Chapter 25
Contains spoilersOverview
Evie lures George to a safe-deposit box, reveals he is Mr. Smith—Christopher Smith—and shows the box is empty, proving she never stored Amy’s stolen files there. She has already sent the evidence of his betrayal to Victor Connolly, who collects him outside the bank. Evie then escapes and reunites with Devon and the secretly alive Amy Holder, overturning the murder case and ending Mr. Smith’s leverage.
Summary
Evie, using the name Regina Hale, accesses a safe-deposit box while Devon monitors from outside. George accompanies her into the vault. When they open the box, it contains only an origami swan. Evie reveals she now knows George is Mr. Smith—Christopher Smith—and that she anticipated he would expect Amy’s files to be stored there.
Pressed by George, Evie explains Amy’s cache actually proves Mr. Smith has been skimming from and betraying the Connolly crime family. She cites the long-brewing fracture since the Tate job four years ago and frames her actions as protecting herself and the assignment, throwing Mr. Smith’s own doctrine back at him. He threatens future retribution, but Evie insists he no longer holds leverage over her.
Outside the bank, Victor Connolly and family members await. After receiving Amy’s files the previous night and Evie’s promise to deliver their betrayer, they usher Mr. Smith into an SUV. Evie lets him go without looking back, believing he will not escape this reckoning. Devon confirms the operation and urges Evie to make her flight.
After traveling, Evie drives to a secluded house where Devon greets her. There, the final twist: Amy Holder is alive, dispelling the murder cloud over Evie. Exhausted, Evie collapses, her long-running trap against Mr. Smith sprung and his control over her decisively broken.
Who Appears
- Evie (aka Miss Porter / Regina Hale / Lucca Marino)
Protagonist; orchestrates the bank trap, exposes Mr. Smith, delivers him to the Connollys, then reunites with Devon and living Amy.
- Mr. Smith (George / Christopher Smith)
Handler and antagonist; unmasked in the vault, rages, threatens revenge, and is taken by the Connolly family.
- Devon
Evie’s ally; provides surveillance and logistics, then hosts Evie at the safe house after the operation.
- Victor Connolly
Crime boss; receives Amy’s evidence and collects Mr. Smith outside the bank for retribution.
- Amy Holder
Presumed dead target; revealed alive at the safe house, clearing Evie’s murder risk.
- Bank attendant
Facilitates access to the vault and safe-deposit box during Evie’s setup.