(Article covers information from the Amazon Prime Series)
Karla Dixon is a former major in the U.S. Army who was hand selected by Reacher to be a founding member of the new U.S. Army 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. After serving, she becomes a forensic accountant dedicated to her job. When receiving news of Calvin Franz's murder, Karla joins up with the survivors of the 110th to track down his killer and their would be pursuers.
Biography[]
Operation Kite Runner[]
During military, Dixon was assigned as forensic accountant before being selected by Reacher who was assembling the U.S. Army 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. Initially, she did not get along well with other members but her dynamic was put to test when Reacher treat them to a round at the local Officer's Club. Inside, Dixon chattered with their unit until Frances Neagley was insulted by a patron due to her rank. Dixon along with others fought against them before retreating back to a campfire where they celebrate. The team commemorated their first night with a group photo.
During her time in 110th, Dixon brought attention to a case of suspected aviation fuel theft in Afghanistan. She theorized the fuel wasn't stolen for profit as it was stolen on nights when Humvees were ferried back, and pointed out the lack of black-market fuel deals around the area. Dixon created the mantra "in an investigation, details matter" to which Reacher took note for his future cases. He realized the excess weight was heavy contraband inside the Humvees. Reacher decided to look into the case with 110th. To celebrate, Dixon asked him to go out and buy her a beer but Reacher declined her proposal.
Sometime after, Tony Swan, Reacher, Dixon and David O'Donnell responded to a crime scene outside a pub with the victim, Private Simms, shot in the back. Reacher deduced Simms had been running for his life as his pant cuffs were stained with muddy rainwater, suspecting he tripped in a pothole when he was shot. Additionally, the ink smudged in Simms's palm resembled a kite and may have gotten it from someone's drugs. Lieutenant Colonel Hortense Fields was informed of the case, and asked to keep him updated. After inspection, Reacher realized the kite resembled a fighter kite, popular in Afghanistan where it was central for heroin's production. Sensing a link between this case and one from before, Reacher asked Dixon to look into the case again as he had an idea what was being transported. Her suspicion was proven to be true as they successfully recover 48 bags during a drug bust.
After a two-year long operation, Dixon and Reacher were informed by Fields of the operation's termination as it would leave a bad mark on the unit's commanding officer's military career, affecting his promotion he had been waiting 20 years for. Reacher took offense but Fields ordered all under investigation would be charged with with minor penalties and received honorable discharges. When the unit prepares to leave for their training holiday, Reacher informed them the sale would occur on abandoned military-owned land. However, Dixon reminded him of Field's order. Reacher acknowledged defying may result in permanently damaging their careers or assigned to military stations in undesirable locations, but clarified finishing would result in stopping the drug trade from further occurring. Reacher gave them the option to leave but, to his surprise, all members opted to stay and see it through.
That night, Dixon accompanied them to find Lieutenant Hughes alongside Tsai and Molnar were the smugglers. The team detained them and was ordered to search for signs of narcotics. Initially, they were unable to find any but Reacher noticed rubber plugs patched to the tires and soon discover heroin hidden inside. They prepared to arrest them, but drug dealers rushed in and scattered everyone with Dixon assisting in taking them down. After the fight, Hughes tried to escape but Reacher captured and arrested him. The next day, the unit celebrated their success, Franz printed out the taken photo at the campfire and handed them out as keepsakes. During their celebration, Fields informed them the unit was disbanded and furiously reprimands them for their actions.
Civilian Life[]
After the operation, all members went their separate ways. Sometime after, Dixon left the army and became a successful forensic accountant and often does freelance jobs for various companies. Months after, she traveled to Buffalo to work in-house at a debt collection agency for 6 months and had rented a private residence where she met her firefighter neighbor and landlord Bob Lee. During her time in Buffalo, Dixon suffered a concussion after slipping on ice. Lee immediately took her to Kenmore Mercy hospital while a blizzard was ocurring. From then, Dixon placed great trust in him and remained in contact.
