Chapter 28 Summary: Pace's Investigation and Fitzroy's Plan to Reach Tudor
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Chapter Summary
After leaving Lars Halverson's home in Boston, CIA officer Jim Pace receives a call from his assistant Lynn Wells about the murder of MIT innovation expert Rene Descourts in Toronto—shot in the head alongside his security detail and a bystander. Pace searches the name Xiang Di, a Chinese computer scientist linked to a PLA unit converting commercial AI for military use. He then calls Gareth Wren, ex-SAS now working for Anton Hinton, to discuss the list of names Halverson left. Wren reveals that Hinton believes the United States is behind the assassinations and refuses to meet with Pace. Wren also mentions that Hinton's new chief of security is Zack Hightower, Pace's former boss at CIA. Pace decides to travel to Havana to speak with Hightower instead.
Meanwhile, in Tulum, Mexico, Sir Donald Fitzroy waits on a balcony, his hands trembling as he takes medication. He greets Court Gentry and Zoya Zakharova warmly when they arrive. Fitzroy explains his plan: they will pose as his security team to meet Jack Tudor, a former MI5 officer who now runs Lighthouse Risk Control—the firm Fitzroy handed his old Cheltenham Security Services contacts to. Tudor employs Scott Kincaid, known as Lancer, the assassin Court fought in Ankara years ago. Fitzroy reveals that Tudor is desperate to recruit Court for his stable. Court agrees to the meeting, intending to feign interest in working with Tudor to learn more about Lancer's operations.
Key Events
- Lynn Wells informs Jim Pace that Rene Descourts, an MIT AI expert, was murdered in Toronto along with his security and a bystander.
- Pace researches Xiang Di, a Chinese computer scientist with ties to a PLA unit converting AI for military use.
- Pace calls Gareth Wren, who tells him Anton Hinton believes the U.S. is behind the assassinations and won't meet with the CIA.
- Wren reveals Zack Hightower is now Hinton's head of security in Cuba; Pace decides to travel there to talk to Hightower.
- Fitzroy meets Court and Zoya in Tulum; his hands tremble as he takes orange prescription pills.
- Fitzroy explains that Jack Tudor took over his old security firm after he retired and now runs Lancer.
- The conversation covers Lancer's history: during an operation in Ankara, he used IEDs that killed three civilians and injured twenty-two, leading to a violent confrontation with Court.
- Fitzroy reveals that Tudor wants to recruit Court and has been asking about him for years.
- Court agrees to the plan: he will pretend to consider working with Tudor in order to extract information about Lancer.
Character Development
Jim Pace shows his methodical, determined nature as he follows leads across continents, adapting when doors close and rerouting through Hightower. His ability to pivot from a dead end with Hinton to a new angle reveals a seasoned intelligence officer.
Sir Donald Fitzroy appears visibly aged and unwell—his trembling hands and reliance on prescription pills suggest a decline in health. Yet his warmth toward Court and Zoya, and his playful banter, show he remains emotionally engaged. His willingness to hand his entire network to Tudor reflects both trust and a lingering guilt over his past.
Court Gentry remains guarded and direct, cutting through Fitzroy's nostalgia to focus on the operational objective. His history with Lancer personalizes the mission, and his grudging agreement to the deception shows his pragmatism.
Zoya Zakharova demonstrates her sharp intuition, correctly guessing Tudor's interest in Court before Fitzroy confirms it. Her adaptability—agreeing to change her appearance for the mission—underscores her professionalism.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trust and Paranoia: Hinton's conviction that the U.S. is behind the murders reflects the corrosive paranoia that pervades high-stakes intelligence work. Pace is stunned but cannot afford to dismiss the possibility.
Legacy and the Transfer of Power: Fitzroy's decision to hand his company and contacts to Tudor symbolizes the passing of an old guard to a new, less scrupulous generation. Tudor wants Court not for honor but for profit.
The Cost of Violence: Lancer's Ankara operation—civilian deaths from indiscriminate IED use—stands as a moral counterpoint to Court's code. The chapter contrasts professional assassination with reckless slaughter.
Deception as Strategy: Court's plan to pretend to work for Tudor mirrors the larger theme of masks and misdirection. Every character in this chapter operates behind a facade of some kind.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter connects two investigative threads—Pace's official CIA inquiry and Court's personal mission—by placing both on a collision course with Jack Tudor's network. It reveals that Fitzroy's past has caught up with him, and that the Gray Man's reputation is now a commodity Tudor desperately wants. The introduction of Hightower as Hinton's protector adds a wildcard to Pace's investigation and hints at future conflict. Most importantly, it sets the stage for the infiltration of Tudor's operation, where Court will have to navigate a man who knows too much about his legend.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Anton Hinton refuse to meet with Jim Pace?
Hinton believes the United States government is behind the assassinations targeting AI experts. He sees Pace and the CIA as part of the threat, not a solution.
2. What does Fitzroy believe Tudor wants most from him?
Tudor wants access to Court Gentry—the Gray Man. He has been pressing Fitzroy for years to recruit Court into his stable of assassins, valuing his reputation and skill above all other assets.
3. What happened during the Ankara operation that caused a rift between Court and Lancer?
Lancer used improvised explosive devices on a busy street near Kizilay Square without authorization. The explosion killed three civilians and injured twenty-two. Court confronted Lancer about the collateral damage, and the two nearly killed each other in a knife fight.