Chapter 76

Chapter 76 of We Solve Murders begins with the group gathered in Steve’s living room, still processing their near-victory at the local quiz night. They had come so close, finishing in second place—just a single point short of claiming the top spot. Despite the disappointment, the evening had been an enjoyable distraction, offering brief relief from the chaos that had consumed their lives. Steve, always one to find humor in the moment, teases Felicity and Tony about their growing closeness, observing how inseparable they have become. Their budding relationship is a rare bright spot in the midst of uncertainty, though Steve knows their circumstances leave little room for romance. Even with the lighthearted atmosphere, a lingering sense of unease settles over him as he checks his phone, aware that he has been waiting for an important message.

The shift in mood is immediate when Jeff Nolan opens his laptop and reads an encrypted email aloud, instantly grabbing everyone’s attention. The sender is François, a name that carries weight among them, and the message is cryptic yet unmistakably threatening. François claims he understands their need for self-preservation but warns them that Amy Wheeler is in far greater danger than they realize. His words imply that she has been under surveillance, and the accumulating evidence against her is enough to put her in serious legal trouble. As the weight of the message settles over the room, tension builds between Jeff and Henk, who begin to argue over the possibility of a security breach involving their clients at Maximum Impact. The exchange grows heated, with accusations flying back and forth as Steve watches, knowing that if trust begins to fracture among them, their chances of survival will dwindle.

In an attempt to bring some normalcy to the moment, Felix heads to the kitchen to prepare tea, though the simple act does little to calm the group. The conversation takes a darker turn as they discuss a man named Kevin, someone Jeff had risked a great deal to save, only for him to meet an untimely end after his release. The circumstances surrounding his death raise red flags, and Steve connects it to their ongoing investigation, suggesting that it might tie back to Rob Kenna in Dubai. Kenna has been making dangerous moves, seemingly orchestrating threats against Amy, and the timing of his actions feels too precise to be coincidental. Rosie, still shaken by her own brushes with danger, voices her suspicions about Eddie Flood, wondering whether he has been sent after her or if his involvement is merely another piece of a much larger puzzle. As they exchange theories, it becomes increasingly evident that the tangled web of conspiracies they are unraveling is far more complex than they had originally thought.

The tension in the room reaches its peak when Steve unveils a critical piece of information—Max Highfield, a seemingly harmless media personality, is directly connected to several of their clients. The revelation is met with stunned silence, particularly from Jeff, who struggles to grasp how deep the connections run. For years, Max has presented himself as a self-absorbed influencer, more focused on personal branding than anything truly nefarious, but now, his involvement appears far more significant than anyone had anticipated. The pieces of the puzzle are beginning to align, yet the bigger picture remains elusive. Just when they think they have reached the crux of the matter, Felicity drops a bombshell of her own—she was once Max Highfield’s first agent. Her admission adds another unexpected twist, leaving the group to question whether Felicity has been withholding valuable knowledge that could change everything.

As the chapter comes to a close, the weight of their discoveries hangs heavy in the air. Each revelation has pulled them deeper into a labyrinth of deception, one where every answer leads to more unsettling questions. The personal and professional lines between them are becoming increasingly blurred, making it harder to discern who can truly be trusted. With Amy’s safety on the line, François watching their every move, and Max Highfield now at the center of their investigation, the urgency to act has never been greater. As they sit in silence, processing the gravity of the situation, one thing becomes clear—whatever happens next will change everything.