Career of Evil

Strike is in Bow when he hears Robin cry out. Keeping the line open, he borrows a stranger’s phone to call the police. As Strike hails a taxi, he hears Robin’s rape alarm. Returning to the call, Robin says her arm is cut and she cannot see due to the dye from her rape alarm. However, she is safe, and passersby have called an ambulance.

At the hospital, Robin learns that she needs surgery. Apologizing to Strike for messing up, she reveals that she used her self-defense skills and then scared her attacker off with the rape alarm. She asserts that Whittaker cannot be the culprit, as he was wearing jeans, while her attacker was wearing sweatpants. When Linda calls, revealing that some of the wedding flowers are out of season, Robin does mention that she is in the hospital.

DI Carver arrives, warning Strike to stay away from his investigation. As Strike leaves the hospital, he sees a child drop a bunch of flowers and suddenly realizes the identity of the killer.

Robin has nightmares in which her recent attack merges with her rape years earlier. In some of the dreams, she is a helpless witness as other women, such as Stephanie, are attacked. Nevertheless, she refuses to go back to Yorkshire until the wedding.

Strike blames himself for Robin’s attack. He has not shared his epiphany with Robin and tells her they must leave the case to Carver, as instructed. Robin suggests that Strike warn Alyssa that Brockbank has pedophilia. When Strike refuses, pointing out that they could jeopardize Carver’s investigation, Robin devises her own plan.

Robin gets a refund on her wedding shoes to pay for Shanker’s services. Shanker picks her up and drives her to Alyssa’s address in Bow. Alyssa attacks Robin, mistaking her for Brittany Brockbank. Robin reveals that Brockbank is a pedophile but Alyssa does not believe her. Brockbank arrives and also mistakes Robin for Brittany, declaring he should have killed her years ago. Robin shouts for Shanker, who breaks the door down brandishing a knife. Meanwhile, Alyssa’s older daughter, Angel, reveals that Brockbank molested her and threatened to kill Zahara if she told. Brockbank charges past Shanker and escapes. Horrified, Alyssa reveals that she believed Brockbank’s claim that his ex-wife and stepdaughter tried to frame him. Robin thinks of the trial of the man who raped her and understands why Brittany could not face going to court. She recalls how the defense barrister implied that Robin was drunk and that the rape had been consensual sex.

Strike reflects that if he had not been distracted by other suspects, Heather Smart would still be alive. Although Elin is treating him to an expensive meal that evening, he is not looking forward to it.

At the Mayfair restaurant La Gavroche, Strike is bored by Elin’s talk of the expensive properties she is considering purchasing. Their meal is interrupted by a furious call from Carver, who reveals that Robin interfered in the case. Carver’s chief suspect, Brockbank, is now on the run. Standing up in shock, Strike knocks a bottle of red wine over Elin and leaves without explanation. Going to Robin’s house, he angrily confronts her, accusing her of giving Carver the ammunition to publicly discredit the business. He fires Robin for gross misconduct.

Strike needs a gas canister, a fluorescent jacket, and the help of Shanker and a woman to carry out his plan. He resolves to advertise for Robin’s replacement.

Days pass, and Robin realizes Strike is not going to call her. She fakes excitement about the wedding while searching online for news about the Shacklewell Ripper. One day, Matthew shows Robin an article in The Sun newspaper—Strike is advertising for a new assistant.

On the drive to Masham, Robin and Matthew stop for a break. While Robin is in the bathroom, Matthew hears her cell phone ring and sees that the caller is Strike. He listens to Strike’s voicemail, which states that Strike will not bother Robin again if she does not return his call. Matthew deletes the phone’s call history and blocks Strike’s number.

The killer regrets his loss of control after hitting “It,” who has been increasingly suspicious since he returned home with red ink in his eyes. Having read the article that Robin is no longer working for Strike, the killer realizes there is no point in pursuing her. He watches Strike’s office and observes that the private detective has temporarily hired a stunning Black woman (actually Alyssa posing as Robin’s replacement). The killer follows “The Temp” as she talks loudly on her phone, arranging to meet friends at a club that night. On the Tube, the killer feels someone is watching him. However, the only other passengers are a group of scruffy men. One has “a scarred face and a gold tooth” (557).

Strike dwells on Robin’s failure to return his call. He is convinced that if she does not contact him before marrying Matthew the next day, she never will. Sharing the office with the loud Alyssa has only highlighted Robin’s attributes.

Shanker sends Strike a coded message, signaling that the killer is in the club. Strike picks the lock of Donald Laing’s empty flat, wearing a fluorescent jacket with a gas canister concealed underneath. When a neighbor knocks at the door looking for Laing, Strike discharges the gas canister and tells the man he is investigating a gas leak.

The killer’s iPod screen displays a track by Blue Öyster Cult.

The killer—Laing—enters the club looking for The Temp. Noticing the scarred man from the Tube among the crowd, he senses that he has been set up and leaves by the fire exit. Laing runs back to his nearby flat. He does not need his crutches as the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis have not troubled him for years.

Strike finds articles on the Shacklewell Ripper inside a closet and a photograph of Leda naked, her tattoo visible. He also sees a bag containing blood-stained women’s jewelry. Laing creeps up behind him with a machete. In the ensuing fight, Strike is injured but eventually disarms Laing with a kick from his prosthetic leg. Shanker arrives, allowing Strike to handcuff the killer.

Strike explains to Shanker that Laing has been using a stolen identity: Posing as heroic dead firefighter Ray Williams, Laing has been living with Hazel Furley. Strike did not recognize Laing when they met, as he had a beard and had rubbed menthol into his eyes to make them swell. Laing acquired the late Ray Williams’s identity documents when he assaulted and robbed Lorraine MacNaughton’s neighbor (the real Ray’s mother). The Accutane hidden in Kelsey’s room is a treatment for psoriatic arthritis. Strike speculates that, as Ray, Laing encouraged Kelsey’s obsession with Strike’s amputated leg, taking her to lurk outside the agency on his motorbike. Opening the flat’s fridge, Strike finds women’s body parts.

Strike calls the police, claiming that Laing attacked him after he followed him to the flat. He does not reveal Shanker’s involvement or how Alyssa posed as his temp.

Strike is treated for his injuries at the hospital. A police officer informs him that Brockbank has also been apprehended.

Strike asks Shanker to drive him to Masham, Yorkshire. On the journey, Wardle calls, confirming that Laing’s friend Ritchie has admitted that the stag weekend did not take place at the time of Kelsey’s death. Strike realized the alibi was false from the flowering sea holly in the photograph, as the plant does not bloom in April.

Shanker asks if Strike intends to stop the wedding. Strike clarifies that he wants to persuade Robin to work for him again. Strike arrives at the church while the ceremony is in process. As Robin is making her marriage vows, Strike accidentally knocks over a large flower arrangement. The congregation and the bride and groom turn to look at him. Robin grins at Strike as she says, “I do.”