

He couldn’t provide detailed descriptions of each faction’s structure or political traits.

He even reserved judgment on whether all vampires were truly the same species.

Because Henry knew something else.

If Morbius existed in this universe, then that man was a completely different breed of vampire from the kind Blade hunted.

Which only proved one thing:

This universe was an absolute mess.

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