Chapter Twenty-One Summary – The Hamptons Lawyer by James Patterson
⚠️ 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 narrator and Jimmy Cunniff are in Jimmy’s cop bar when Paul Harrington, a disgraced ex-cop, walks in. After a tense exchange and a physical blow from the narrator, Harrington offers a deal: stop pursuing Eric Jacobson and Edmund McKenzie, and he will reveal who murdered Rob Jacobson’s father. The narrator and Jimmy agree. Harrington then claims that the narrator’s own client killed Rob Jacobson’s father, and that Eddie McKenzie shot the girl involved in the case.
Key Events
- Paul Harrington enters Jimmy’s bar, provoking the narrator to hit him.
- Harrington forces a grin and says he “had that coming.”
- The narrator warns she would have shot him if she thought he was worth it.
- Harrington argues that information is power and proposes a sit-down.
- Over drinks, Harrington reveals he goes “way back” with the fathers of Eric Jacobson and Edmund McKenzie, implying shared corruption.
- The narrator and Jimmy reject Harrington’s attempt to move past his hiring of hitman Anthony Licata.
- Harrington offers a deal: leave Jacobson and McKenzie alone in exchange for the identity of the real killers.
- The narrator and Jimmy accept the deal.
- Harrington reveals the truth: the narrator’s client killed Rob Jacobson’s father, and Eddie McKenzie shot the girl.
Character Development
- The Narrator (lawyer/protagonist): Shows grit and willingness to use violence, but also pragmatism when she accepts Harrington’s deal. Her suspicion of Harrington is clear.
- Jimmy Cunniff: Loyal to the narrator, distrustful of Harrington, and grounded in his cop-bar world. He agrees to the deal only after the narrator nods.
- Paul Harrington: Once a “hero cop,” now a corrupt, overweight, alcoholic figure. He appears to enjoy the game, leveraging information for self-preservation. His proposal suggests deeper entanglements with old-money crime families.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Information as Power: Harrington explicitly states that “information still means power,” driving the negotiation. The entire chapter hinges on who knows what.
- Corruption and Complicity: Harrington describes a “club as old as the city” where wealthy families like the Jacobsons and McKenzies get away with crimes with help from dirty cops.
- Redemption and Decay: The bar’s framed photo of a young Jimmy with Joe DiMaggio contrasts with the current grim confrontation. Harrington’s physical description – red drinker’s nose, tired eyes – underscores how far he has fallen.
- Deals and Trust: The chapter culminates in a pact between former enemies, highlighting how unstable alliances shift when survival is at stake.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 21 delivers a major plot twist: the narrator’s own client is implicated in the murder of Rob Jacobson’s father, and Eddie McKenzie is connected to the girl’s death. This revelation reshapes the investigation and raises questions about the narrator’s loyalties and the true scope of the conspiracy. The deal with Harrington also introduces a new tension: can either side trust the other? The chapter deepens the web of corruption linking the NYPD, old-money criminals, and the central murder case.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the narrator finally agree to Harrington’s deal after initially threatening him?
She recognizes that information is power. Harrington claims to know who actually killed Rob Jacobson’s father, and by agreeing to lay off Eric Jacobson and McKenzie, she gains leverage that could solve the core mystery. Jimmy’s trust in her judgment also influences her decision.
2. What does Harrington mean when he says he and the Jacobson and McKenzie fathers were “members of the same club”?
He refers to a covert network of corrupt cops and wealthy criminals who protect each other. Harrington helped these families “get away with shit” in exchange for membership in their inner circle, implying decades of mutual backscratching and cover-ups.
3. How does the chapter set up future conflict between the narrator and her client?
Harrington’s bombshell that the narrator’s own client killed Rob Jacobson’s father creates an immediate ethical and professional dilemma. The narrator will have to decide whether to protect her client, expose the truth, or navigate a dangerous middle ground – especially since her client has already threatened her.