Assisted and also manipulated by Hack Walker, the Pecos County district attorney and an old friend of Sloop's, Jack and Alice discover a cover-up related to the murder of several illegal immigrants by Hack, Sloop, and Eugene when they were younger. Reacher concludes that Hack orchestrated the current murders in order to protect his career and election chances, and that he is pressuring Carmen to confess by threatening Ellie's life.
With help from Hack Walker, who was also manipulating him, Jack and Alice uncovered a cover-up concerning the murder of illegal immigrants by Hack, Sloop, and Eugene when they were younger. Reacher figured out that Hack orchestrated the current murders for career protection and election purposes, and he is pressuring Carmen to confess by threatening Ellie’s life.