Sometime after, Dixon was engaged but the marriage was broke off when she thought her fiancé was cheating but found out the girl he was texting was his niece. Initially, she felt relieved as she couldn't see herself in a relationship that was stable but not exciting. However, she experienced guilt after she broke off the engagement, leading her to take an undercover assignment for a corporate embezzlement case in Texas. During this time, she was unknowingly contacted by Neagley who searched for her after Calvin Franz was discovered to have been killed. Afterwards, Dixon received the message and went to New York to join them.
Catskill Mountains Murder Case (2023)[]
At the airport, Reacher updated Dixon on the situation and asked her to rent a car with her fake ID. She did so and joined Neagley, O'Donnell, and him in their investigation. Along the road, Dixon looked over the number pages left behind by Franz but was unable to make sense of them. Unbeknownst to her, Dixon was tracked by Trevor Saropian who had found out the car was rented with fake ID and tails them to Atlantic City.
In the city, the team found Sanchez and Orozco's workplace to be ransacked. As they search, Reacher came across a photo of Sanchez and a woman in the Lucky's Lounge bar. Reacher and Neagley question the woman's whereabouts while Dixon and O'Donnell were stationed outside. Outside, they spot the woman escaping but Dixon successfully caught her. Inside, Milena recognized them from Sanchez's photos. The bartender chimed in a scarred man, claiming to work with Sanchez and Orozco had asked her a week prior. Suspicious of him, Milena called Sanchez only for him to not answer and suspected something had gone wrong. Milena confirmed Orozco, Franz and Sanchez were working on a case together and had been to the bar couple of weeks prior as well as mentioning Swan. In her last conversation with Sanchez, Milena recalled he had received a call with the phrase "650 at 100k each" which caused him to left the bar in hurry.
Determining the phrase referred to stolen money, they went to Neptune Casino as they theorized Sanchez and Orozco had worked as freelance security and stumbled onto the case and reached out to Franz for assistance. The team was introduced to David Wright, Director of Security who recognized them from Sanchez and Orozco tales about 110th. Dixon asked him to analyze the numbers, but was unable to make sense of them. Reacher informed him about a possible case of gambling scam, but was assured the casino had not lost money as all had been accounted for. Wright offered to asks the competitors if they knew anything related to their case and allowed them to stay in a suite while it was processed.
In the suite, the team open up about their lives with Dixon revealing her past. When Reacher opened up about his nomadic lifestyle, Dixon enquired about his routine and asked if he ever got lonely, but didn't answer. At night, Dixon played blackjack when she was spotted by Reacher who was still analyzing the pages. Later, she was accused of counting cards and was thrown out with Saropian sitting nearby. Reacher and Dixon took a late-night walk where she expressed her desire to stop government from abusing tax money and utilize it to help people and desired to start a non-profit watchdog group. Dixon asked how their relationship had never occurred back in the military days, Reacher reasoned it was not professional due to their respective positions. They noticed two men and the vehicle had been following them since they left New York. They lure them to a construction site where they killed their pursuers. They found no ID, but discovered the man's burner with Langston's number. Reacher called to warn it would not end well for them. Inside, they discover their profiles as well as a New Age Technologies parking pass. Returning back, they treat each other's injuries sustained from the fight. Enamored, the pair sleep together.
The next morning, Reacher and Dixon inform the team about their findings. Wright told them Atlantic City PD have discovered Sanchez and Orozco's bodies in Catskill mountains with injuries similar to Franz's and had been there for sometime based on decomposition. Additionally, Orozco and Sanchez did not work for the competitors, and the competitors verified the losses were within acceptable margins. Dixon determined the case was in New York based on current evidence and facts.
Along the road, they were unknowingly tailed by a police cruiser, and was asked to pull over. Afterwards, NYPD detective Gaitano Russo arrived and took Reacher. Tasking O'Donnell to act as his lawyer, he ordered Neagley and Dixon to investigate New Age. In their HQ, Dixon and Neagley meet Director of Operations Marlo Burns and asked about information on the parking pass. The pair gained her cooperation when they mentioned the victims were their close friends. Sometime after, Marlo told them the pass belonged to Trevor Saropian. Days prior, Saropian was interviewed for his maintenance services but was rejected. Marlo provided his address as the company still had his resume on file.
