Hard to Kill Chapter 71: Seventy-One — 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.
Summary
On Monday morning, Jimmy drives the protagonist to the Mineola courthouse for a meeting with Judge Kane. Despite the protagonist’s insistence that she can go alone, Jimmy cites the wingman’s manual and refuses. During the drive, they discuss the resemblance between Anthony Licata and Joe Champi, and the possibility that Licata might be responsible for actions previously attributed to Champi—including Gregg McCall’s disappearance and Jimmy’s drugging. The protagonist’s ex-husband Martin is not returning her calls, fueling speculation that he may have business ties with Licata. At the courthouse, the protagonist reflects on her father’s old advice about never quitting the fight. She enters Judge Kane’s chambers expecting to withdraw from the case, but after a very brief meeting, she exits and tells Jimmy she is not leaving the case after all.
Key Events
- Jimmy drives the protagonist to the courthouse, refusing to let her go alone.
- They discuss the physical resemblance between Licata and Champi, and whether Licata could have committed crimes blamed on Champi.
- The protagonist tries to contact ex-husband Martin about his possible connection to Licata, but gets no reply.
- Jimmy speculates Martin might have had financial troubles during COVID and sought help from Licata.
- At the courthouse, the protagonist remembers her father’s lesson: “You stop fighting when you’re dead.”
- She enters Judge Kane’s chambers intending to quit the case.
- The meeting lasts less than five minutes.
- She returns to Jimmy and announces she is not quitting.
Character Development
- Protagonist: She arrives ready to step away from the case, weighing the cost to herself and others. Her father’s memory reminds her of her lifelong instinct to fight. Yet she still goes through with the meeting—only to reverse course. This reveals a core tension between pragmatism and ingrained determination.
- Jimmy: Acts as a steadfast ally, insisting on his role as wingman. His speculative dialogue shows he is thinking several steps ahead about how Licata and Champi may be linked to Martin and other events.
- Judge Kane: Not seen directly, but the brevity of the meeting suggests she either refused the protagonist’s request or the protagonist changed her mind before speaking.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Quitting vs. fighting: The central theme. The protagonist’s father’s motto—fight until you’re dead—contrasts with her current desire to walk away. The chapter asks whether walking away is ever acceptable.
- The repertory company metaphor: The protagonist says “everybody … is in the same repertory company,” implying that people in her circles play interchangeable roles. Licata and Champi are nearly interchangeable; Martin may be another actor in the same drama.
- Look-alikes and reminds-me-ofs: Jimmy’s distinction suggests that in this world, appearances can mislead and that one crime figure can easily be mistaken for another.
- Cost-effectiveness: The protagonist thinks “it’s no longer cost-effective” to be the last one in the room, introducing a business-like calculation into her moral decisions.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 71 is a pivot point. The protagonist enters the courthouse ready to quit, which would have ended her involvement in the case. Her decision to stay reaffirms her commitment despite the risks. It also deepens the mystery around Licata and Champi, linking them to Martin and potentially other cases. The chapter reinforces the theme of resolve and sets up the next phase of the investigation.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the protagonist initially want to quit the case, and what changes her mind?
She feels that continuing is no longer “cost-effective” for herself, Dr. Ben, and Jimmy. However, after the brief meeting with Judge Kane, she decides not to quit. The text does not specify the exact reason; it may be that Judge Kane refused to let her withdraw, or the protagonist’s own ingrained fighting instinct reasserted itself.
2. What is the significance of Jimmy’s distinction between “look-a-likes” and “reminds-me-ofs”?
It highlights how easily characters in this story can be confused. Licata and Champi are not identical but share enough traits that one could be mistaken for the other. This confusion has been used against the protagonist before (e.g., the false texts from the dead Champi). The distinction warns the reader to question visual evidence.
3. How does the memory of the protagonist’s father affect her actions in this chapter?
Her father taught her that stopping the fight is only acceptable when you are dead. That memory surfaces as she prepares to quit, creating internal conflict. Though she enters the chambers intending to quit, she ultimately does not—suggesting his lesson still shapes her, even when she tries to ignore it.