We Solve Murders, Chapter 70: François Loubet’s Ultimatum
⚠️ 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
Chapter 70 is a short, chilling document: a memo from the crime boss François Loubet. Loubet writes in a deliberately cheerful, “friendly English gentleman” tone, after asking ChatGPT to rewrite his note. He begins by mocking Rob Kenna’s latest story—a tale in which a hitman is outwitted by the attractive writer Rosie D’Antonio. Loubet admits he enjoys a laugh but declares that Kenna has lost his confidence. He then announces his intention to involve the police, specifically by handing over evidence that Amy Wheeler’s blood has been found at all three crime scenes. Loubet gives Amy forty-eight hours to die; otherwise, she will be arrested. Dead is preferred, he adds, “but one mustn’t get too greedy.” The chapter ends with news of a shipment leaving London for São Paulo in two days, booked directly through Vivid Viral, and without needing Joe Blow. Loubet’s last line: “Praise be to the heavens, commerce stops for no man!”
Key Events
- François Loubet dictates a letter, using ChatGPT to adopt a “friendly English gentleman” tone.
- He laughs at Rob Kenna’s story about a hitman being outwitted by Rosie D’Antonio, but dismisses Kenna’s competence.
- Loubet decides to involve the police, revealing he possesses evidence of Amy Wheeler’s blood at all three crime scenes.
- He issues an ultimatum: Amy must die within forty-eight hours, or she will be arrested.
- He announces a new drug (or contraband) shipment from London to São Paulo, booked through Vivid Viral, and remarks that Joe Blow is no longer needed.
Character Development
- François Loubet: His threat to involve the police shows a pragmatic, ruthless streak. He is willing to sacrifice a pawn (Amy) to protect his operation. The use of ChatGPT to alter his tone reveals a vanity and a performative sense of humor, undercutting his menace with a jarringly comic method.
- Amy Wheeler (mentioned): Though absent, her situation becomes more desperate. The blood evidence ties her directly to the murders, and she now faces a two-front threat: assassination by Loubet’s people or arrest by police.
- Rob Kenna (mentioned): Loubet’s mockery suggests Kenna is failing to meet expectations, perhaps losing influence or making careless mistakes.
- Rosie D’Antonio (mentioned): Referenced only as the object of Kenna’s fictional story, but Loubet’s focus on her attractiveness hints at a possible motive or distraction in the larger conspiracy.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Dual Threats: The chapter contrasts two kinds of danger—imminent death at the hands of an assassin and legal punishment via the police. Loubet uses both as levers.
- Performance and Deception: Loubet’s deliberate choice of a friendly tone, and his use of ChatGPT to refine that tone, emphasizes how criminals craft personas. The letter is a mask.
- Commerce and Violence: The final line—that commerce stops for no man—ties criminal enterprise to ordinary business logic. The shipment to São Paulo proceeds regardless of human cost.
- Blood as Evidence: Amy’s blood at three scenes is a motif of forensic trail, turning a physical trace into a weapon.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter shifts the main conflict from a chase or investigation to a direct, time-limited threat. Loubet’s decision to involve the police raises the stakes: Amy can no longer simply outrun the criminals; she must also avoid capture by law enforcement. The mention of Vivid Viral and the São Paulo shipment connects the personal danger to the larger criminal network, hinting at a deeper conspiracy. The short, impersonal form of a memo echoes earlier bureaucratic chapters (like procedural documents) and reinforces the cold, transactional nature of Loubet’s world. For readers, it answers a key question about why the protagonists have been framed, while also tightening the countdown.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does François Loubet’s tone in this chapter differ from his actual intentions, and why might the author have chosen to reveal this contrast?
Loubet writes in a falsely cheerful, gentlemanly style, thanks to ChatGPT. This contrast between his friendly words and his sinister plans highlights the performative cruelty of organized crime. The author uses the disconnect to create unease, making Loubet both more disturbing and more memorable than a straightforward villain.
2. What does Loubet’s decision to involve the police tell us about his strategy and his assessment of Amy Wheeler?
By handing over evidence of Amy’s blood to the police, Loubet plans to neutralize her legally if his hired killers fail. This shows he values efficiency over personal revenge and sees Amy as a loose end rather than a worthy opponent. The forty-eight-hour deadline proves he is impatient but willing to let the state do his dirty work.
3. Why is the São Paulo shipment mentioned in the same paragraph as Amy’s ultimatum? What does this juxtaposition suggest?
The juxtaposition implies that Amy’s fate is secondary to Loubet’s business operations. Even while ordering a murder or arrest, he calmly moves on to the next transaction. This reinforces the theme that crime is routine commerce to Loubet, and personal lives are disposable when they threaten profit.