Chapter 70 Summary and Analysis – We Solve Murders

⚠️ 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

Rob sits in a pub with Mickey Moody, nursing a pint and reflecting on his latest contract: killing Courtney Lewis in a Dubai prison. He assumes the money she was caught with belonged to François Loubet and wonders if Loubet is panicking. For the first time, Rob acknowledges that he himself is one of Loubet’s expendable layers. He considers who might be threatening Loubet—likely Amy Wheeler, perhaps with Rosie D’Antonio and the father-in-law (an ex-cop). Rob believes they may be heading to Dubai, which would explain the urgent hit on Courtney. Deciding that others have failed, Rob concludes he must kill Amy Wheeler personally. He tries to recruit Mickey for airport surveillance, offering thirty thousand pounds, or a hundred thousand for something more serious. Mickey refuses, insisting there is a different way of living. Rob respects Mickey’s choice, recognising that people like him kept their souls safe. Rob, by contrast, is committed to death; it defines him. He reveals that he has set up social-media alerts for any selfie posted with Rosie D’Antonio. The moment he sees one, he will act—gloves on, getaway car slow. He considers killing the father-in-law as well. Rob admits he might lose a little sleep over Loubet, but not over Amy Wheeler. Death is his life.

Key Events

• Rob reflects on why he was hired to kill Courtney Lewis and realises he is an expendable layer for Loubet.
• He deduces that Loubet fears Amy Wheeler, possibly with Rosie D’Antonio and the ex-cop father-in-law.
• Rob decides to kill Amy Wheeler himself, breaking his habit of delegating.
• He offers Mickey Moody money to watch the airport; Mickey refuses, citing a different way of living.
• Rob admires Mickey’s integrity but accepts that he himself is too deep in the life.
• Rob reveals his surveillance plan: monitor social media for selfies with Rosie and then move in.
• He contemplates also murdering the father-in-law to be safe.

Character Development

Rob: This chapter deepens Rob’s self-awareness. He finally acknowledges that Loubet sees him as disposable—a harsh truth that has arrived late. Yet instead of reconsidering his path, he doubles down, deciding to take direct action. His admiration for Mickey Moody shows a glimmer of regret, but he dismisses it as “too late for all that.” Rob’s identity is now fully fused with his profession: death is what he is good at. He is methodical, using social media as a tool, and ruthless in his willingness to kill an old man for convenience.

Mickey Moody: A minor character who serves as a moral counterpoint. He is content with a simple life—golf, no questions asked. His refusal of money reinforces a theme of choice and integrity. Mickey’s line “There’s a different way of living” echoes through the chapter, challenging Rob’s worldview.

Loubet (offstage): Remains a shadowy figure whose paranoia drives Rob’s actions. His decision to have Courtney killed suggests he fears exposure, and Rob’s growing unease implies Loubet may be as dangerous to his own people as to his enemies.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Layers of protection: Rob’s earlier layers of expendable people are now collapsing. He sees himself as a layer, vulnerable to removal. This motif illustrates the precarious nature of criminal hierarchies.

Surveillance and visibility: Rob exploits Amy’s connection to a celebrity. Social media becomes a double-edged sword: Rosie’s fame makes Amy trackable. The selfie—a symbol of modern sharing—becomes a weapon.

Different way of living: Mickey’s phrase contrasts with Rob’s life of violence. It symbolises a lost moral compass, a path Rob acknowledges but cannot take. The chapter weighs the cost of choosing crime versus simplicity.

Death as identity: Rob’s refrain “Death is his life” underscores the theme of irreversible commitment. He has no exit; murder defines him.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 70 shifts the conflict into a more direct, personal phase. Rob transitions from a background facilitator to a primary antagonist who will now hunt Amy himself. His plan to use social-media alerts raises the stakes and introduces a cat-and-mouse element. The conversation with Mickey provides a quiet, philosophical break that deepens Rob’s character and reinforces the story’s moral framework. For the reader, this chapter confirms that Loubet is panicking and that Amy and her team are on the right track. The tension escalates as Rob prepares to act.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Rob believe Loubet wanted Courtney Lewis killed?
   Rob thinks Courtney was caught with Loubet’s money, and that Loubet is panicking because Amy Wheeler is getting too close to the truth. Killing Courtney might eliminate a loose end before Amy arrives in Dubai.

2. What does Rob offer Mickey, and why does Mickey refuse?
   Rob offers Mickey thirty thousand pounds to watch the airport for a couple of days, or a hundred thousand for something more serious. Mickey refuses because he knows he does not want to be part of that world; he prefers his simple, honest life of golf.

3. How does Rob plan to track Amy Wheeler’s movements?
   Rob has set up alerts on major social-media platforms for any post featuring a photo with Rosie D’Antonio. Since Amy is travelling with the famous author, the moment a selfie appears online, Rob will know where they are and can move in to kill them.

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