Chapter 69 (Sixty-Five) Summary - Lies He Told Me
⚠️ 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
Tommy Malone walks along the icy running path near Anna’s Bridge late at night. The bridge remains under construction after a previous accident. He assumes this spot is where David Bowers stood on the night his car went into the Cotton River—the night that revealed David was not who he claimed to be. Tommy has a splitting headache and a fat lip from a fight with David; he narrowly avoided a headbutt that could have broken his nose. From his jacket, he retrieves an HK45 pistol. He unscrews the suppressor and throws it into the river, then methodically disassembles the firearm, tossing each piece into the water. Once the weapon is gone, he squats down in frustration, cursing. Shooting David was the last thing he wanted. Now David is in the hospital clinging to life, and the entire community is watching the Bowers family. His covert operation is compromised. Tommy concludes there is only one way forward: he must find a way to get Marcie alone.
Key Events
- Tommy trudges down the hill to Anna’s Bridge, which is still under construction after the accident.
- He reflects on the night David Bowers’s car went off the bridge, the incident that exposed David’s true identity.
- Tommy nurses a headache and a fat lip from a physical fight with David.
- He removes the suppressor from his HK45 and tosses it into the Cotton River.
- He disassembles the entire firearm, scattering the parts into the river one by one.
- Tommy squats down, expressing anger and frustration that he was forced to shoot David.
- He acknowledges the heightened scrutiny on the Bowers family and the difficulty of operating under the radar.
- He decides the only solution is to get Marcie alone.
Character Development
Tommy Malone is shown as a methodical and desperate man. He carefully disposes of evidence, indicating experience with covert operations, yet his emotional outbursts reveal a man under intense pressure. His decision to target Marcie marks a shift from attempting to recover money through David to a riskier, more direct approach.
David Bowers is not present in the scene but his condition—hospitalized and “clinging to life”—drives Tommy’s actions. The earlier accident that exposed David’s true identity is a key backstory element.
Marcie is introduced as a necessary target for Tommy’s next move, though her relationship to the Bowers family or the money is not detailed in this chapter.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Secrecy and Cleanup: Tommy’s meticulous disposal of the firearm symbolises his attempt to erase evidence of his crime. The river acts as a pit of concealment, swallowing the weapon piece by piece.
Isolation and Desperation: The late-night setting on an icy bridge emphasises Tommy’s solitude. His curses and physical pain reflect the personal cost of his actions.
The Lingering Accident: Anna’s Bridge, still under construction, serves as a constant reminder of the incident that unravelled David Bowers’s lies. It links the past to the present crisis.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 69 is a turning point. Tommy has already shot David, and with police and public attention now fixed on the Bowers family, he can no longer work in the shadows. His decision to pivot toward Marcie raises the stakes and introduces a new threat. The scene also deepens Tommy’s character by showing both his professional discipline and his human frailty.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Tommy choose to dispose of the weapon at Anna’s Bridge?
The bridge is the site of the accident that revealed David’s true identity, and it is isolated at night. Tommy likely chooses it because it is familiar and remote, and the river provides a convenient way to scatter the pieces beyond recovery. -
What does Tommy’s methodical disassembly of the gun reveal about his state of mind?
It shows he is experienced and calm enough to follow procedure even under stress, but his subsequent outburst of frustration and cursing indicates that his control is fraying. He is desperately trying to regain control of a situation that has spiralled. -
Why does Tommy consider getting Marcie alone as his only option?
Shooting David has made a covert approach impossible. With everyone watching the Bowers family, Tommy cannot operate unnoticed. He likely believes that Marcie holds the key to the money or can be manipulated more easily than David now that David is incapacitated.