Episode 2 of Reacher kicks off with a fiery determination in Reacher's eyes, fueled by the quest to uncover the perpetrators behind his brother's murder. Roscoe's persuasive words entice him to accompany her, leading them to the doorstep of Paul Hubble. However, Hubble's absence redirects them to Charlie, his wife. As Reacher excuses himself to use the bathroom, his sharp eyes skim through Paul's belongings, catching a glimpse of cogon grass clinging to his shoe. His mind churns with Charlie's words about her daughters, particularly the one with glasses, a detail that ignites a spark of revelation.
From this mundane clue, Reacher weaves a web of deduction. Paul, he realizes, was the intended target in prison, and those issuing the orders had used the glasses as a covert signal. Hubble's shattered spectacles and the sunglasses Reacher confiscated from another cell suggest they'd aimed for the wrong man.
The investigation gathers momentum as Reacher treks to the crime scene, retracing Joe and the assassin's footsteps. The shooter's desire for proximity and the precision of the kill-shot in the shadows hint at a skilled marksman. Joe's affiliation with Homeland Security begs the question: could this be a contributing factor, a motive for his demise? Time will tell.
The next morning, Margrave is shaken by another deathly blow. Police Chief Morrison's grisly murder rocks the community. The crime scene is ghastly, with the victim gruesomely nailed to a wall. Eerily, this mirrors the ominous warning Hubble received in the previous episode. Adding to the macabre scene, Morrison's genitals are missing, presumably lodged within his abdomen. This bizarre detail hints at a possible corruption within the police force, especially if the Chief was colluding with the killers.
With a new leader in Teale hastily summoning an emergency meeting, Reacher urgently pleads with the police to refrain from involving the FBI, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a semblance of control for those managing the town. Convinced that the masterminds are still at large, he believes this facade of normalcy is crucial. Following Morrison's tragic demise, Reacher logically concludes that Hubble likely met a similar fate. Given his late-night call to Charlie, revealing his intention to resolve the "banking mess," one can only surmise he was silenced forever.
At the tumultuous town meeting, tensions escalated rapidly. As Teale unilaterally declared himself Chief of Police and accusations flew, it was Mr. Kliner who courageously stood up for Reacher, defending his innocence and validating his rock-solid alibi. However, Teale's dismissive handling of Morrison's death, sending Finlay off on a wild goose chase, revealed his sinister role in the scheme. Gradually, Finlay began to align with Reacher's perspective, urging him to secretly contact the Atlanta Field Office through his contact, Picard.
Amidst the secrecy of these actions, Reacher arrived unexpectedly at Charlie's place as she and the girls hurriedly packed their belongings. Picard swiftly arranged for their witness protection, enabling Reacher, Finlay, and Roscoe to delve deeper into the case. Reacher, determined to uncover the elusive Spivey, who he believed held the key to the entire mystery, was abruptly intercepted by a group of assassins. Though he valiantly fought them off, he emerged with a gruesome gash above his eyebrow, partially inflicted by a forceful headbutt. An equally gruesome cut marred his back. Roscoe advised stitches, but Reacher stubbornly opted for glue.
As tensions subsided for a brief respite, Reacher and Roscoe retreated to a neighboring town for a few drinks. After a lively dance, the pair found themselves stranded at a motel due to the torrential rain that had begun to pour. The following morning, as they returned to the town, they were startled to discover Roscoe's house had been broken into. Whether the target was Roscoe or Reacher remained unclear, but the ominous carving of "See you soon" on the door hinted at a personal vendetta. Upon seeing it, Reacher turned to Roscoe with a resolute gaze, "I'm going to need a gun."
