The Last Devil To Die Chapter 87: A Confession and a Disappearance
⚠️ 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
Chris, Donna, and SIO Jill Regan arrive at the rendezvous fifteen minutes after Elizabeth and Joyce departed. Ron has just finished a full English breakfast, and Ibrahim listens to traffic from the squad car roof. The officers review the recording from the phone. Jill identifies the second voice as Garth; Ibrahim confirms. Ron admits Garth escaped because they could not stop him. Jill challenges the timeline: she and her team were told to arrive at three, but the recording began just before two. Ibrahim deflects, saying Elizabeth would need to explain.
Jill points out that the arrangement promised delivery of Nina Mishra, Garth, and the box. They have only Nina. Ibrahim counters that they have already turned over the heroin and now deliver Kuldesh Sharma’s and Samantha Barnes’s murderer—Nina. (Ron briefly objects to the term “murderess”; Ibrahim notes that modern usage favours “murderer.”) Jill stresses that the man likely responsible for Luca Buttaci’s death, and possibly Dom Holt’s, remains at large, and the box is still missing.
Donna advises Jill that it is quicker simply to accept the situation. Ibrahim predicts the box will resurface and that justice will eventually catch Garth, while the police will be pleased to have two murders solved and their heroin recovered, which will also allow them to arrest Mitch Maxwell. Bogdan then brings Nina to the officers, and Jill arrests her.
Chris confronts Bogdan about lying about the meeting time. Bogdan says he did not lie to Donna; she already knew. Donna explains that Garth was the only person to whom Nina would confess, and without that confession they had nothing. She admits she would have done anything to get Nina because Kuldesh was the first person who knew Bogdan was in love with her. Chris shakes his head and asks again about the box. Ibrahim states that Elizabeth needs it and hopes that explanation will earn their forgiveness.
Key Events
- The police team arrives; Ron has just eaten breakfast.
- Jill Regan identifies Garth’s voice on the recording.
- Jill learns that Garth escaped and the box is missing.
- Ibrahim and Ron explain that the plan was designed to secure Nina’s confession.
- Bogdan hands Nina over to Jill, who arrests her.
- Chris interrogates Bogdan about the deception; Donna reveals she was complicit.
- Ibrahim suggests that Elizabeth’s need for the box justifies the team’s secrecy.
Character Development
- Ibrahim remains calm and diplomatic, framing the team’s actions as a success despite the loose ends. His deflection to Elizabeth shows trust in her judgment.
- Ron enjoys his breakfast and corrects Ibrahim on the word “murderess,” revealing a touch of old-fashioned pride, but Ibrahim gently updates him.
- Donna demonstrates deep loyalty and strategic thinking: she kept the timing secret and knowingly deceived Chris to secure the confession she needed.
- Bogdan stands by Donna, showing his commitment to her above police protocol. His simple admission that he told a gym acquaintance undercuts the romance but reinforces his honesty.
- Chris is frustrated but not angry; he seems resigned to the Thursday Murder Club’s unconventional methods.
- Jill Regan tries to assert control but is ultimately forced to accept the partial result.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Justice vs. Procedure: The team obtains a confession and arrests a murderer, but they do so by bending the rules and withholding evidence (the box and Garth). The chapter questions whether the end justifies the means.
- Trust and Deception: Chris and Jill are misled about the timing; Donna and Bogdan withheld information. Yet the deception is framed as necessary to achieve a greater good.
- The Box: Even though its contents are not revealed, the box remains a powerful symbol of unfinished business. Ibrahim’s claim that Elizabeth needs it suggests it holds personal or strategic importance beyond the case.
- Loyalty: Donna’s decision to keep the secret from Chris shows where her primary allegiance lies—with Bogdan and the wider club rather than police hierarchy.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 87 serves as the climax of the Thursday Murder Club’s latest scheme. They succeed in capturing Nina Mishra and clearing two murders, but Garth’s escape and the missing box leave the story unresolved. The chapter also cements Donna’s role as a bridge between the official investigation and the club, and it sets up the next chapter’s focus on what Elizabeth intends to do with the box. The moral ambiguity—celebrating a win while hiding key information—highlights the series’ ongoing tension between personal justice and institutional law.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why did the Thursday Murder Club set the meeting time for 3 p.m. when the recording started at 2 p.m.?
The club deliberately staggered the times so that Nina would confess to Garth in private. They knew Nina would only be open with Garth present, and the earlier recording captured that confession. The police were summoned later to make the arrest.
2. What does Donna’s admission about her relationship with Bogdan reveal about her character?
Donna prioritizes personal loyalty over professional protocol. She willingly deceived Chris because she felt the confession was essential to secure justice for Kuldesh. Her statement that Kuldesh was the first person to know Bogdan was in love with her shows how deeply she values that connection.
3. Why does Ibrahim say Elizabeth needs the box, and how does this affect the chapter’s ending?
Ibrahim offers no details, but his words suggest the box holds something Elizabeth considers essential—possibly evidence, a personal item, or leverage. This statement shifts the focus from the case’s resolution to Elizabeth’s secretive plans, creating a cliffhanger that drives the story forward.