Back in the motel, Neagley and Dixon inspected the numbers. She realized the sequence resembled days and months and every page was equal to a month with 26 and 27 resembling 6-day work-weeks. Additionally, the documents detailed the last 7 months and the numbers in month 1 were decent but turned abysmal by month 7, and questioned on what they were counting. Afterwards, Reacher and O'Donnell are released. Inside, Reacher confirmed Saropian had still resided there by his next-door neighbor Barbara Gottlesman. They infiltrate but Dixon struggled with a goon before O'Donnell rescued her. Reacher spotted a vehicle watching before the driver frantically leaves. Reacher chased after only to inform them the driver had succumbed to a heart attack upon crash.
Returning, they were confronted by Russo who was appalled at their reckless actions. Reacher revealed they were being set up as they suspected Saropian was working for New Age as a hired hitman with the real address left behind as bait. Russo warned their partnership would only work if they stopped their recklessness as it had put him in a tight spot when he was forced to covered up their crimes. Russo offered to warrant a search into New Age, but told them to stay put until they hear from him. Reacher gave him their burner number but they disregarded his warning as they ram through New Age HQ with their car. Reacher told them to loot H.R, the server room, and Director of Operations' office. While searching, Reacher came across a photo of all of the employees and stole it. They burn their disguises and were shocked to learn Swan was one of them.
Afterwards, the team sifted through all of the information. When O'Donnell suggested Swan may have played a role in tracking them down , Reacher disputed the accusations owing to their time together in 110th. Additionally, Swan was working as Assistant Director of Security, under Shane Langston and the man Reacher believed he had contacted back in Atlantic City. Additionally, Neagley suspected Marlo knew she was sending them into a trap, and O'Donnell was dismayed at the thought all employees were suspects.
By morning, Neagley discovered Swan had emails addressed to Marlo without sharing them to Langston or other security personnel. In the mail, Swan detailed cryptic messages about "Little Wing", and learnt it was a federal defense project contracted to New Age. Additionally, a test was conducted for military brass though the time and location wasn't known. Senator Malcolm Lavoy tried to get congressional approval as he fully believed in the project, Lavoy was known to engage in illegal activities and decided to interrogate him but Neagley disapproved due to his security detail. She suggested to question his legislative director as they knew details of laws being passed and may have information as well as it was a position with no security. O'Donnell offered to get the name of Lavoy's legislative director and his personal information. Neagley suggested Swan may have been a traitor as his body was never discovered nor his home ransacked like others. However, Reacher knew Swan would never his let his dog Maisi die but Dixon speculated he may have turncloack due to financial difficulties.
In the motel, Dixon learnt Lavoy's legislative director was Daniel Boyd who would be attending a fundraiser event in Boston. Before leaving, they visited Marlo's house to question her but only find its occupants have fled, and discoverd a bag of cash left behind in their closet. In Boston, they reunited at a clothing store where they dress up for formal wear; Neagley shared their discovery at Marlo's house. The team departed for the event, and Dixon was designated to lure Boyd. In the opera, she pretendd to be a lost patron and lured Boyd outside to his car where they prepare to do drugs. However, Boyd was caught in the act by Oscar Finlay.
After learning New Age had two facilities in which Little Wing was developed, Reacher tasked Dixon and Neagley to go to Colorado and sabotage the hardware facility while he and O'Donnell would head to Homeland Security in D.C. where they would try to learn more about A.M. They made a stop at a nearby diner but were confronted by a biker gang who , intend to kill them. They maim and kill most of them, and Reacher contacted Langston to inform him his attempt on their lives had failed. Langston tried to bribe them but failed.
In Denver, Colorado, Neagley and Dixon posed as representatives from DMCA (Defense Contract Management Agency) to inspect the missile shipment. When the foreman returned, they enquire about the Little Wing shoulder-fired launchers and missiles specs, manufacturing controls, and delivery schedules. Upon hearing the last requirement, he told them 650 missiles had been shipped ten minutes prior and hand her the papers. Realizing they were too late, they quickly leave.
