(Covers information from Dan Ames Continuity)
Lauren Pauling is a former FBI agent turned New York private investigator and frequent collaborator with Michael Tallon on various cases that are related to Jack Reacher.
Appearance and Character[]
Pauling is a strikingly beautiful woman, with blonde hair almost turned golden, green eyes, fair skin, with a slender and athletic figure. Her face was noted to be pretty, lean, with sharp angles and straight lines. Her voice had a slight rasp, similar to a jazz singer who enjoyed whiskey and cigarettes.
She is direct, and enjoys tackling mysteries and puzzles, a primary motivation for her career in law enforcement. The more challenging and complex the task, the better. When traveling, she enjoys luxury amenities and accommodations. However, she lacks vanity, and prefers to live in modesty and is not obsessive over luxury items or jewellery. Instead, she values experiences and prioritizes comfort. According to her sister Julia, Pauling is the "strongest, toughest woman she knows". She is known for her intelligence and insightfulness, with her ability to "read between the lines". In dangerous situations, she is decisive and takes initiative.
Pauling has a strong work ethic and cares deeply about her business. She is organized and prefers things to be "squared away," disliking a backlog of unanswered emails. Pauling also values loyalty, and long-term partnerships. Despite her professionalism, Pauling has a sense of humor and can be sarcastic. However, she can also be blunt in her approach, and is willing to bend the truth or withhold information until it's necessary for an investigation.
Synopsis[]
Relationship[]
- Michael Tallon: Michael Tallon is Lauren Pauling's current significant other. Their relationship appears to be close and supportive. He is described as someone she trusts and she would rather have him backing her up than anyone else. They work together on cases and have a personal relationship that includes celebrating anniversaries and spending intimate time together. Tallon knew about her past work with the FBI and her history with Jack Reacher. Pauling considers him a "one-man army" and appreciates his support.
- Julia (Lauren Pauling's sister): Julia is Pauling's only sibling. They maintain a relationship, seeing each other once or twice a year and communicating regularly via chat or text. Pauling is protective of Julia. Pauling describes them as being as close as two sisters could be despite having chosen distinctly different paths in life. Pauling also considers Julia a compassionate person, always willing to help others.
- Jack Reacher: Lauren Pauling has a history and a complex connection with Jack Reacher. They worked together on a kidnapping turned murder case during what Pauling describes as the worst period of her life while she was with the FBI, where Reacher helped bring justice for Anne Lane. Pauling once had very personal reasons for keeping tabs on Reacher and for a long time hoped he would come back into her life. Even after realizing he was a man of the open road, she continued to monitor him, thinking he might be a good man to keep track of for various reasons. His name appearing on an envelope was the reason Pauling took on the case involving Cassidy Simmons. While their romantic involvement was brief, Pauling still feels a connection to him. She acknowledges that they are very different but share a similar core strength. Pauling's knowledge of Reacher and their past collaboration makes her a person others seek out when Reacher's name is involved in unusual circumstances.
- Arnie Steele: Arnie Steele is a former colleague of Lauren Pauling from her time at the New York Bureau of the FBI. Their relationship was competitive, especially when they were both working at the Bureau. Pauling believed that Steele actively hindered her career growth as he rose in the Bureau. They have butted heads on more than one occasion.
- Karl Furlong: Karl Furlong is the new CEO of the security firm that purchased Lauren Pauling's company. He invited Pauling, who still has a casual role with the firm, to the company's first official "state of the union" meeting. There appeared to be some level of professional courtesy between them, as Furlong introduced Pauling to others and valued her insight. However, Pauling also noticed "red flags" during the meeting regarding a new client acquisition, suggesting a potential underlying tension or concern about the direction of her former company.