Chapter 72 Summary and Analysis – The Edge by David Baldacci
⚠️ 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
Driving back to Putnam through the rain, Devine tells Alex that her brother Dak has been funding his investments through an illegal trade in glass eels (elvers). He explains that the eel business is lucrative but illicit, and he believes the shooting at the outbuilding was not related to that trade. When Alex asks why Devine was there, he avoids a direct answer. Concerned for her safety, Devine insists on staying at Jocelyn Point. He teaches Alex how to use a knife for self-defense, demonstrating a thrust to the belly. After three hours of sleep, Devine leaves for a dinner invitation from Françoise Guillaume at the Bing mansion. On the way, Campbell calls with background: Police Chief Benjamin Bing served eleven years in the Army, topped out at E6 due to disciplinary problems, and was investigated for stalking a college woman and assaulting her boyfriend. He was discharged after the stalking case. Bing received a Purple Heart for a friendly-fire graze wound and, critically, completed Army Sniper School. A recommendation from then-congressman Curtis Silkwell helped him get into the program. Devine tells Campbell he is going to dinner at the Bings’ and expects a trap.
Key Events
- Devine reveals Dak’s illegal elver (glass eel) trade to Alex.
- He proposes staying at Jocelyn Point to protect her, and she reluctantly agrees.
- Devine teaches Alex to stab an attacker in the belly with a knife, emphasizing a twist to disable.
- After sleeping, Devine heads to a dinner at the Bing mansion at Françoise Guillaume’s invitation.
- Campbell reports Bing’s military record: stalking, a friendly-fire Purple Heart, and Sniper School completion.
- The recommendation letter from Curtis Silkwell, a former congressman, is revealed.
- Devine acknowledges the dinner is likely a trap and says he is counting on it.
Character Development
Travis Devine: His protective instincts sharpen; he not only shares sensitive intel with Alex but also arms her with a weapon and a basic self-defense maneuver. His decision to walk into a potential trap shows a calculated, almost reckless courage.
Alex: She is shaken by the truth about her brother and uneasy about the knife, but she accepts Devine’s presence and the weapon. Her trust in Devine grows despite her discomfort.
Benjamin Bing (implied): Though not present on the page, the dossier paints him as a predatory, undisciplined soldier with a hidden talent for sniping, protected by political connections.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Protection vs. Pacifism: Devine’s insistence that Alex learn to use a knife clashes with her stated hatred of guns and violence. He forces her to consider that survival may require actions she finds repugnant.
- Hidden Past: Dak’s eel scheme and Bing’s Army record both surface in this chapter, reinforcing the idea that nearly everyone in Putnam has secrets.
- The Knife as a Symbol: The knife Devine gives Alex represents the painful necessity of self-defense. His instruction – thrust to the belly, twist, then upward – is visceral and memorable, underscoring the brutality Alex might have to face.
- Political Entanglement: Curtis Silkwell’s recommendation for Bing suggests that power and influence have shielded a dangerous man for years.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 72 is a turning point. Devine finally shares the truth about Dak’s criminal activity with Alex, deepening their alliance. More importantly, it exposes Bing’s sniper training and his connection to Curtis Silkwell, linking the local police chief to the powerful political figure. Devine’s decision to attend the dinner at the Bing mansion sets up a high-stakes confrontation. The chapter also personalizes the threat: Alex is now armed and aware, and Devine has committed himself to protecting her.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Devine teach Alex to use a knife rather than a gun?
Alex refuses to touch a gun because she hates firearms. Devine adapts by using a knife, noting that her artist’s hand strength and coordination make her capable of a disabling strike. He wants her to have any means of self-defense, even if it makes her uncomfortable. -
What does Benjamin Bing’s military record reveal about his character and the threat he poses?
Bing’s record shows a pattern of predatory behavior (stalking a college woman and assaulting her boyfriend), disciplinary problems that capped his career, and specialized sniper training. The fact that he received a Purple Heart for a friendly-fire graze suggests he may exploit symbols of honor. His sniper skills make him a uniquely dangerous opponent. -
How does this chapter advance Devine’s investigation?
Devine now knows that Bing has sniper training and a connection to Curtis Silkwell, two pieces that tie directly to the shootings at the outbuilding and possibly to larger corruption. By accepting the dinner invitation, Devine is moving from observation to direct engagement, hoping to force a decisive confrontation.