Chapter 6: Six – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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 the narrator receives a chilling text from the late Joe Champi (“Uncle Joe”), Jimmy takes the threat with deadly seriousness. They discuss Champi’s history as a fixer for Rob Jacobson, linking him to the disappearances of Nick Morelli and Gregg McCall, as well as the murder of Jimmy’s former partner Mickey Dunne. Jimmy tries to trace the burner phone with no success. At the narrator’s house, Rip the dog shows clear preference for Jimmy. The narrator mentions she has a date with Dr. Ben Kalinsky. Jimmy leaves, only to return moments later with his own identical threat text: “I still owe you 2 one.” The chapter ends with the unsettling realization that someone—possibly a dead man—is taunting them both.
Key Events
- The narrator and Jimmy discuss the text from Joe Champi, who is dead.
- Jimmy explains Champi’s role as a fixer for Rob Jacobson over many years.
- Jimmy connects Champi to the deaths of Nick Morelli, Gregg McCall, and Mickey Dunne.
- Jimmy contacts former NYPD colleagues but learns the text came from a burner phone, untraceable.
- The narrator arrives home; Rip the dog repeatedly fetches a tennis ball for Jimmy, not for her.
- The narrator reveals she saw someone who looked like Nick Morelli in Mineola.
- Jimmy finishes his beer and departs, but immediately returns to show a text he received from “Uncle Joe.”
- The chapter closes on a note of eerie uncertainty—both protagonists are now targets.
Character Development
- The Narrator (Jane Smith/Protagonist): Remains pragmatic but unsettled. Her dark humor surfaces (e.g., “cell service in hell”). Her confidence is tested by the unanswerable threat.
- Jimmy: More paranoid than usual. He treats the text as a genuine danger, showing his deep knowledge of Champi’s criminal history. His loyalty to the narrator is clear as he shares his own threat text.
- Joe Champi (deceased): Even in death, his presence looms. The chapter suggests his knowledge and influence outlast his life, turning him into a menacing symbol.
- Rip the Dog: Provides comic relief and a subtle parallel: the old dog “hanging in there” like the narrator beating the odds. His preference for Jimmy hints at the narrator’s insecurities.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Unfinished Business: The text from a dead man signifies that past crimes are not buried. Champi’s reach extends beyond the grave.
- Paranoia and Trust: The inability to trace the burner phone underscores how technology can be used to sow fear. Jimmy and the narrator must now question everyone.
- Walking Dead Motif: References to “walking dead” and possible sightings of Nick Morelli blur the line between life and death, reality and haunting.
- The Dog as Symbol: Rip’s relentless fetching and selective loyalty mirror the characters’ stubborn pursuit of truth and the uneven distribution of trust.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 6 transforms the novel from a legal thriller into a psychological mystery. By introducing a threat from beyond the grave, Patterson raises the stakes beyond mere courtroom drama. The chapter deepens the backstory of Joe Champi and cements Jimmy as a co-investigator with his own history. It also sets up a potential conspiracy involving multiple murders, placing the narrator squarely in the crosshairs. The unanswered question—who is sending the texts?—propels the plot into its next phase.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Jimmy take the text from a dead man so seriously?
Jimmy knows Joe Champi was a ruthless fixer for Rob Jacobson. He believes Champi orchestrated the deaths of Nick Morelli, Gregg McCall, and Mickey Dunne. A text from Champi suggests either the message was sent before his death by an accomplice, or someone is using Champi’s identity to intimidate them. Given Champi’s network, the threat is credible.
2. What does Rip the dog’s behavior reveal about the narrator’s character?
Rip fetching for Jimmy but not for the narrator highlights her self-deprecating humor and underlying insecurity. She jokes that “most people” like Jimmy better, which reflects her awareness of her abrasive personality. Yet Rip is also “beating the odds” by staying active, mirroring how the narrator survives against powerful enemies.
3. How does the chapter use technology (burner phones) to build suspense?
Burner phones are untraceable, making the threat feel omnipresent. Jimmy’s frustration—“trace where the wind comes from”—emphasizes how modern tools can fail. The fact that both received identical texts suggests a coordinated attack, increasing the sense of vulnerability.