Chapter 84 Summary & 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
Garth walks across a rusting walkway, feeling hunted by police after throwing Luca Buttaci from a car park. He spots a mother with a stroller and an old man, giving them money and comfort in memory of his wife Samantha. He sits opposite Nina at a table, claiming he has a client who will pay five million for the box she stole. Nina confirms she has the box in an IKEA bag and lets Garth touch it. Garth transfers the money to an account she set up. He asks why she killed Kuldesh; Nina explains she shot him in the woods to avoid leaving witnesses and because he would not have stayed silent about the sale. She justifies the killing as rational: Kuldesh was old, died painlessly, and she needed money to escape debt. Garth challenges her morality but respects her efficiency. Garth then accuses Nina of killing Samantha; Nina denies it. Suddenly, Joyce, Elizabeth, and Bogdan appear at the table. Elizabeth reveals that Garth’s deal was actually a trap to get Nina to confess, recorded on his phone. Nina protests but is escorted away by Bogdan. Garth hands Elizabeth his phone, says he will go to Spain, and promises to only kill bad guys. Elizabeth warns Nina not to scream, saying she may never stop screaming herself.
Key Events
- Garth arrives at a meeting with Nina, carrying a phone recording of their conversation.
- He gives money to a mother and an old man, acting on Samantha’s remembered kindness.
- Nina shows Garth the box inside a blue IKEA bag.
- Garth transfers five million pounds to an account Nina set up.
- Nina confesses to killing Kuldesh by shooting him in the woods; she describes planning the killing via YouTube videos of euthanizing horses.
- Garth accuses Nina of killing Samantha; she denies it.
- Elizabeth, Joyce, and Bogdan reveal themselves, having orchestrated the sting to obtain a confession.
- Elizabeth takes Garth’s phone as evidence; Garth leaves for Spain, promising to stop killing innocent people.
- Nina is led away, powerless, and Elizabeth warns her against screaming.
Character Development
- Garth: Demonstrates a softer side — he helps strangers in Samantha’s memory. He rejects Nina’s rationalization of murder for profit, showing a personal code: he kills only those who deserve it. He accepts that Elizabeth outmatched him and keeps his word to help trap Nina in exchange for his freedom.
- Nina: Fully reveals her cold, calculating nature. She justifies killing an elderly man she knew as a favour to him, and sees the murder as a rational escape from poverty. She shows no remorse and denies killing Samantha, though she admits to killing Kuldesh.
- Elizabeth: Masterminds the trap. She uses Garth’s need for revenge to secure a confession without violence, and remains in control even as Nina threatens to scream. Her grief is still raw, hinted at when she says she may never stop screaming.
- Joyce: Appears with Elizabeth and Bogdan, speaking only one line (“No, dear”) to Nina, reinforcing her role as a quiet but resolute ally.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
- Morality of Killing: Garth and Nina debate the ethics of murder. Garth believes killing is acceptable only for punishment; Nina sees it as a pragmatic tool for financial gain. The chapter contrasts vigilante justice with cold-blooded murder.
- Rationalization: Nina frames Kuldesh’s murder as a favour — painless death for an old man, financial freedom for herself. Garth questions this logic, highlighting how people justify terrible acts.
- Grief and Memory: Garth’s acts of kindness are tributes to Samantha. Elizabeth’s grief surfaces in her final warning to Nina. Grief drives both characters’ actions (revenge and resolution).
- The Box as Catalyst: The box (the “eye of the devil”) is the object that set the plot in motion. Characters treat it with awe or greed, but Garth sees it as a mere commodity. Its true significance remains tied to the deaths it has caused.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter resolves the mystery of who killed Kuldesh — Nina confesses in detail. It also dismantles the suspicion that Garth killed Samantha, as Nina denies it and the narrative supports Garth’s belief that Luca Buttaci’s involvement was separate. Elizabeth’s plan succeeds without bloodshed, providing a measure of justice for Kuldesh. Garth’s departure closes his arc temporarily, while Nina’s capture sets up her fate in the final chapters. The chapter deepens the moral questions about revenge and the cost of the box.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Garth give money and words of comfort to strangers he meets on the walkway?
He is honoring Samantha’s memory. She would have helped the struggling mother and the old man, so Garth performs those actions as a way to carry her kindness forward.
2. How does Elizabeth trick Nina into confessing to Kuldesh’s murder?
Elizabeth knew from surveillance that Nina had the box. She used Garth — who wanted revenge for Samantha’s death — to set up a fake purchase. Garth recorded their conversation, and when Nina admitted killing Kuldesh, Elizabeth, Joyce, and Bogdan appeared to arrest her.
3. What is Garth’s moral code regarding killing, and how does it differ from Nina’s?
Garth believes killing is acceptable only as punishment for those who have done terrible things (like Luca Buttaci). Nina believes killing is permissible if it benefits the killer financially or practically. He kills out of justice; she kills out of greed.