Chapter 86: Eighty-Six – Summary & 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
Back at the house, Jimmy recounts every frustrating step of the chase Edmund McKenzie led him on. McKenzie drove a Tesla through the South Fork, making a quick stop at Bell & Anchor before crossing into Sag Harbor. On Route 27 heading west toward Montauk, he floored the accelerator, passed several cars on a double line, and easily outpaced Jimmy’s slower Jetta. Jimmy is convinced the entire route was a deliberate head fake—McKenzie knew Jimmy was coming and wanted to be followed. A tracking alert on Jimmy’s phone had activated as he neared McKenzie’s property, confirming that someone was monitoring his approach.
When Jimmy asks Danny Esposito if there is any way to trace the source of that alert, Esposito says flatly: “Not a snowball’s chance in Miami.” He explains that even the feds guard their tracking capabilities tightly and would refuse to help. Frustrated, Jimmy voices a deeper hunch: he suspects that Frank Licata may not be the real mastermind. Instead, someone else could be pulling the strings, feeding misinformation and pointing the investigation in wrong directions.
Despite the dead end, Jimmy decides to act. He announces he will return to Southampton to see if McKenzie’s Tesla is back in the driveway. Esposito volunteers to join him. Jane declines the invitation, saying it is near her bedtime. Before leaving, Jimmy leans over and kisses the top of her head. Then he gives her a long, somber look and asks a question that changes the frame of the entire case: “What if our guy isn’t a murderer?” Jane immediately presses for clarification—which murders is he referring to? Jimmy answers, “All of them.” He tosses Esposito the car keys, and they head out into the night.
Key Events
- Jimmy details the route McKenzie took and admits he was deliberately lost.
- McKenzie’s stop at Bell & Anchor was a performance; he never intended to stay.
- Jimmy confirms McKenzie received a tracking alert and orchestrated the chase.
- Esposito dashes any hope of tracing the phone alert without federal help.
- Jimmy shares his theory that Licata is a pawn and the real puppet master remains hidden.
- Esposito shows a more supportive, less performative side during the conversation.
- Jimmy and Esposito set off for Southampton to look for the Tesla.
- Jane stays behind, asserting her independence and need for rest.
- Jimmy kisses Jane’s head, a gesture of affection and concern.
- Jimmy’s final question reframes the investigation: the target might be innocent.
Character Development
Jane (the narrator): Her protective instinct toward Jimmy is clear when she asks if he is safe. She also demonstrates sharp critical thinking by immediately challenging Jimmy’s ambiguous question about “murders.” Her decision to go home rather than join the stakeout underscores her self-awareness and refusal to be pulled into unnecessary risk.
Jimmy: This chapter reveals Jimmy’s vulnerability and self-deprecation (he calls himself “a schmuck”). Yet his intuition remains keen—he refuses to accept the chase at face value and begins to suspect a wider conspiracy. His affectionate gesture toward Jane deepens their personal connection, and his closing question shows he is willing to reconsider fundamental assumptions about the case.
Danny Esposito: Previously seen as a cool-dude cop, Esposito now listens more than he talks. He offers honest, practical advice about the limits of surveillance and agrees to help without grandstanding. This shift makes him a more trustworthy ally.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Misdirection and Head Fakes: The entire chase is a staged performance. McKenzie’s route, the stop at Bell & Anchor, and the loss on the highway are all designed to waste time and obscure the truth. This mirrors the novel’s larger pattern of deception.
The Puppet Master Motif: Jimmy explicitly questions who is truly in control. By suggesting that Licata may be a front, he introduces the idea that the visible antagonist is not the real threat—a classic thriller motif.
Surveillance and Paranoia: The phone tracking alert and Esposito’s comments about government secrecy highlight how technology erodes privacy and fuels suspicion. The impossibility of tracing the alert adds to the characters’ sense of powerlessness.
Ambiguity of Guilt: Jimmy’s closing question—“what if our guy isn’t a murderer?”—destabilizes the reader’s certainty. It forces a re-evaluation of all the evidence and suggests that the investigation may have been built on a false premise.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 86 marks a turning point. It retroactively reinterprets earlier events: the chase was not an accident but a calculated distraction. Jimmy’s suspicion of a hidden puppet master elevates the conflict from a simple manhunt to a complex conspiracy. The chapter also strengthens the partnership between Jimmy and Esposito and deepens the emotional bond between Jimmy and Jane. The final question leaves the reader unsettled and eager to discover whether the protagonist is indeed innocent.
Study Questions
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Why does Jimmy believe McKenzie knew he was coming?
McKenzie received a tracking alert on Jimmy’s phone as he approached the house, and the chase route seemed purposely designed to waste time and misdirect him. -
What does Esposito mean by “not a snowball’s chance in Miami”?
He means it is impossible to trace who activated the tracking alert or where it came from, because only the feds have the ability, and they refuse to share their methods. -
How does Jimmy’s final question challenge the investigation’s direction?
By asking whether their suspect might not be a murderer, Jimmy suggests they may be chasing an innocent person, implying that the real killer remains unknown and that their entire pursuit is based on false assumptions.