The Boys from Biloxi

The chapters after Jesse’s death further elucidate the theme of Familial Identity and Legacy, especially in the context of father-son relationships. First, Keith takes over the role of DA, literally following in his father’s footsteps. Keith fixates on the idea of avenging his father’s death, fulfilling a common trope in literature, television, and film: “You killed my father/mother and must pay.” Examples range from Harry Potter to The Lion King. Ironically, Jesse’s death occurred for similar reasons—as Hugh ordered the hit on Jesse in revenge for his locking Lance away. Jesse didn’t kill Lance, but in Hugh’s eyes he may as well have; Lance essentially ceases to exist in the “real world” while he’s behind bars.

Keith’s loyalty to Jesse, and Hugh’s loyalty to Lance, are unquestionable. However, the narrative casts doubt on the logic of this loyalty, hinting at the question of whether it’s right to blindly follow and support another person, perhaps even breaking laws or doing immoral things, even if that person is a father. Lance himself doesn’t seem impressed by Hugh’s vengeful acts. In fact, he sees them in a different light altogether: “Jesse’s death was never mentioned. Lance had not been involved in it, and he was worried that his unpredictable son had done something stupid” (339).

These chapters further the narrative’s criticism of corruption—and its argument that corruption and greed often go hand in hand. Fats exemplified this, ignoring crime in Biloxi in exchange for payments and perks. Now, the connection between corruption, criminal activity, and greed is exemplified by the FBI’s pursuit of Henry Taylor. When the FBI learns that he’s in a financial crisis, they leverage the situation, setting up a sting operation and luring him in with a fake hit job—one that pays a lot of money. Henry’s primary motivation for killing people is clearly money, a testimony to the lengths to which people will go when fulfilling their greed.

The pinnacle of action in these chapters is Hugh’s guilty verdict, the final plot point in Part 3. Hugh is not only declared guilty but also sentenced to death. Part 4, “The Row” (referring to death row) takes place as Hugh awaits his demise. His receiving the death penalty introduces the potential for discussions about its morality—which Part 4 explores further. The story hints at the complex moral dispute surrounding the death penalty when Keith agrees to allow another lawyer, Chuck McClure, to prosecute Hugh’s case; the narrative notes, “[Chuck] had sent more men to death row than any other prosecutor in the state’s history” (377). The implicit question is whether this is a good thing. In Keith’s eyes, it apparently is.

Although much of the content in these chapters focuses on the legal details of Hugh’s trial, the author is careful to reiterate repeatedly that at its heart this legal thriller is a story about two families. The Rudy family recovers from Jesse’s loss, and Keith and Ainsley announce her pregnancy. Agnes’s emotional reaction to the pregnancy is a reminder that Jesse’s death isn’t just about a DA being killed by the mob and all the sensational headlines that brings; it’s about sons and daughters losing a father and a wife losing her husband. The narrative reiterates this reality when Agnes testifies at Hugh’s sentencing, talking about her loss. Carmen offers the counterpoint in her testimony as a mother who experiences the shock of her son’s being sentenced to death.

These chapters reiterate the significance of friendships, not just familial relationships, as well. When Keith and Hugh appear in the same courtroom, the book reflects on their shared path—and their splintered future: “The two had once been the same size. In their glory days as twelve-year-old stars they were roughly the same height and weight, though no one bothered to measure back then. As they grew, their genes took charge” (369). The narrative then describes how the two boys have grown up to be physically different, but the mention of “genes” points to the families: Each boy followed his respective path, essentially predetermined for him by his family. This familial loyalty put them on opposite sides of good and evil, and pitted them against one another.