Chapter 91 Summary: Salvatore and Licata Presumed Dead
⚠️ 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
At the Coast Guard station in Montauk, Jane meets with detectives Jimmy and Danny Esposito, along with Chief Larry Calabrese. Jimmy reveals that the other passenger on Bobby Salvatore’s boat was Anthony Licata. They confirmed this through the harbor master at Watch Hill, Rhode Island, where Salvatore introduced Licata as his buddy before departing. AIS ship tracking shows the boat took a direct route from Block Island Sound to the explosion site. Search-and-rescue crews are collecting debris; one boat found part of the lifeboat still attached to the hull, making survival highly unlikely. Jane recalls that Salvatore’s nephew, Nick Morelli, once staged his own death at sea, and she wonders if Salvatore could have done the same. However, the evidence—a missing lifeboat and the nature of the explosion—points to a real tragedy. Jane is disappointed because she had hoped Salvatore was the mastermind behind the attacks. Jimmy asks what Salvatore said to her at the horse show; she remembers his words: “It’s not me.” The chapter closes with the group staring out at the water, contemplating the presumed deaths.
Key Events
- Jimmy and Esposito inform Jane that Anthony Licata was with Salvatore on the boat.
- The harbor master at Watch Hill confirms seeing Salvatore with Licata, describing Licata as a large, older man with a raspy voice wearing a Rangers cap.
- AIS tracking data shows the boat’s direct path from Watch Hill to the explosion off Montauk.
- A search-and-rescue boat finds part of the lifeboat still attached to the hull, indicating the explosion was sudden and severe.
- Jane draws a parallel to Nick Morelli’s staged death but acknowledges the evidence suggests a genuine incident.
- News reports already declare Salvatore and Licata presumed dead.
- Jane expresses her disappointment over not being able to pin the conspiracy on Salvatore.
- Jimmy recalls Salvatore’s statement to Jane at the horse show: “It’s not me.”
Character Development
Jane shows her persistence and instinct. She immediately questions the official story, looking for signs of a staged death. Her disappointment reveals how deeply she wanted Salvatore to be the central villain, reflecting her frustration with the case’s direction. Her recall of Salvatore’s exact words “It’s not me” demonstrates her sharp memory and ability to hold onto potential clues.
Jimmy and Danny Esposito exhibit a dry, bantering partnership. Jimmy’s self-aware humor (“I still want a flat belly”) and their playful rivalry (“I keep forgetting the real hotshot is you”) lighten the tense mood while underscoring their loyalty to Jane. Jimmy’s final question about the horse show shows he values Jane’s observations.
Bobby Salvatore remains an enigma even in death. His off-page comment “It’s not me” lingers, inviting speculation about whether he was telling the truth or deflecting.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Deception versus reality runs throughout the chapter. Jane suspects the explosion might be another staged death, echoing Nick Morelli’s earlier ruse. The intact lifeboat—a symbol of escape—being found still attached suggests no one tried to flee, reinforcing the idea of a genuine catastrophe.
The sea as an unforgiving setting recurs. The ocean here is both a highway for criminals and a grave. The search boats “picking up the pieces” literally and figuratively underscores the finality of mob violence.
Organized crime’s impenetrability is highlighted. Even with Salvatore dead, Jane is no closer to the top. The chapter reinforces the theme that the criminal hierarchy is resilient and hard to dismantle.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter advances the plot by removing two major players from the playing field—or seemingly so. The presumed deaths of Salvatore and Licata force Jane to reassess her theory that Salvatore was the mastermind. The chapter also plants a seed of doubt: could the men have faked their deaths? This ambiguity keeps the mystery alive and tightens the suspense. Additionally, the horse show callback ties this chapter to earlier events, offering a clue that may prove significant later. The chapter deepens the atmosphere of hopelessness and exhaustion that pervades the investigation.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Jane initially suspect that Salvatore’s death might be staged?
Jane remembers that Salvatore’s nephew, Nick Morelli, once faked his own death at sea. She wonders if the family had a history of such ruses, especially given the absence of a usable lifeboat and the convenient timing of the explosion. However, the discovery of the lifeboat still attached to the hull contradicts the possibility of a planned escape.
2. What does the harbor master’s description of Licata reveal about Salvatore’s associates?
The harbor master describes Licata as a large, older man with a raspy voice, wearing a Rangers cap. This detail matches a typical mob enforcer profile and verifies that Salvatore kept company with known associates. It also confirms that Licata was likely a trusted figure, given that Salvatore introduced him as “his buddy” before a trip.
3. How does Jane’s reaction to the news reflect her character?
Jane expresses strong disappointment that Salvatore is presumed dead because she had invested hope in him being the top leader. This reveals her frustration with the slow progress of the case and her desire for a decisive victory. It also shows that she is not easily satisfied with coincidences—she keeps questioning even when others accept the official version.