Sometime after, Neagley and Dixon come upon men around a disabled truck, Neagley recognized they were hijackers. They open fire on them, and Dixon realized they were aware of their approach through the foreman who had called New Age about government inspectors, leading to Langston to discover their identities and ordered a hit. The lead hijacker escaped with the truck while their car was pinned down. As the dust settled, the men approach but was ambushed and killed. After the fight, Dixon anonymously reported the incident and asked Neagley to take the license plate off their vehicle. After they torched the car, they informed Reacher and O'Donnell the missiles were hijacked and Swan had authorized the shipment in New York, Reacher theorized Swan was forced or his signature was forged but the pair told him of his digital thumbprint. Additionally, New Age had biometrics security and Swan could not be forced without causing a scene and odds all employees were in participation was minimal.
Afterwards, the unit met back at Calvin's funeral where Neagley learnt the shot-up truck was switched with a trailer that only contained bricks. They realized the plan was to ship the decoy to South Korea where it would take some time to be discovered. The real truck was discovered to be emptied, and left in a field outside Denver. They surmised the missiles were loaded to a private plane and shipped near New York's vicinities as its skies were heavily watched since the 9/11 attacks. The funeral began, but Reacher noticed two snipers and alerted funeral goers. Reacher draw their fire towards him, buying time for Neagley to kill one. He pursued the other with Russo and learnt his employer was Swan and was to meet him in Queens.
Dixon accompanied them to the building where they were set to kill the sniper should he go rogue. However, he was killed in the building's explosion. Eventually, they learnt the building was rigged with trip-wired IEDs and only contained the body of the sniper with no signs of Swan. He came to the conclusion someone had military training in setting up the explosion and presumed Swan's plan was to have them killed in the building while taking out the sniper in the playground. Shortly after, he relayed Marlo's car was found north of Manhattan. Upon arriving, they discovered her car to be abandoned near a convenience store. Inside, they reviewed CCTV footage, and Neagley discovered a way to locate them through Jane's Nintendo Switch. Inside, Neagley informs them the search may take some time and decided to rest for the night. Reacher spent the night in private with Dixon. Afterwards, Reacher talked to her about their last case which had ended badly and worried this mission would end up partially the same. Recognizing Swan was part of the issue, Dixon was willing to kill him so Reacher didn't have to. Shortly after, Neagley informed the pair she had obtained their location.
Dixon accompanied them to Marlo's friend's house where Marlo revealed her excuse of running from her ex-boyfriend was made up to take shelter at his home. Reacher demanded he called Marlo to the garage though he initially refused until Reacher threatened to kill him. After Marlo arrived, she told them she did not know of the ambush and had only been instructed to give the address when Dixon and Neagley's visit had spooked Langston. Additionally, she had hired Swan to be part of security team and was attempting to stop Little Wing's deal after he discovered operational chips were being marked as defective in order to be sold. Swan had asked for Orozco, Sanchez, and Franz's help to assist him, but had not heard from him since. Furthermore, the higher-ups had no knowledge of the incident and her family was threatened if they did not cooperate. Soon after, she decided to take her daughter on the run for fear of being seen as a liability by Langston. Finally, Marlo told them the engineer would need to demonstrate chip's installation before selling. The unit decided to look into the engineer's identity and had Marlo set up a meeting to ambush Langston.
Afterwards, they travel to Russo's house where Reacher asked him to protect Jane Burns. Following the meeting, Dixon and O'Donnell hide at the rendezvous to ambush Langston's men with Marlo as bait. However, Russo called Reacher about his pursument. Realising the ruse, Langston rushed to kill her but they stopped him. He ordered the rest to assist Russo while he dealt with Langston. Sometime after, Dixon and O'Donnell arrived to rescue Jane but Russo succumbed to his wound in the chase.
After the shootout, Neagley suggested to shelter the Burns in Roscoe Conklin's house in Margrave. However, Reacher objected, citing Malcolm Lavoy had found out their roles in the counterfeiting operation 2 years prior and Langston might track them there as well. Dixon suggested her house in Buffalo owing to her close relationship to her landlord. Dixon and O'Donnell were to escort them while he and Neagley dealt other matters. Sometime later, they prepare the Burns to travel to Buffalo incognito. Dixon noticed his tenderness to Jane and told him to withdrawn as he had a higher stake but he refused.
