Chapter 20 Summary

He tells them that the cause of death is a denial of oxygen. He believes the killer might be using a form of gentle strangulation by pushing something, such as a sponge, down their throats. Then, the doctor contradicts himself by saying it is possible because the women would have fought the killer and they didn't. Someone suggests the women were sedated. The problem is no drugs show in any of the toxicology reports.

In the meantime, the colonel checks in at the D.C. airport. He buys a coach open-end ticket to Portland, Oregon.

Reacher continues to argue that Cooke still fits the pattern. Since she was an officer candidate, she would have been sent all over the place to get an overview, which means she could have been involved with weapons during one of the duty stations. Reacher negotiates payment from the FBI for her...