The Hamptons Lawyer – Chapter 43: Forty-Three
⚠️ 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
Jimmy, the chief investigator for the defense, visits Rob Jacobson’s New York City townhouse to conduct a search. A young woman named Kellye (spelled with an extra “e”) answers the door. She says that Rob told her Jimmy might show up. Jimmy asks about her age and her relationship with Rob; she insists they are not sleeping together and that she lives there as a housekeeper. Another woman, Paula, is also living in the house and is, according to Kellye, in a sexual relationship with Rob. Jimmy asks permission to search every room, and Kellye agrees, saying she has nothing to hide before leaving for an audition.
Jimmy searches methodically from the top floor down. The townhouse is opulent, with marble floors and expensive paintings, but he notices a striking absence: no family photographs anywhere. The second‑floor study is where the bodies of Robinson Jacobson and Carey Watson were found. The desk drawers are empty, as if cleaned out long ago. Jimmy takes photos for reference. After two hours, he concludes the search is a waste of time and leaves, stopping for a cheeseburger at P. J. Clarke’s. Realizing he left his phone on the desk, he returns to the townhouse. When he lets himself in, Kellye stands in the foyer pointing a gun at him. She lowers the weapon when she sees it is him, claiming she found the gun where “Robby must’ve hid it.”
Key Events
- Jimmy arrives at Rob Jacobson’s townhouse and is greeted by Kellye.
- Kellye explains the living arrangement: she acts as a housekeeper, while Paula is having a sexual relationship with Rob.
- Jimmy searches every room but finds no family pictures and empty desk drawers in the study where the murders occurred.
- He leaves, retrieves his forgotten phone, and returns to find Kellye armed with a hidden gun.
- Kellye claims she found the weapon where Rob must have hidden it.
Character Development
- Jimmy: Shows his persistence and discomfort with Rob’s lifestyle. His nostalgia for honest police work contrasts with his current role defending a wealthy suspect. Despite his experience, he makes a mistake by leaving his phone.
- Kellye: Revealed to be sharp and evasive. She deflects Jimmy’s questions about her age and relationship with Rob, but later admits Paula’s involvement. Her possession of the gun raises questions about her true role and knowledge.
- Rob Jacobson: Though absent, his lack of family photos and the emptied study suggest secrets and a desire to erase the past.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Emptiness and Erasure: The lack of family photographs and the cleaned‑out desk symbolize Rob’s attempt to distance himself from his family’s violent history—possibly including his father’s crimes.
- Secrecy and Trust: Both Kellye and Paula live in the house under ambiguous arrangements. The hidden gun and Kellye’s quick defense after Jimmy’s return underscore the atmosphere of distrust.
- Wealth’s Isolation: The museum‑like townhouse, devoid of personal warmth, mirrors the emotional isolation of its inhabitants.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter advances the investigation by revealing both the physical setting of the murders and the evasive behavior of those connected to Rob. The discovery of the gun and Kellye’s story create new leads and deepen the mystery around Rob’s involvement. Jimmy’s personal reflection on his past police work highlights his internal conflict between seeking justice and defending a client he may not trust.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Kellye have a gun, and what does that suggest about her character?
Kellye claims she found the gun where Rob must have hidden it. Her willingness to use it and her quick lie about not having anything to hide before Jimmy left indicate she may be more involved than she lets on, possibly as a protector or co‑conspirator.
2. What does the absence of family photographs in the townhouse imply about Rob Jacobson’s relationship with his past?
The bare walls suggest Rob has deliberately removed reminders of his family, especially his mother and father. This erasure could reflect guilt, a desire to reinvent himself, or an attempt to suppress the memory of his father’s alleged perversions.
3. How does Jimmy’s search affect his attitude toward the case?
Jimmy finds the search pointless and feels he is now “saving their sorry asses” rather than putting away criminals. This reinforces his moral discomfort with defending Rob and sets up potential conflicts with his partner Jane.