Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of We Solve Murders brings Steve face to face with Gary Gough in an uncomfortable yet pivotal conversation, marking a moment of reflection and moral conflict. Steve is there to address a troubling issue involving Gary’s daughter, Lauren, who has reportedly been bullying another girl to extort money. Steve’s intention is clear: he hopes to convince Gary to step in and guide his daughter to do the right thing. However, as the conversation unfolds, it becomes painfully clear that Gary has no interest in taking responsibility for his daughter’s actions. Gary’s dismissive attitude about his role as a father leads him to claim that children should be allowed to make their own decisions. Steve, familiar with the type, knows that people like Gary are difficult to change, but he feels compelled by his sense of responsibility to confront him.

As the exchange intensifies, Gary, ever the opportunist, offers Steve a bribe, asking how much it would take for him to back off and leave the situation alone. Steve, standing firm in his principles, refuses the offer, insisting that what’s at stake isn’t something that can be bought off. He stresses the importance of teaching Lauren the consequences of her actions and reminds Gary that Lauren’s privileged upbringing makes her a bully, not a victim. This clash between their perspectives is where the tension peaks, as Gary’s indifferent worldview, shaped by a “law of the streets” mentality, contrasts with Steve’s belief in personal responsibility. This confrontation reveals much about their differing attitudes towards ethics and power. Gary’s refusal to engage with the matter reflects a broader societal issue, one that Steve has encountered time and time again: people who refuse to take accountability for their actions, often at the cost of others.

After leaving Gary’s house, Steve reflects on the encounter, feeling both frustrated and disillusioned by the conversation. He recognizes that individuals like Gary are ubiquitous in society—people who maintain a detached, self-serving attitude and avoid responsibility, yet expect others to bear the consequences. The encounter, although frustrating, is not unfamiliar to Steve, who has often encountered this type of person in his work. However, rather than dwelling on the negative interaction, Steve attempts to retreat into the things that bring him comfort and solace: his pets, the sense of community he feels at his local pub, and the simple routines that help him ground himself in times of distress. He looks forward to Italian night at the pub, seeing it as a much-needed break from the complexities of the day. In this way, Steve attempts to balance the emotional weight of his responsibilities with the comforting simplicity of his everyday life.

Wanting to shift his focus from Gary’s apathetic nature, Steve sends a text to Amy, indicating the start of a new conversation that will bring his attention back to the ongoing investigation into Andrew Fairbanks. Amy, involved in an investigation that Steve is beginning to take a keen interest in, becomes a catalyst for Steve to refocus his energies. His curiosity is piqued by the mystery surrounding Fairbanks and the potential links to a much larger scheme involving a popular energy drink company and its media connections. The chapter’s transition from Gary’s apathy to the intrigue of the Fairbanks case signals a shift in Steve’s narrative, marking a move from dealing with moral quandaries in his personal life to actively engaging in an investigation that could uncover larger, more dangerous truths.

The conversation with Gary weighs heavily on Steve, yet it also acts as a reminder of the internal struggles he faces between his past, present, and future. While trying to resolve the chaos around him, Steve continues to wrestle with the moral dilemmas that have long haunted him. The more he uncovers about the people he interacts with, the more he questions the nature of his role in their lives. As the investigation into Fairbanks deepens, Steve realizes that these ethical decisions will follow him, influencing not only the outcome of the case but his own sense of identity. In the context of solving the murders surrounding Fairbanks, Steve will be forced to confront the complexities of trust, morality, and the difficult choices that arise in the pursuit of justice. The ongoing investigation serves as both a professional challenge and a personal test of his ability to maintain his integrity in an often murky world.