Chapter 32 Summary: Reading Jamie Fricke's Will
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Lindsay Boxer sits in Jamie Fricke's office, studying his will while hoping that the document will reveal the motive for Jamie and Holly's murders. She feels a familiar sense of approaching insight but resists overconfidence. Flipping to the bequests section, she discovers that Jamie had originally left his Pacific Heights mansion and seventy million dollars in T‑bills and CDs to Holly, but a thick black X drawn through that passage four months ago, initialed by Jamie, cancels the inheritance. With Holly's share returned to the estate, the vast wealth now goes to Jamie's two adult sons from his first marriage, Leo and Rodney Fricke. Two Swiss houses are to be sold, with proceeds given to Holly's younger sister, Rae Bergen, for her kindnesses. Jamie also left three million dollars each to four people: his right‑hand man Arthur Bevaqua, and three women—Patty Delaney, Judy Borinstein (the family's financial manager), and Marilyn Stein (Holly's assistant). Lindsay finds the large bequests to the women suspicious, wondering if they were lovers or if Jamie had other reasons. She resolves to investigate these generous transfers of wealth, believing they may hold the key to the case.
Key Events
- Lindsay reads Jamie Fricke's will in his office, feeling a breakthrough is near.
- She notes that Arthur Bevaqua witnessed the will while Holly was still alive, but Bevaqua never mentioned it earlier.
- Holly's original inheritance—a Pacific Heights manse and $70 million—is crossed out with a black X, initiated “JFIII” four months ago.
- Jamie's remaining estate is now divided between his sons, Leo and Rodney Fricke.
- Two houses in Lucerne, Switzerland, are to be sold; the proceeds go to Holly's sister, Rae Bergen, “for her many kindnesses.”
- Four people receive $3 million each: Arthur Bevaqua, Patty Delaney, Judy Borinstein, and Marilyn Stein.
- Lindsay suspects the large bequests to the three women may conceal romantic ties or leverage, and she plans to look into them.
Character Development
- Lindsay Boxer: Continues her methodical police work, showing both intuition and self‑awareness (she knows not to trust premature certainty). Her suspicion about the women’s bequests indicates a sharp investigative instinct.
- Jamie Fricke (deceased): Revealed through his will as a man who changed his mind dramatically after Holly's death—removing her inheritance and focusing on his sons. His generous bequests to four associates hint at complex personal relationships.
- Arthur Bevaqua: His role as witness and beneficiary of $3 million makes him a person of interest; Lindsay questions why he withheld information earlier.
- Rae Bergen: Holly’s sister, who gains proceeds from Swiss properties for her “kindnesses,” suggesting a close bond with Jamie.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Wealth and motive: The altered will places money at the center of the investigation. Jamie’s decision to cut off Holly post‑mortem and enrich others raises questions about who knew about the change and who stood to gain.
- Trust and secrecy: Bevaqua’s silence about the will and the generous bequests to women suggest hidden dynamics—financial secrecy and possible manipulation.
- Justice and intuition: Lindsay’s cautious belief that a solution is “one blink away” reflects the theme of persistent, grounded detective work versus overconfidence.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 32 is a turning point in the investigation. For the first time, Lindsay has a concrete document that maps potential motives and suspects. The will’s revisions—especially the elimination of Holly’s inheritance less than half a year before both deaths—shift suspicion toward those who benefitted: the sons, the four beneficiaries, and possibly Rae Bergen. The chapter deepens the mystery by introducing multiple new characters with financial stakes in Jamie’s death.
Study Questions
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What change did Jamie make to his will four months before his death, and why does Lindsay find it significant?
Answer: Jamie drew a black X through the portion that left his Pacific Heights manse and $70 million to Holly, then initialed it. Lindsay finds this significant because it eliminated Holly’s inheritance just before both were killed, implying that someone may have known about the change and acted to inherit earlier. -
Why does Lindsay question the $3 million bequests to Patty Delaney, Judy Borinstein, and Marilyn Stein?
Answer: Lindsay wonders whether the women were Jamie’s girlfriends or had something on him that forced the generous gifts. She plans to investigate these relationships as possible motives for murder. -
How does Arthur Bevaqua’s role as witness and beneficiary create suspicion?
Answer: Bevaqua witnessed the will while Holly was still alive but never told the police about its contents. As a $3 million beneficiary, his silence could indicate he wanted to protect the will’s revisions or even himself from scrutiny.