Chapter Twenty-Three: Confession and the Cost of Denial
⚠️ 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
After Paul Harrington walks out of the bar without a word, Jimmy Cunniff asks the lawyer whether he believes Harrington’s claims. The lawyer replies with carefully evasive logic, saying he “does not not believe” the man. Jimmy presses harder, pointing out that if the story is true, they are defending a serial killer who started as a teenager. The lawyer deflects with a dark joke (“Practice makes perfect?”). Jimmy forces a “gun to the head” moment and directly asks if the lawyer thinks Harrington is a killer. The lawyer answers no, but admits his reason is that he simply doesn’t want him to be. Jimmy then recalls the lawyer’s long-held rule: never ask a client whether they did it, because the quality of the defense should not depend on guilt or innocence. After a moment of affection, the lawyer reveals what he told Harrington just before: “I lied.”
Key Events
- Paul Harrington rises from the table and leaves the bar without looking back.
- Jimmy Cunniff immediately asks the lawyer whether he believes Harrington.
- The lawyer gives a noncommittal answer: “I don’t not believe him.”
- Jimmy outlines the logical consequence: they are defending someone who may have been murdering since adolescence.
- The lawyer makes a flippant remark (“Practice makes perfect?”) that Jimmy does not appreciate.
- Jimmy states the lawyer’s own previously stated rule: never ask if the client did it, because the defense must be unaffected by the answer.
- The lawyer confirms he told Harrington the same rule, then admits, “I lied.”
Character Development
- The lawyer (the Hamptons lawyer): Reveals a deep emotional conflict. His earlier assurance to Harrington and his rule about not asking guilt are both shown to be a front. The admission “I lied” exposes his vulnerability and suggests that the case is already eroding his professional distance.
- Jimmy Cunniff: Acts as the moral compass and the voice of reason. He refuses to let the lawyer dodge the question, forcing a confrontation with the ethical stakes. His “old cop eyes” emphasize his experience and suspicion.
- Paul Harrington: Though he leaves before the conversation, his confession hangs over the scene. His character is now defined by the possibility of a long history of violence.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Moral ambiguity of legal defense: The chapter directly explores the tension between a lawyer’s duty to provide zealous representation and the personal burden of defending a possible guilty client.
- The “never ask” rule as a shield: The lawyer’s mantra becomes a symbol of self-deception. He tells Harrington one thing, then admits to Jimmy that it was a lie, showing that the rule is not a principle but a coping mechanism.
- Denial and desire: The lawyer’s reason for not believing Harrington — “I don’t want him to be a killer” — is a raw, honest admission that emotion, not evidence, drives his judgment.
- Alcohol as a retreat: Jimmy orders a scotch and pours himself a “good one.” The drink underscores the tension and the need for temporary escape from hard truths.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 23 is a turning point in the psychological arc of the story. Until now, the lawyer has projected confidence and a clear legal philosophy. Here, that confidence cracks. The chapter shifts the focus from the facts of the case to the internal cost of the defense. It deepens Jimmy Cunniff’s role as a foil and raises the central question: can the lawyer maintain his detachment when the client’s guilt becomes personal? The admission “I lied” sets up a powerful conflict between professional duty and personal conscience that will drive the rest of the narrative.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the lawyer say he “does not not believe” Harrington? He is trying to avoid committing to a definitive judgment. The double negative allows him to remain skeptical without outright dismissing Harrington’s story, keeping his options open for the defense.
2. What purpose does the “never ask” rule serve for the lawyer? It was originally a rationalization to separate the lawyer’s personal feelings from the job. By never asking about guilt, he could focus entirely on building the best defense. In this chapter, however, he reveals that the rule was never real for him — he lied about it — indicating that he has always been affected by the truth.
3. How does Jimmy Cunniff’s background influence his role in this scene? As a former cop, Jimmy is trained to seek the truth and to recognize deception. His “old cop eyes” searching the lawyer’s face show that he suspects the lawyer is not being honest with himself. He forces the conversation because he cannot let the ethical implications slide.