Chapter XXXIV Summary: Fiedler’s Morning Call & Instructions
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This summary and analysis contain spoilers for Chapter 36 of Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide. If you have not yet read the chapter, proceed with caution or read it first.
Summary
Fiedler arrives at his apartment lobby for his usual morning call from his benefactor, Amigo (Cliff). Annoyed to find the public phone booth occupied, he makes small talk with Ricky the doorman. Fiedler fabricates a story about an aunt who calls him daily on the pay phone, a tale Ricky begins to distrust. When the phone rings at 8:40, Cliff, using the Amigo voice, tells Fiedler they need to find another way to communicate but insists this method must continue for a few more days. Cliff gives detailed instructions for a seven-thirty ticket pickup, requiring Fiedler to write them down using paper and pencil borrowed from Ricky. The instructions involve dropping a newspaper in a trash bin to retrieve a container of winning tickets. Fiedler pockets the notes and leaves for work, dismissing Ricky’s questioning with a sharp order to just do his job.
Key Events
- Fiedler finds the pay phone occupied and waits impatiently.
- He engages Ricky the doorman in forced small talk and concocts a story about an aunt calling him.
- Ricky begins to doubt Fiedler’s explanation.
- At 8:40, Cliff (as Amigo) calls and delivers the next set of instructions.
- Fiedler writes down the detailed plan for a ticket pickup involving a newspaper drop and a trash bin.
- Ricky questions Fiedler about the aunt’s name, revealing his growing suspicion.
- Fiedler rebukes Ricky and leaves for work.
Character Development
- Fiedler: Shows impatience and a sense of entitlement. He dislikes being kept waiting and resents being questioned by a doorman. His weak cover story reveals a lack of preparation for the long-term deception required by Cliff’s scheme.
- Cliff / Amigo: Maintains a controlled, cryptic tone. He insists on strict adherence to his detailed instructions, demonstrating his careful planning and desire to keep Fiedler on a short leash. The alias “Amigo” allows him to issue commands without revealing his identity.
- Ricky: Observant and increasingly skeptical. He notices the inconsistency in Fiedler’s story and begins to see through the facade. His question about the aunt’s name signals that he may become a threat to Fiedler’s secrecy.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Deception and Cover Stories: Fiedler’s invented aunt is a clumsy attempt to justify his daily pay‑phone routine. The story is thin and easily doubted, highlighting the difficulty of sustaining a false narrative under scrutiny.
- Routine and Disruption: The chapter revolves around a scheduled call that is thrown off by the occupied booth. This small disruption rattles Fiedler and underscores how dependent he is on Cliff’s timetable.
- Power Imbalance: Fiedler tries to assert authority over Ricky by telling him to “just do your job,” but Ricky’s quiet questioning actually holds more power because he is not easily fooled. Meanwhile, Cliff holds real control over Fiedler through the promise of money and the need for secrecy.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 36 advances the plot by laying out the next step in Cliff’s scheme—a ticket pickup that requires Fiedler to follow precise, covert instructions. It also exposes vulnerabilities in Fiedler’s character: his impatience, his weak lies, and his inability to handle minor setbacks. Ricky’s growing suspicion introduces a new layer of risk; if the doorman decides to probe further, Fiedler’s entire operation could be compromised. The chapter tightens the tension between Fiedler’s desire for control and his actual dependence on Cliff’s instructions.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Fiedler use the pay phone instead of his home phone?
He tells Ricky that an aunt would call all night if she had his home number, so he lets her check in daily on the pay phone. The real reason is that he is receiving instructions from “Amigo” (Cliff) and needs a method that cannot be traced easily to his residence.
2. What specific detail does Ricky notice that makes him doubt Fiedler’s story?
When Fiedler returns the pencil, Ricky asks for the aunt’s name. Fiedler avoids answering and instead rebukes Ricky. Ricky’s question shows he is thinking critically about the story and suspects it may be a cover.
3. Why do you think Cliff insists on such detailed instructions for the ticket pickup?
Cliff wants to ensure Fiedler follows the plan exactly to avoid mistakes or detection. The precise actions—dropping a newspaper, retrieving a container from a trash bin—reduce the chance of errors and keep the exchange anonymous and secure. It also reinforces Cliff’s control over the operation.