Shortly after, they were captured by Langston because he had moles in NYPD track Russo's car via GPS. They were brought to R&D facility in Rockland County where they were tortured by Parker and Lennox. Meanwhile, Langston had gotten ahold of Reacher and told him to surrender or he would kill them. At night, Reacher surrendered himself much to Dixon's frustration. Inside, Langston demanded Reacher of Neagley's whereabouts but was refused, citing he would not kill him until she was found as she was his last loose end. Langston told them his plan to get the money and quietly retired but Swan foiled after discovering his operation and called Franz, Orozco and Sanchez for help. However, he used Swan as a scapegoat in signing off the paperwork and framed him as the culprit after Swan refused to be bribed. He showed Swan's detached eyeball and revealed he had taken his finger and eye to bypass security before disposing his body. Langston leaves and ordered his men to load O'Donnell and Dixon on the chopper.
After Neagley and Lavoy's security infiltrate and free Reacher, Parker and Langston went to the chopper but Reacher caught the aircraft as it took off. Dixon was to be tossed first but Reacher climbed inside and fought off the pair, nearly causing Dixon to fall out but he managed to grab onto her gurney. Dixon freed her restrains and stabbed Parker in the neck, and freed O'Donnell. She forced the pilot to take them to the meeting, and Langston was thrown out of the aircraft by Reacher. They arrive at Russell Johnson's house and took Russell and the pilot captive in the barn. Later, A.M. arrived and was captured with Dixon questioning the buyer but did not disclose anything out of fear of ruining his reputation. A.M. designated himself as the middleman and prefered to be a seller but this statement cost him his life as Dixon, Neagley, O'Donnell and Reacher shot him multiple times.
After killing A.M., the unit recover the bonds as well as a Little Wing missile. They head to the barn where they meet Lavoy's detail and discuss on what to do with the pilot and Russell. After letting them go, Dixon witnessed the helicopter crash as it was destroyed by Neagley with a Little Wing missile. Shortly after, the security detail turned on the 110th as Lavoy had ordered them to cover up the incident. However, Reacher had anticipated their betrayal as he had figured Lavoy covered incidents related to him and called Omar Karim from Homeland Security. Shortly after, Lavoy and his security were taken into custody.
Aftermath[]
The team stopped by a local diner where Dixon left Reacher the decision to distribute the money to the victims' families. At night, the 110th spent their time in Rockaway Beach where Dixon learnt Reacher had started a Delaware LLC under Dixon's name and she now work for herself much to her appreciation. The team celebrated their last night together with a photo. Sometime after, Dixon and Reacher stay at a motel, and gifted him a toothbrush and jokingly asked him to come home and meet her parents. She told him of her sharing a ride with O'Donnell to the airport and spent their last morning in intimacy. At the airport, O'Donnell and Dixon depart back to their homes.
Personality and Traits[]
Initially recruited in U.S. Army 110th MP Special Investigations Unit, Dixon maintained a professional acquaintanceship with its members. Over two years, Dixon formed a strong sense of camaraderie with the unit, to the point of stepping in to defend a fellow member when they were wronged by a bar patron. Like many of its members, this camaraderie endured beyond their military service, as she reunited with them for Franz's wedding and Lowrey's funeral. [1] Dixon willingly involves herself with 110th survivors to avenge the people that she considered her "close friends". During investigation, she shares concerns with others well-being and finds time to connect with them at any given moment. At the height of their investigation, Dixon tried to persuade O'Donnell to leave as he still had his family.[2] When informed of Orozco and Sanchez deaths, Dixon turned away in shock, unable to look at photos of their corpses.
As a forensics accountant, Dixon possessed a keen eye for detail and exceptional analytical skills, particularly adept at uncovering financial anomalies. Her expertise played a crucial role in launching Operation Kite Runner, an initiative aimed at dismantling drug smuggling operations within Rock Creek military base.[3]
Dixon possessed a strong sense of justice and a deep commitment to helping the less fortunate, which led her to the desire of establishing a nonprofit watchdog group dedicated to exposing government corruption and advocating for those in need.[4] This was eventually reciprocated by Reacher who opened Dixon's own LLC group, further contributing her own goals, much to her appreciation.[5]
Appearances[]
Behind the Scenes[]
- Dixon is portrayed by Canadian actress Serinda Swan.
Book Comparisons[]
Gallery[]
References[]
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