Chapter 86: Pressuring an Informant
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens with the protagonist facing Jaime Nantes’ skeptical reaction to his request for help. The protagonist, accompanied by his partner Trilling, tries to convince Nantes to tip them off when Antonio Deason leaves with product. Nantes resists, citing the risk and his acquaintance with Deason’s father. The protagonist insists they only need Nantes as eyes and ears, but Nantes sees the request as closer to blackmail than law enforcement. Nantes then mentions he has recorded conversations with Deason for a Detective Hernandez, and Trilling clarifies that those were transmitted, not recorded by Nantes. Nantes remains unwilling, so the protagonist stands up and says, “Good luck.” This reversal makes Nantes call them back. He offers an alternative: showing them documents at the warehouse that incriminate Deason. Nantes claims the warehouse is empty for at least an hour. The protagonist weighs the risk and decides to go.
Key Events
- The protagonist and Trilling meet with Jaime Nantes to solicit his help.
- The protagonist asks Nantes to tip them off when Antonio Deason leaves with product.
- Nantes is reluctant because of past ties and risk.
- The protagonist pretends to leave, prompting Nantes to change his mind.
- Nantes offers to show incriminating documents at the warehouse.
- Trilling confirms the location is currently unoccupied.
- The protagonist accepts the offer.
Character Development
- The protagonist (unnamed narrator) : Shows increasing desperation by pushing an informant past his comfort zone. The fake exit and muttered “Good luck” reveal a calculated manipulation tactic.
- Jaime Nantes: Initially defiant and cautious, he reconsiders when faced with losing the deal. His offer of warehouse documents indicates he has more to gain or fear than he first admitted.
- Trilling: Acts as a supporting presence, correcting technical details about recorded conversations and asking practical questions about secrecy.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Desperation and moral compromise: The protagonist acknowledges the plan “was much closer to blackmail than it was to law enforcement,” yet proceeds anyway.
- Risk vs. reward: Nantes weighs the hazard of crossing Deason against the potential benefit of cooperating. The protagonist also accepts a risky proposition.
- Manipulation: The protagonist’s feigned departure reverses Nantes’ refusal, showing how power shifts in negotiation.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 86 marks a turning point in the investigation. The protagonist secures a direct path to evidence against Deason, moving from observation to active conspiracy with an informant. Nantes’ decision to cooperate, and the protagonist’s willingness to cross ethical lines, set up high-stakes consequences for the remainder of the narrative.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Nantes initially refuse the protagonist’s request?
Nantes fears antagonizing Antonio Deason because he knew Deason’s father and believes Antonio could be just as dangerous. He also sees the request as involving too much risk for a charge he has already dealt with.
2. How does the protagonist change Nantes’ mind?
The protagonist stands up, starts to leave, and mutters “Good luck” in a dismissive tone. This sudden withdrawal undercuts Nantes’ defiance and makes him reconsider, leading him to propose an alternative.
3. What new risk does the protagonist take at the end of the chapter?
He agrees to go to the warehouse with Nantes, trusting that it is empty and that the documents will be damning. This decision exposes him to potential ambush or further entanglement in illegal activity.