Chapter 32-33 Summary

Spenser and Hawk arrange a meeting with Vinnie Morris and Joe Broz in a public park. The four men meet and arrange a truce in which Spenser stops the investigation and Broz continues business as usual, unharried by police or private detective, as soon as the tape of Ronni Alexander is destroyed. Broz explains that Spenser's attempted murder was arranged out of his own pride and embarrassment that his son has been involved in such shady tactics, not by Spenser's influence. Therefore, everyone leaves the meeting satisfied and alive.

On Christmas Eve, Spenser and Susan lie together reading at Susan's home in Boston. Susan does not understand how Meade Alexander can remain in his marriage to Ronni without resolving her infidelity, and Spenser predicts that one day Ronni will be involved in a major scandal that will result in Alexander's political...