As always, Jack Reacher has no specific destination, nor is he pressured to reach anywhere at a particular time. One morning, he ends up in a small town near Pleasantville, Tennessee.

In the midday sun, Reacher sees an unfortunate man heading into an ambush. It was four against one… so Reacher intervenes, using his classic method for resolving conflicts.

The man he saves is Rusty Rutherford, a shy IT manager who was recently fired after a cyberattack that resulted in the lockdown of all municipal data, records, information, and… secrets. However, Rutherford is determined to stay in town and clear his name.

Reacher feels that this story hides something. The criminals who attacked Rutherford are part of a serious and deadly case, one that involves a conspiracy, cover-up, and murder – centered around a frightened little man wearing a coffee-stained shirt who has no idea what he is facing.

Rule number one: If you don't know what you've gotten into, make sure you have Reacher by your side.