Chapter 26
Contains spoilersOverview
In a quiet debrief at the cabin, Evie, Amy, and Devon lay out how Amy’s death was faked and how Heather and Sadie were protected. Devon confirms Mr. Smith’s network has been exposed and implies the Connollys will eliminate him, while Ryan’s role appears limited. With the job finished, the trio parts ways as Evie vows to go straight.
Summary
Exhausted after completing her longest con, Evie wakes in the cabin where Devon and Amy have been quietly tending to her. They recap the bank vault handoff and the detective meeting, joking about Mr. Smith’s muted reaction. Evie admits the hangover of the job and the relief that it is finally over.
Evie then details the plan: to make Amy’s death public and undeniable using a newly deceased Jane Doe dressed in Amy’s red coat, forcing Mr. Smith to reveal his leverage. When Amy found his double-cross of the Connollys, she became the sacrificial piece. Mr. Smith’s pressure point proved to be Amy’s sister, Heather, and Heather’s daughter, Sadie; Devon relocated them under new identities, and they’ve since found stability, possibly in Phoenix.
Amy staged instability in Atlanta while Devon served her “drinks” without alcohol, ensuring public outbursts that would feed back to Mr. Smith. Tyron provided a reliable Tuesday-night alibi, and Evie rolled Amy out of the hotel in a housekeeping cart before Devon spirited her away. The surprise was that Mr. Smith had hard evidence implicating Evie, but after Atlanta they had enough to bury him; Evie then prodded Coach Mitch and met Andrew Marshall to provoke Smith, leading to the bank encounter while Devon hacked Smith’s personal computer.
They discuss Mr. Smith’s fate: the Connollys will handle him decisively, which weighs on Evie even as she accepts it was him or them. They mourn the woman used as fake Lucca, consoling themselves that she will be his last victim.
Devon’s initial review shows Ryan’s involvement was limited to business transactions with Mr. Smith; why Smith fed Ryan intel remains unclear. Evie refuses to ask Ryan, declaring she’s done with illegal work despite Amy and Devon’s teasing. After several days, Devon departs, then Amy; Evie remains at the cabin for a quiet week to plan her next steps.
Who Appears
- Evie
Protagonist; debriefs the long con, details Amy’s staged death, struggles with Smith’s fate, and vows to go straight.
- Devon
Hacker/ally; protected Heather and Sadie, spiked Amy’s drinks with no alcohol, hacked Smith’s computer, considers Phoenix, departs first.
- Amy
Co-conspirator; played the unstable rogue, hid after her staged death, discusses Heather and Sadie, teases Evie about Ryan, then leaves.
- Mr. Smith (Christopher Smith)
Antagonist; exposed and delivered to the Connollys; had leverage on Amy and evidence against Evie; likely eliminated.
- Ryan
Evie’s cover boyfriend; client-service link to Smith. Devon finds his involvement limited; Evie refuses to ask him more.
- Heather
Amy’s sister; target of Smith’s threats. Relocated with a new identity; settling well, possibly remaining in Phoenix.
- Sadie
Heather’s young daughter; safeguarded from foster care by Devon’s relocation efforts.
- Tyron
Evie’s famous friend; provided a dependable Tuesday-night alibi during Amy’s staged meltdown.
- Coach Mitch
Pressured contact; used by Evie to edge closer to Smith’s identity and provoke Smith’s response.
- The Connollys
Crime family; now in possession of Mr. Smith and expected to dispose of him off-book.