Better Off Dead

Chapter 1

The stranger got into position under the streetlight at 11:00 p.m., as agreed.

The light had been easy to find, just like he d been told it would be. It was the only one in the compound that was still working, all the way at the far end, six feet shy of the jagged metal fence that separated the United States from Mexico.

He was alone. And unarmed.

As agreed.

The car showed up at 11:02. It kept to the center of the space between the parallel rows of lockup garages. They were made of metal, too. Roofs warped by the sun. Walls scoured by the sand. Five on the right. Four on the left. And the remains of one more lying torn and corroded ten feet to the side, like something had exploded inside it years ago.

The car s lights were on bright, making it hard to recognize the make and model. And impossible to see inside. It continued until it was fifteen feet away then braked to a stop, rocking on its worn springs and settling into a low cloud of sandy dust. Then its front doors opened. Both of them. And two men climbed out.

Not as agreed.

Both the car s back doors opened. Two more men climbed out.

Definitely not as agreed.

The four men paused and sized the stranger up. They d been told to expect someone big and this guy sure fit the bill. He was six feet five. Two hundred and fifty pounds. Chest like a gun safe and hands like backhoe buckets. And scruffy. His hair was coarse and unkempt. He hadn t shaved for days. His clothes looked cheap and ill-­fitting, except for his shoes. Somewhere between a hobo and a Neanderthal. Not someone who was going to be missed.

The driver stepped forward. He was a couple of inches shorter than the stranger, and a good fifty pounds lighter. He was wearing black jeans and a black sleeveless T-­shirt. He had on black combat-­style boots. His head was shaved, but his face was hidden by a full beard. The other guys followed, lining up alongside him.

The money? the driver said.

The stranger

Lee Child and Andrew Child

Praise for Better Off Dead
 
The mixture of brute-force and intellectual problem-solving is just right. Booklist

Smart writing, vivid action scenes, and dramatic twists mark this seamless effort. Even those for whom this is their first Reacher novel will be clamoring for more. Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
Lee Child and Andrew Child return for another jointly written Reacher adventure. . . . Andrew Child smoothly slips into the signature minimalist prose of the iconic series, picking up just where his brother leaves off, for a book that should please old stalwarts and new fans alike. CrimeReads
 
 
Praise for the Jack Reacher series

The truth about Reacher gets better and better. . . . This series [is] utterly addictive. Janet Maslin, The New York Times

Jack Reacher is today s James Bond, a thriller hero we can t get enough of. I read every one as soon as it appears. Ken Follett

Reacher is the stuff of myth. . . . One of this century s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes. The Washington Post

I m a fan. James Patterson

The Reacher novels are easily the best thriller series going. NPR

Reacher is a man for whom the phrase moral compass was invented: His code determines his direction. . . . You need Jack Reacher. The Atlantic

I pick up Jack Reacher when I m in the mood for someone big to solve my problems. Patricia Cornwell

[A] feverishly thrilling series . . . You can always count on furious action. Miami Herald