Essay Questions

Why does Beauregard turn back to crime?

For fifteen years, Beauregard has lived a quiet, hard-working and crime-free life as the proprietor of an auto-mechanic business. He hasn't made his fortune, but he makes what he and his family need to provide for themselves and have a little to spare. At the start of the novel, the auto-shop is starting to go under. There is not as much money coming in but Beauregard's needs, and the needs of his family, are getting more expensive.

When he hears that a getaway driver is needed, he is immediately attracted to the job. His old associates are planning a heist and if he partners with them he will be financially set up for life. This is a much quicker option that turning the business around, and that is why Beauregard decides to do "one last job".

How is the criminal partnership different this time?

When Beauregard last partnered with Ronnie and Reggie, there was huge mis-trust within the group. Every man was out for himself and they were each waiting or the other to betray them. Beauregard felt threatened because he was the third man and was constantly worried that the others might plot against him or cut him out of his share of their ill-gotten gains.

This time it is different, because Ronnie and Reggie need Beauregard a lot more than he needs them. He is still regarded as the best getaway driver in the region. His driving skills also provide them with the best chance possible of getting away with the theft. If they double-cross Beauregard then the heist might not be successful, so they are far less likely to try to double-cross him this time around.

How does the heist go wrong?

The plan is to rob the jewelry store, leave with the loot, jump into the running car and leave without detection, before the group go their separate ways. Nobody would get hurt, and nobody would get caught.

The plan goes horribly wrong when a bystander is shot and killed. This elevates the crime from robbery to murder - even for Beauregard, who is sitting in the car outside. Beauregard also finds out that the jewelry store owner is not the legitimate businessman he had thought; he is a criminal, and a criminal who will stop at nothing to get his property back, and also to kill the robbers because they have humiliated him by robbing his store.

It dawns on Beauregard that the police are the least of their worries. The man they have robbed will not rest until he hunts down not only the trio but their families too. He has put not only himself but his family in danger of being killed by participating in the heist.