Chapter Seventy-Two: A Confrontation and a Confession
⚠️ 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 Cunniff drives away from Jacobson’s house but turns back and parks a few driveways up. He waits and then walks in unannounced. He finds Rob Jacobson with a teenage girl named Shauna on the couch. The girl has removed her sweater, and a wine bottle sits on the coffee table. Shauna notices Jimmy and tries to cover up, nearly knocking over the bottle. Jacobson pretends the interruption is no big deal, making a crude joke about threesomes. Jimmy imagines shooting Jacobson. He tells Jacobson his probation officer would be displeased. Jacobson orders Jimmy out, but Jimmy stays and tosses the girl her maroon sweater, which has EHHS (East Hampton High School) lettering. He tells the girl to leave. She hesitates. Jimmy takes out his phone to take a picture, threatening to identify her and send the photo to her father. Frightened, she puts on the sweater and leaves, refusing Jacobson’s invitation to call. Jacobson complains that Jimmy ruined his day. Jimmy says he saved Jacobson’s life. Jacobson reminds Jimmy that he works for him. Jimmy insists they talk. Jacobson reveals the girl is seventeen, the age of consent. Jimmy holds up his phone, implying the father would not care about that. Jacobson gives in.
Jimmy then asks directly whether Jacobson killed the Carsons. Jacobson feigns ignorance, then says Jimmy means the Gates family (for which he was acquitted) or the Carsons. Jimmy clarifies the Carsons. Jacobson questions why Jimmy is asking now and suggests Jimmy would tell Jane. Jimmy says it’s about him wanting the truth. Jacobson declines to answer, jokingly pleading the Fifth. Jimmy loses patience, lifts Jacobson off the couch, holds him nose to nose, and demands the truth. Jacobson shows fear. He finally says he did not do it. Jimmy lets him go and asks who did. Jacobson says he thinks Eddie McKenzie killed them all.
Key Events
- Jimmy returns to Jacobson’s house unannounced and finds him with a teenage girl.
- Jimmy threatens to photograph the girl and expose her to her parents, forcing her to leave.
- Jacobson confirms the girl is seventeen (age of consent) but realizes the damage a photo could cause.
- Jimmy shifts the conversation to the Carson murders.
- Jacobson refuses to answer at first, then physically intimidated by Jimmy, denies committing the murders.
- Jacobson names Eddie McKenzie as the likely killer.
Character Development
- Jimmy Cunniff: Acts with increasing authority and moral outrage. He crosses from being an employee to a vigilante interrogator. His physical confrontation shows he is willing to use force to get the truth. His threat to the girl reveals he will manipulate anyone—even a minor—to achieve his goals.
- Rob Jacobson: Remains manipulative and evasive. His attempt to play off the situation with humor shows his arrogance. When physically cornered, he drops the bravado and gives a direct answer, indicating that fear can break his composure.
- Shauna: A minor caught in Jacobson’s world. Her quick exit and rejection of Jacobson’s call show she has some self-preservation instincts.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Power and Manipulation: Jimmy uses the threat of exposing Shauna to gain leverage. Jacobson uses his wealth and status to shield himself. The scene highlights how power is wielded through secrets and social pressure.
- Truth and Deception: Jimmy seeks a straight answer about the murders. Jacobson’s initial deflection and later accusation of McKenzie underscore the theme of hidden truths.
- Innocence Corrupted: The maroon EHHS sweater symbolizes high school innocence. Its removal and later return to the girl mark a loss of innocence and a brush with a corrupt adult world.
- Physical Intimidation: Jimmy’s act of lifting Jacobson off the couch is a raw display of dominance, suggesting that when words fail, violence becomes a tool for extracting truth.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter serves as a major turning point. Jimmy directly confronts Jacobson about the Carson murders and receives a name: Eddie McKenzie. The accusation shifts suspicion onto a new character, opening a new line of investigation. It also solidifies Jimmy’s role as an active seeker of truth rather than a passive employee. The moral complexity deepens as Jimmy himself uses questionable tactics against a minor. The revelation that Jacobson may not be the killer—but that he has engaged in predatory behavior—blurs the lines between victim and perpetrator.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Jimmy threaten to photograph Shauna and send the picture to her father? Jimmy wants to force her to leave quickly without giving Jacobson time to manipulate her. He knows the threat of parental exposure will terrify her more than Jacobson’s authority. It also demonstrates Jimmy’s willingness to use any means necessary to break Jacobson’s control of the situation.
2. What does Jacobson’s joke about pleading the Fifth reveal about his view of the questioning? Jacobson treats the question as a game. He is confident in his legal protection and enjoys toying with Jimmy. The joke also shows he does not take the accusation seriously, which may be a defense mechanism or a sign of guilt.
3. Why does Jacobson name Eddie McKenzie as the killer? Jacobson may be telling the truth, trying to deflect blame, or setting up a scapegoat. Naming McKenzie puts Jimmy on a new trail and buys Jacobson time. It also suggests that Jacobson has information about McKenzie that he has not previously shared.