Chapter summaries The Color of Death Trey Gowdy

Chapter 64: A Daring Escape and a Reassignment

⚠️ 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

Impatient and determined, Colm waits at the far end of the hospital grounds, pacing along an eight‑foot fence designed to prevent climbing. He spots Bones arriving in the old Charger and asks for rope. Bones hesitates, concerned that Colm has not been discharged, but Colm insists he needs to leave immediately. Climbing the fence with Bones’s help, Colm scrambles over as orderlies shout behind them. They sprint to the car and speed away. Bones asks if he just broke Colm out of a mental health facility. Colm explains that as a voluntary patient he should have been allowed to leave, but the nurse demanded a written request to be reviewed by an on‑call doctor—a process he cannot wait for. The preliminary hearing for the Rachel Simone case is in two hours. Colm reveals that Irene has obtained new DNA results, that Dillon will not take his calls, and that Cindy will only speak to him through Dillon. Afraid Dillon will make a catastrophic mistake, Colm is reassigning himself to the case. He asks Bones to stop at his house for a suit and then get to the courthouse as fast as possible. Bones turns on the sirens and lights.

Key Events

  • Colm waits by the hospital fence and signals to Bones as he arrives.
  • Bones throws a coil of rope over the fence; Colm climbs and drops to the other side as orderlies give chase.
  • They flee in the Charger; Bones activates emergency lights and sirens.
  • Colm explains that his discharge was being blocked by bureaucratic procedures.
  • The Rachel Simone preliminary hearing is in two hours; new DNA results from Irene have come in.
  • Dillon is unreachable, and Cindy insists Colm speak to Dillon first.
  • Colm decides to ignore his removal from the case and reassign himself.
  • The chapter ends with Bones fully committed to the escape, driving at high speed toward Colm’s house and the courthouse.

Character Development

  • Colm: Demonstrates resourcefulness and resolve. Despite being a voluntary patient, he physically escapes rather than wait for proper release paperwork. His decision to “reassign” himself shows a deep personal stake in the Rachel Simone case and a willingness to bend rules for what he believes is justice. The nickname “Buddy” used with Bones hints at their long history.
  • Bones: Acts as a loyal friend who trusts Colm even when the situation seems reckless. He initially questions Colm’s actions but ultimately provides the rope and drives away with sirens. His concern about Mae’s reaction adds a touch of humour and reveals his domestic accountability.
  • Irene, Dillon, Cindy: Mentioned off‑stage but play important roles in motivating Colm’s escape. Irene’s DNA results are the catalyst; Dillon’s silence and Cindy’s insistence on protocol create the urgency.
  • Mae: Referenced only as someone who will be angry at Bones, indicating a personal relationship (likely wife or partner) and that Bones’s actions have home‑front consequences.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Prison vs. Healing: The hospital fence is described as eight feet tall, with angled top and smooth surface—features typical of a prison. This blurs the line between a place of healing and a place of confinement, especially when Colm forcibly leaves.
  • Speed and Urgency: The Charger with sirens symbolises the race against time. The legal clock (two hours until the hearing) drives the physical action, mirroring the internal pressure Colm feels.
  • Trust and Friendship: Bones’s willingness to aid the escape without full knowledge underscores the theme of trust. Colm’s faith in Bones (“I need you to trust me”) is reciprocated immediately.
  • Rule‑Breaking for Justice: Colm acknowledges the legal loophole (voluntary patient can leave) but bypasses proper channels because the system is too slow. This echoes a larger motif of individuals challenging institutional inertia to serve what they see as a higher purpose.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point: Colm physically leaves a mental health facility and reassumes control of the Rachel Simone case, setting the stage for the preliminary hearing. It raises the stakes by introducing new DNA evidence, forcing Colm to act outside official protocols. The escape also deepens his character, showing that he is willing to risk his freedom and professional standing to prevent a potential injustice. Bones’s complicity cements their alliance, while the countdown to the hearing injects narrative tension that will carry into the next chapter.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Colm decide to escape from the hospital instead of waiting for the standard discharge process?
    Colm believes that the preliminary hearing for Rachel Simone’s case will begin in two hours, and he cannot afford to wait for a written request to be reviewed by an on‑call doctor. He has learned that new DNA results have come in and that Dillon is unreachable, increasing the risk of a serious legal mistake.

  2. What does Bones’s role in the escape reveal about his relationship with Colm?
    Bones shows complete trust in Colm despite his own misgivings. He questions the decision but ultimately drives the car and activates the sirens, indicating a deep personal loyalty that overrides professional caution or fear of consequences at home.

  3. How does the description of the hospital fence contribute to the chapter’s mood?
    The fence is described as eight feet tall, with narrow mesh, an outward‑angled top, and a smooth surface to prevent climbing. These details create a sense of confinement and urgency, turning the hospital into a prison‑like environment and heightening the tension of the escape.

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