Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of We Solve Murders brings us into the warm yet lively ambiance of The Brass Monkey, a cozy neighborhood pub where regulars gather daily for food, drinks, and discussion. Among the usual patrons is Steve, a widower who enjoys the comfort of his routine and the company of his longtime acquaintances. Sitting with him are John, a former showbiz personality with a penchant for alcohol; Tony, a divorced mechanic with strong opinions on nearly everything; and Dr. Jyoti Das, an academic specializing in medieval history who somehow always ends up giving out medical advice. Their conversations jump between lighthearted banter and serious topics, including a recent, suspicious murder involving Andrew Fairbanks, an influencer with a growing social media presence who was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

As Steve listens to the news coverage on Fairbanks’ death, Rosie jokingly suggests that he was “eaten by a shark,” though Amy, who has been keeping track of such cases, immediately finds the situation more troubling. She discreetly pulls up an article detailing Fairbanks’ final moments, which only deepens her suspicions. The circumstances surrounding his murder feel eerily familiar, triggering memories of her past clients at Maximum Impact Solutions. Amy recalls the grim fate of another influencer, Bella Sanchez, whose death bore striking similarities to Fairbanks’. Bella, a former reality TV star, was discovered hanging upside down from a balcony in St. Lucia, shot in what appeared to be a theatrical execution. This eerie pattern leads Amy to believe that someone is deliberately targeting high-profile social media figures.

As the conversation progresses, Amy introduces another chilling case—Mark Gooch, a financial influencer, who was also a former client of Maximum Impact Solutions and was found murdered in Ireland. Like Bella and Fairbanks, his death seemed staged, as though the killer wanted to send a message. Rosie, ever the skeptic, starts piecing the information together, realizing that these cases are not merely coincidental. Her journalist instincts kick in as she questions Amy’s proximity to each of these deaths, implying that Amy might be more involved than she lets on. Amy, however, firmly denies any connection beyond her professional work, though the mounting coincidences unsettle her.

While the murder discussion dominates their lunch, Tony suddenly shifts the conversation, mentioning a suspicious blue car he spotted parked outside the pub. The vehicle had been idling for an unusual amount of time, drawing Tony’s attention. Steve takes note of this detail, considering it might be related to Fairbanks’ case or a completely separate incident worth investigating. At the same time, Tony also complains about someone repeatedly using his recycling bins without permission, prompting Steve to offer to stop by Tony’s house later to check it out. This leads to a humorous exchange about modern technology, particularly surveillance doorbells, which Tony dismisses as unnecessary while Steve argues they could actually help identify unwanted visitors.

Despite the easygoing atmosphere, Steve’s mind remains preoccupied with Fairbanks’ murder and its potential connection to the Krusher Energy Drink company, which had a financial relationship with the influencer. While Steve has officially retired from solving murders, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the inconsistencies in the case. His instincts tell him that the situation is far more complex than it appears, and although he tries to resist getting involved, the details gnaw at him. The mystery surrounding Fairbanks’ death, along with the similar fates of Bella and Mark, suggests a pattern that someone needs to untangle before more bodies surface.

As lunch at The Brass Monkey comes to an end, the group settles into a comfortable lull, their plates nearly empty and drinks steadily drained. John reflects on his days conducting celebrity interviews, lamenting that he never had the chance to meet Rosie D’Antonio, who he considers one of the more interesting figures in the media world. Jyoti, ever the inquisitive academic, presses Steve further on what he knows about Fairbanks’ connections, prompting Steve to admit that while he doesn’t have all the answers yet, something about the case doesn’t sit right. The thought lingers in his mind even as he outwardly insists that he has no intention of diving back into detective work. Yet, as he watches the blue car still sitting outside the pub, unmoved, he knows deep down that he won’t be able to walk away from this mystery for long.

Although Steve enjoys the familiarity of his simple life and the camaraderie of his pub friends, there is an undeniable pull toward the cases he tries to ignore. He wants to believe he has left his investigative days behind, but the unresolved questions surrounding Fairbanks, Bella, and Mark continue to follow him. Whether he likes it or not, he finds himself at the center of yet another puzzle, one that may put him back in the line of danger. As he steps out of The Brass Monkey, the weight of the unfolding mystery presses down on him, signaling that his days of solving murders may not be over just yet.