Cover of Not Quite Dead Yet

Not Quite Dead Yet

by Holly Jackson


Genre
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime
Year
2025
Pages
417
Contents

Chapter 23

Overview

Jet and Billy confront Henry, and Henry admits Luke paid him off-the-books and has been bribing him to hide a serious North Street worksite collapse that ruined Henry’s health and finances. Henry’s desperation explains why JJ took out a loan in Jet’s name, strengthening the case that JJ is being framed by circumstance rather than guilt. A key revelation lands when Henry says Luke was at his house on Halloween and assaulted him, giving both Henry and Luke overlapping alibis for Jet’s attack. Jet leaves armed with Henry’s gun as Billy receives an urgent request to bring Jet to the police station.

Summary

Jet and Billy return to Henry Lim’s house despite Billy’s fear that Henry might be their attacker. Inside, Henry says the police arrested JJ and insists JJ didn’t hurt Jet. Jet warns Henry that if Jet dies, JJ could face first-degree murder, and pushes Henry to help clear him.

Jet lays out what she has uncovered: Henry worked for Mason Construction off the books on the North Street project, and Henry’s “drunk fall” was really a roof collapse that shattered Henry’s knee and damaged Henry’s eyes. Because Henry wasn’t an official employee, Henry had no coverage and was left with massive hospital debt. Henry admits Luke Mason promised the arrangement was temporary and later bribed Henry with monthly transfers to keep quiet, but the money has never been enough.

Henry confirms JJ didn’t know the truth about the accident, but JJ has been working extra and borrowing money to help cover Henry’s bills. Jet and Billy connect this to the police’s motive theory: JJ took out a loan in Jet’s name for $30,000 and defaulted, and Henry is shocked to learn it. Henry panics about needing another $11,000 for eye treatment and blames himself for JJ’s arrest, while Jet reframes the situation as Luke’s fault for exploiting and silencing Henry.

When Jet presses Henry about Halloween at 10:46 p.m., Henry reveals Luke was with him, contradicting Luke’s claimed alibi. Jet pieces together that Luke was at Henry’s house and beat Henry that night (matching Henry’s injuries and Luke’s grazed knuckles) after Henry tried to ask Jet’s father for financial help. Henry remembers Luke leaving at 10:56 p.m., giving Henry an alibi for Jet’s attack—and giving Luke one too—leaving Jet without a clear suspect.

Jet asks whether Henry set the fire at Mason Construction the night before; Henry appears genuinely unaware the building burned and says he was home alone. Worried about another attempt on her life and desperate to keep JJ from being convicted, Jet persuades Henry to hand over his loaded gun for protection. As they drive away, Billy discovers missed calls and a voicemail: his father says they urgently need Jet at the police station.

Who Appears

  • Jet Mason
    Presses Henry for the truth, reframes Luke as culprit, takes a loaded gun for protection.
  • Billy
    Accompanies Jet, connects JJ’s loan motive, receives urgent voicemail summoning Jet to station.
  • Henry Lim
    Reveals off-books employment and hush money; confirms Luke assaulted him on Halloween; lends Jet his gun.
  • Luke Mason
    Implicated in covering up Henry’s worksite accident and beating Henry; alibi complicated by new timeline.
  • JJ
    Arrested suspect; took out a loan in Jet’s name to help pay Henry’s medical debt.
  • Sophia
    Her 10:52 p.m. text helps place Luke away from home on Halloween night.
  • Billy's dad
    Leaves urgent voicemail requesting Jet come to the police station immediately.
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