Chapter 20 of We Solve Murders opens with Jeff speeding down isolated back roads, his vehicle cutting through the dense night as he desperately tries to evade the unseen threats that are following him. His heart races as he speeds, glancing nervously over his shoulder at the thought of whoever might be lurking behind. With his pulse quickening, he attempts to reach Amy, desperate to warn her of the danger they are both in, but the calls go unanswered. Feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him, Jeff leaves a voicemail for Amy, the urgency in his voice palpable as he speaks quickly, afraid that his time to warn her is running out. The voicemail conveys a sense of panic as Jeff details how Loubet, the figure they have been dealing with, has been involved in illicit activities, using their clients as part of a money-smuggling operation. After confronting Loubet about his involvement in these criminal dealings, Jeff receives a chilling death threat, only to soon face two gunmen who attempt to kill him in Bruno’s establishment. Realizing the imminent danger, Jeff urgently warns Amy that their communication might be cut short and advises her to go off the grid, to find safety and avoid being caught in the growing web of danger.

Jeff’s voice on the voicemail is filled with dread as he stresses the necessity for both of them to hide and lay low while trying to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy they have unwittingly become entangled in. He urges Amy to seek a safe place, her safety being his primary concern, while hinting that the conspiracy runs much deeper than they had ever anticipated. In his message, Jeff mentions a name, “Joe Blow,” linked to Maximum Impact, a person whose connection to the growing turmoil is unclear but surely significant. The name sends a wave of fear through Jeff, and he continues to emphasize the need for Amy to trust no one, warning her to immediately dispose of her phone, believing their enemies have full access to their communications. This escalating paranoia underscores the fragile nature of their situation, with Jeff unable to trust anyone and feeling that even their most private conversations are being monitored. The weight of his words becomes heavier as the reality sinks in: they are being hunted, their every move being tracked, and any mistake could be fatal.

With his urgent message complete, Jeff’s fear and concern for Amy deepen, and he knows that his next steps must be decisive and calculated. The weight of the information he has just shared sinks in, and his mind races with the reality of their situation. Determined to cut all ties with the outside world and prevent any further tracking, Jeff takes a drastic step—he removes the SIM card from his phone and smashes the device, severing all links to the life he had been living. This act of destruction is symbolic, representing Jeff’s willingness to completely disconnect from the reality that has led them into such a dangerous situation. He throws the broken phone and SIM card out of the window, the pieces scattering in the night as he accelerates deeper into the unknown. His mind is set on survival now, with no ties to the outside world, and every step he takes is a step further into the darkness. Jeff’s decision to destroy his phone signifies his commitment to staying one step ahead of the people who are hunting him, as well as his desire to protect Amy from the devastating consequences of their enemies’ reach. The severity of his actions reveals the depth of his resolve, and his growing realization that he and Amy are trapped in a web of danger that they might not be able to escape from.

As he drives into the night, the full weight of his choices and the risks they carry weigh heavily on him. The chapter leaves readers with a lingering sense of uncertainty, as Jeff’s actions are marked by a finality that suggests there may be no turning back. The urgency of his situation, the destruction of his phone, and the emotional burden of leaving Amy a message all underscore the gravity of the threat they face. The future is uncertain for both Jeff and Amy, and as the chapter draws to a close, readers are left with a deep sense of tension and anticipation, wondering if their efforts to survive will be enough against the ever-encroaching danger closing in on them.