Chapter 64 Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
In July 2018, Rachel returns to Antibes a few days after Michael Rimmer's body is discovered by his housekeeper, Joy. The French police immediately want to question her, and she cooperates, though she is careful with her answers. She admits that she visited Michael a week before his death, that they parted on bad terms, that they were separated, and that they had unresolved financial issues. But she firmly denies having any real motive to kill him, insisting that she left his house determined never to see him again.
Rachel paints a damning portrait of Michael to the police. She describes him as an abuser, a criminal who sold equipment to drug manufacturers, a man who operated in a shadowy underworld and kept a handgun in his home office. She says he owed money to dangerous people and that many individuals might have wanted him dead. She claims she is glad he is dead but had no part in it.
The detectives then ask about Michael's first wife, Lucy Smith. Rachel says she knows nothing, that Michael never spoke of her, and that they split up acrimoniously years ago. The police reveal that Joy, the housekeeper, saw Lucy visit Michael about five days before his death—the very same day Rachel said she visited. According to Joy, Lucy arrived with her children and her dog and spent about fifteen minutes in the garden with Michael, and the encounter seemed convivial.
Rachel's heart skips a beat. She knows Joy does not work on Sundays, the day she herself visited, so how could Joy have seen Lucy? She hides her confusion and suggests that Michael must have lied to her about Lucy, just as he lied about everything else. With no physical evidence, the police release Rachel a few hours later.
Walking through the familiar town, Rachel resists the overwhelming urge to go to Castle Hill, knock on the door of the shabby blue building, and tell Lucy she is her hero and will protect her forever. But she cannot risk leading the police to Lucy. Instead, she sits at a café overlooking the ocean, drinks an Aperol Spritz, and silently toasts Lucy, praying for both of them.
Over the following months, the French detective Avril keeps Rachel informed of the case's progress. Rachel knows she remains a potential suspect, and she learns that the police have not given up on finding Lucy. They traced Lucy's last-known address through her children's school and were told by the building manager that the family had gone on holiday to Malta, but no trace of them was ever found there or anywhere else. Lucy has simply disappeared.
For many months, Rachel sleeps restlessly, waiting for the phone to ring—fearing that her presence in Michael's house after his murder will be uncovered, and dreading that the police might find Lucy. She thinks of the serious young boy, the angelic young girl, their tired eyes, and even the dog, and she fears for all of them if Lucy is ever caught. Then, one morning in early June, just under a year after Michael's body was found, Rachel's phone rings. It is Avril, who says, "We have an update for Michael's case, Mrs. Rimmer. Are you able to talk?"
Key Events
- Rachel returns to Antibes and is questioned by police about Michael's death.
- She denies involvement and describes Michael as an abuser and criminal with dangerous enemies.
- Police reveal that Joy saw Lucy Smith visit Michael five days before his death—the same day Rachel claimed to have visited.
- Rachel conceals her confusion and suggests Michael lied about Lucy.
- She is released for lack of evidence.
- Rachel resists visiting Lucy and instead silently toasts her from a café.
- Detective Avril keeps Rachel informed over many months; police trace Lucy to a Malta lead but find nothing.
- Rachel lives in fear of discovery and of Lucy being caught.
- Nearly a year later, Avril calls with an update.
Character Development
Rachel emerges as a deeply conflicted figure. She lies to the police with practiced ease, painting Michael as a monster while protecting her own involvement. Yet her internal monologue reveals a fierce loyalty to Lucy, whom she regards as a hero. She suppresses her urge to reach out to Lucy, prioritizing Lucy's safety over her own emotional need. Her sleeplessness and dread show that she is not cold-blooded but rather a woman carrying a heavy secret, torn between self-preservation and genuine care for another person.
Lucy Smith, though absent from the scene, looms large. The police's revelation that she visited Michael shortly before his death—and that she brought her children and dog—complicates Rachel's understanding of events. Lucy's ability to vanish without a trace, even after the police track her through her children's school, underscores her resourcefulness and desperation. She becomes a symbol of escape and survival.
Avril, the French detective, is a quiet but persistent presence. She keeps Rachel informed, which serves both as a professional courtesy and as a subtle reminder that Rachel remains under scrutiny. Her final phone call injects new tension into the narrative.
Joy, the housekeeper, is the catalyst for the police's knowledge of Lucy's visit. Her observation, though brief, sets off a chain of suspicion and forces Rachel to improvise a lie.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Secrecy and Deception: Rachel's entire interview is an exercise in controlled lying. She hides her own visit, her knowledge of Lucy, and her emotional connection to the case. The chapter explores how secrets corrode and how they must be maintained at great personal cost.
- Protection and Loyalty: Rachel's decision not to visit Lucy is an act of protection, even though it costs her the chance to express her admiration. Her silent toast is a private ritual of solidarity.
- Abuse and Criminal Underworld: Rachel's description of Michael as an abuser and a man who sold equipment to drug manufacturers establishes a world of violence and moral ambiguity. It also provides a plausible motive for his murder, deflecting suspicion from Rachel and Lucy.
- Disappearance and Escape: Lucy's complete disappearance—no trace on Malta or anywhere else—becomes a motif of successful escape. It contrasts with Rachel's own trapped state, as she remains tethered to the investigation and to her fear.
- Fear of Discovery: Rachel's restless nights and constant dread of the phone ringing highlight the psychological toll of living with a secret. The chapter builds suspense around the possibility that her presence in Michael's house will be uncovered.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a pivotal turning point in the novel's second half. It solidifies Rachel's role as a protector of Lucy while deepening the mystery of Lucy's whereabouts. The police's knowledge of Lucy's visit raises the stakes: Rachel must now maintain a lie that could unravel at any moment. The chapter also humanizes Rachel, showing her internal conflict and her genuine admiration for Lucy, which complicates any simple reading of her as an accomplice or a villain.
The chapter's ending—Avril's phone call with an "update"—creates a cliffhanger that propels the reader into the next chapter. It also reinforces the novel's central questions: What happened to Lucy? What did Rachel do in Michael's house? And how far will Rachel go to protect the woman she calls her hero?
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Rachel lie to the police about knowing Lucy?
Rachel lies because she wants to protect Lucy from being investigated. She knows that if the police connect Lucy to Michael's death, Lucy could be arrested or harmed. Rachel also has her own secret—she was in Michael's house after his murder—and admitting knowledge of Lucy might lead the police to uncover that. Her lie is a calculated act of self-preservation and loyalty.
2. What does Rachel's silent toast to Lucy signify?
Rachel's toast is a private act of solidarity and gratitude. She cannot express her feelings openly, so she raises her glass to Lucy as a way of honoring her and wishing her safety. It also marks a moment of emotional release for Rachel, who has been suppressing her urge to reach out. The toast symbolizes her commitment to protecting Lucy, even from a distance.
3. How does the author build tension in this chapter?
The author builds tension through Rachel's internal conflict and the slow drip of information. The police's revelation about Lucy's visit creates immediate suspense, as Rachel must improvise a lie while hiding her shock. The months-long waiting period, punctuated by Avril's updates, stretches the anxiety. The chapter ends with a phone call that promises new information, leaving the reader eager to learn what the update is and how it will affect Rachel and Lucy.