Career of Evil

Strike and Robin book separate rooms at a Travelodge. Both are conscious of each other’s proximity. The next day, they travel to Market Harborough, where Strike visits Brockbank’s last known workplace, a Thai massage parlor. One of the women reveals that Brockbank was obsessed with Strike, blaming him for his brain injury. Brockbank also frequently ranted about how his ex-wife took his son away from him. The massage parlor’s owner sacked Brockbank when she discovered him molesting her six-year-old granddaughter. Strike leaves with Brockbank’s cell phone number.

Wardle calls Strike, revealing that the dead woman has been identified as 16-year-old Kelsey Platt, the girl who wrote to Strike about removing her leg. Kelsey lived with her half-sister, Hazel Furley. However, the missing Oxana allowed Kelsey to stay in her empty apartment while she was in Ukraine.

Strike is relieved that the dead woman is not Brittany Brockbank. Meanwhile, Robin feels she should have taken action when she first read Kelsey’s letter.

They travel to Corby to visit Donald Laing’s last known address. Lorraine MacNaughton confirms that Laing lived with her before disappearing with her money and jewelry. He did not work, as he has incapacitating psoriatic arthritis. Lorraine insists that Laing was never violent. However, after he left, the police wanted to question him about the assault and robbery of her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Williams.

The killer recalls the second woman he killed. Looking for potential victims in Milton Keynes, he’d found a woman alone and distressed after a drunken argument with her boyfriend. After killing her, he cut off some of her body parts. He later learned that the dead woman’s boyfriend was convicted of the murder.

The killer is annoyed by “It,’ who is unhappy and demanding more attention than usual. Concerned about her latest plan, he buys a tub of menthol rub.

In London, Robin has the house to herself as Matthew attends his father’s birthday celebrations in Yorkshire. Posing as a member of the BIID Community, she chats online with an individual with the username “Devotee.”

As Robin arrives at the office, a courier presents her with 50 red roses. Realizing the bouquet is from Matthew, Robin dumps the roses on the floor without reading the card.

Wardle calls at the office, revealing that Hazel Furley wants to meet Strike. Wardle admits it would be helpful if Strike could build a rapport with Kelsey’s half-sister. Hazel is angry with the police, as officers aggressively questioned her partner, a former firefighter, before it emerged he had an alibi.

Robin finds a JustGiving page set up by Donald Laing to raise money for Arthritis Research. The accompanying photograph shows that Laing’s tattoo has been modified. A dagger now pierces the rose and blood drips from its petals. Strike notes that the black and silver windows in the photograph’s background are distinctive. He asks Robin to call Brockbank’s cell phone, posing as Venetia Hall.

When Robin calls Brockbank’s number, a toddler named Zahara answers before her mother comes on the line. The woman agrees to pass “Venetia’s” number to her partner, and Brockbank returns Robin’s call. He says, “Do A know you, little girl?” (315) and hangs up.

Upset by her conversation with Brockbank, Robin is concerned that Zahara may be in danger from him. Strike insists there is nothing they can do, as Brockbank is not a registered sex offender.

Strike shows Robin a brochure of the luxury apartment Elin is considering buying. The building features the black and silver windows in the background of Laing’s photograph. The discovery means that Laing lives in London’s Elephant and Castle district.

Robin opens a letter that contains a human toe. A note on the accompanying postcard reads, “She’s as Beautiful as a Foot” (323), another Blue Öyster Cult song title.

Strike’s fears for Robin’s safety intensify after her receipt of the toe. The business is financially suffering, and he needs Robin for their only two surveillance jobs. Nevertheless, he persuades her to take time off during her mother’s forthcoming visit to London.

After Wardle confirms the toe belonged to Kelsey, Strike visits Hazel Furley in Finchley. Hazel’s partner, Ray Williams, answers the door. A large bearded man, Ray smells of camphor, and his eyes are swollen from crying. Hazel indignantly recounts how police officers aggressively questioned Ray until they saw photographic evidence of the stag weekend he attended at the time of Kelsey’s death. She shows Strike the photograph of Ray and his friend Ritchie at the seaside by a patch of sea holly. Hazel describes how Ray broke his back while saving a family from a fire.

Hazel explains that Kelsey moved in with her when their mother died. While Ray was patient with Kelsey, her own relationship with her sister was strained due to Kelsey’s habitual lies. Hazel believes that Kelsey’s claim that she had a boyfriend named Niall with a motorcycle was a fantasy. Admitting she was horrified by Kelsey’s fixation with amputation, Hazel reveals the cause of the scarring on her sister’s leg. Shortly after surviving the car accident that killed both of her parents, Kesley attempted to cut off her leg’s circulation with a wire. Hazel is relieved by Strike’s revelation that he lost his leg in an explosion.

Strike visits the bathroom, noting Ray’s bravery commendation on the wall, and secretly searches Kelsey’s room. He finds nothing interesting except a packet of the acne medication Accutane. Hazel begins sobbing as Strike bids goodbye.

The killer watches Robin leave her house with her mother.

Strike is exhausted from surveilling Mad Dad and Platinum while also conducting his own investigations. Watching Whittaker’s flat in Catford, he sees a girl in her late teens leave the flat, but there is no sign of his former stepfather. He also fruitlessly observes the block of flats where Laing was photographed. Strike is left with only one paying client when Platinum ends her relationship with Two-Times. Wardle calls Strike, revealing that Digger Malley has been eliminated from their investigations.

Robin unexpectedly calls in at the office with her mother, Linda, who wants to meet Strike. Afterward, Linda expresses approval of Strike. However, Robin is upset as he gave her research to conduct from home, insisting he did not need her in the office while they had only one client. Robin assumes Strike was humoring her when he referred to her as his partner. She is also dismayed at the prospect of being alone in the house with Matthew. Before returning to Yorkshire, Linda gives Robin 500 pounds to spend on wedding shoes or a deposit on a flat. She says that Robin needs to decide if she is marrying Matthew, and she will support her either way. Angry at Strike, Robin decides to pursue a lead alone.

The next day, Robin compiles a list of massage parlors and brothels where Brockbank may be working while watching Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton on TV. Robin has resolved to tell Matthew that she is moving out and their wedding is not going ahead. However, when Matthew sits beside her and cries, Robin recalls his romantic proposal to her nine years earlier. When Matthew asks if their relationship is over, Robin takes his hand.