Chapter summaries Hard to Kill James Patterson & Mike Lupica

Chapter 69: Jimmy – Uncovering Licata's Shadowy Past

⚠️ 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

Jimmy needs information about Anthony Licata, ex-partner of Joe Champi, in a hurry. He drives into Manhattan to work his contacts. He now connects Licata to the late Dave Wolk and to a lady friend who slapped Jimmy when he was tied up at his own house. Everything seems linked but how remains unclear.

Jimmy meets Detective Craig Jackson and retired detective Dick Kelley at Dorrian’s Red Hand, a bar famous from the 1980s Preppy Killer case involving Robert Chambers and Jennifer Levin. Kelley worked that case and chose the meeting spot. The three make small talk about Chambers before Jimmy steers the conversation to Licata.

Kelley explains that Licata and Champi, after leaving the NYPD, became entrepreneurial fixers for wealthy clients. They removed problems for a price, giving rich men a thrill of the dark side. Champi had previously worked with Jimmy’s client’s father before the father shot up his house. After that murder-suicide, the client – the son – inherited Champi. Paul Harrington, then commander of detectives at the 24th precinct, could never disprove the son’s version of events. Licata had already been booted from the department by Harrington. Champi soon resigned, and the pair expanded their client list: team owners, ballplayers, a former network president, construction guys, real estate moguls, and publishing figures like Rob Jacobson’s father.

Jimmy asks if either ever got caught. Kelley admits it took Jimmy’s lawyer lady to take down Champi, while Licata likely kept laughing. He says they were called “brothers from other mothers” and even looked alike. Kelley also mentions a persistent rumor of a third partner that nobody could nail down. When Jimmy presses for any other sugar daddies, Kelley reveals he received a call before the meeting from an old friend at the 20th precinct. The friend gave up a name: Thomas McKenzie, an old Yalie hedge-fund guy. Jimmy’s ribs ache, but he resists ordering a Scotch because he faces a hundred-mile drive home on the LIE.

Key Events

  • Jimmy meets Detective Craig Jackson and retired Detective Dick Kelley at Dorrian’s Red Hand.
  • Kelley recounts the Preppy Killer case and establishes his credibility.
  • Kelley details how Licata and Champi operated as fixers for high-rollers after leaving the NYPD.
  • He explains that Champi connected with Jimmy’s client’s father before the murder-suicide, and later the son inherited Champi.
  • Kelley reveals that Paul Harrington cleared the son but could not make a case against him.
  • A possible third partner is mentioned, but never confirmed.
  • At the chapter’s end, Kelley passes along the name Thomas McKenzie – a hedge-fund manager with Yale ties.

Character Development

  • Jimmy: Shows his proactive, streetwise nature by driving into the city to gather intel. He resists alcohol despite physical discomfort, demonstrating discipline and focus on the case.
  • Detective Dick Kelley: Portrayed as a veteran “cop’s cop” with deep institutional knowledge. His willingness to share old stories and current tips suggests he still values the detective craft and enjoys being in the game.
  • Detective Craig Jackson: Serves as a bridge between active and retired circles. His choice of Dorrian’s indicates deference to Kelley’s history.
  • Anthony Licata and Joe Champi: Though absent, their legend grows as shadowy figures who moved seamlessly from law enforcement to criminal enterprise. The “brothers from other mothers” description reinforces their partnership.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Glamour of the Underworld: Kelley notes that wealthy clients enjoyed feeling like they were in a Scorsese movie. The fixers supplied a dark thrill, linking crime with status.
  • Legacy of Violence: The murder-suicide case involving Jimmy’s client’s father echoes forward, showing how past violence seeds future entanglements.
  • Information as Currency: Jimmy’s entire chapter is a hunt for connections. The bar setting and retired detective network symbolize the old-boy web of intelligence that still operates.
  • Alcohol and Control: Jimmy orders a nonalcoholic beer while others drink tequila. His discipline contrasts with the carefree consumption around him, underscoring his singular focus.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter widens the conspiracy beyond Joe Champi. It introduces the possibility of a third partner and crucially supplies the name Thomas McKenzie – a new lead that could unlock the entire network. By linking Licata to Dave Wolk and the woman who assaulted Jimmy, the web of connections tightens. Kelley’s background lends credibility to the information, and the setting at Dorrian’s bridges the story’s present with a notorious past case. Readers now have a fresh thread to follow as the investigation pivots from Champi toward the hidden players.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What does Kelley reveal about Licata and Champi’s operation after leaving the NYPD?
    They became private fixers for wealthy clients, removing problems for a fee. They worked under the radar, expanding their roster to include team owners, ballplayers, and business figures.

  2. How does the Preppy Killer case function in this chapter?
    It establishes Kelley’s credentials as a seasoned detective and sets the atmospheric scene at Dorrian’s Red Hand, a bar linked to that infamous 1980s murder.

  3. What new lead does Jimmy receive at the end of the chapter?
    Kelley tells Jimmy about Thomas McKenzie, a Yale-educated hedge-fund manager. McKenzie may be connected to Licata’s operations, possibly as a client or hidden partner.

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