Chapter 6: A Hitman’s Summer of Writing and Deception

⚠️ 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

Summer in Midwood finds Billy living his cover as “Dave Lockridge” while genuinely connecting with the neighborhood. He shares a drink with Phil Stanhope, senses no romantic future, and socialises with several families—attending barbecues, hosting his own grill party, and dominating weekly Monopoly games with local children, especially Jamal and Corinne Ackerman. At the Gerard Tower he cultivates an acquaintance with flamboyant debt collector Colin White, observing the man’s sharp, cutting side. Nick Majarian returns from Vegas in mid-August; over dinner at the McMansion, Nick reports that Joel Allen’s extradition hearing is set for the Tuesday after Labor Day. Nick presses Billy to accept a getaway plan using Reggie and Dana, but Billy privately decides to trust his own escape route. A visit from the jittery Ken Hoff reveals the weapons supplier’s deepening desperation and drinking problem. Throughout, Billy continues writing his autobiographical novel, finding the work more absorbing than anything else in his life.

Key Events

Billy and Phil Stanhope have a drink at a wood-paneled bar; he senses her romantic interest is weak and feels relieved for his cover.
Billy socialises with Evergreen Street families—Raglands, Fazios, Ackermans—attending cookouts and hosting a barbecue.
He buys a grill at Walmart and invites three families plus widow Jane Kellogg to his backyard.
Saturday Monopoly games draw kids from around the neighbourhood; Corinne Ackerman finally defeats Billy on the last Saturday before school.
Billy observes Colin White’s transformation from a campy caricature to a hard-nosed debt collector.
Nick returns from Las Vegas, reports that Allen’s extradition hearing is after Labor Day, and asks if Billy can shoot in rain.
Nick outlines the getaway plan involving the DPW panel truck and coveralls; Billy outwardly agrees but plans his own method.
Ken Hoff visits Billy’s office, visibly nervous and smelling of alcohol, and confirms the rifle (M24) is ready.
Billy devotes himself to writing, losing himself in the past and feeling deep satisfaction from the creative process.

Character Development

Billy Summers: Grows emotionally attached to his cover community—especially the Ackerman children—and feels guilty about future betrayal. His passion for writing intensifies, complicating his readiness to end his hitman career.
Phil Stanhope: Shows warmth and possible vulnerability to alcohol; Billy’s assessment of her keeps the relationship platonic and safe.
Colin White: Reveals a keen intelligence behind his flamboyant façade; Billy recognises he must be handled carefully.
Nick Majarian: Impatient, controlling, and eager for the job to proceed; he seems out of place in the rainy Midwest and trusts Billy’s obedience too easily.
Ken Hoff: Unraveling—drunk, fearful, and desperate for Billy’s approval; a clear liability who may jeopardise the operation.
Neighbourhood families: Provide Billy with a taste of normalcy and affection, which makes his impending violence all the more self-loathing.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Identity and Deception: Billy juggles three personas—Dalton Smith, David Lockridge, and his true self. The chapter shows how his fake life feels increasingly real.
The Conscience of a Killer: Billy’s growing affection for the Ackerman kids and his guilt over future disillusionment underline the moral cost of his profession.
Writing as Catharsis: Billy’s novel becomes his primary escape, offering a deeper truth than any of his covers. The act of writing is both a refuge and a reckoning.
Trust and Control: Billy trusts his own instincts over Nick’s plan, setting up a later conflict. Ken Hoff’s desperation illustrates the danger of unreliable partners.
Summer as a Liminal Season: The heat and storms of the Midwood summer mirror the tension between Billy’s peaceful cover life and the approaching hit.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 6 deepens Billy’s humanity by showing him building authentic relationships and discovering a creative passion. It complicates the reader’s sympathy for a hired killer and raises the stakes for the coming assassination. The introduction of Ken Hoff as a weak link and Billy’s private rejection of Nick’s getaway plan create suspense about the operation’s outcome. The chapter also sets up the thematic contrast between the honest community Billy has created and the violence he must soon commit, making his eventual choice more poignant.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Billy decide not to use Nick’s getaway plan, and what does this reveal about his character?

Billy trusts his own judgment over Nick’s because he believes his plan carries lower risk. He pictures himself dead in a ditch if he follows Nick’s scheme. This shows Billy’s independence, caution, and deep self-reliance—traits that have kept him alive in his profession.

2. How does the Monopoly subplot reflect Billy’s emotional state?

The games give Billy a rare, innocent connection with neighbourhood children, especially the Ackerman kids. When Corinne finally beats him, he applauds genuinely but also feels guilt because he knows he will betray their trust. The games represent the normal life he can never truly have.

3. What does Ken Hoff’s visit reveal about the risks of the operation?

Hoff is drunk, anxious, and careless with names (“Billy” instead of “Dave”). His visible desperation suggests he may become the loose end that unravels the entire plot. Billy recognises this danger, which is why he refuses to meet Hoff socially and keeps the rifle location unknown to himself.