Child 44 Chapter 55 Summary

How It All Goes Down

Rostov Oblast, Eight Kilometers North of Rostov-on-Don, 16 July

  • Leo and Raisa are in a train to Rostov-on-Don. The truck driver was completely trustworthy, and the local townsfolk were more than willing to help.
  • Two older villagers and "three small children" actually joined them on the journey, providing a better cover story for our heroes (4.55.2). They manage to get past the MGB guards easily.
  • Leo and Raisa split up from the family and head to the local factory. Leo is convinced that the murderer works there; examining their employment records will make it certain.
  • Leo cons his way into the building, making his way to the "administrative department" (4.55.45). That's when subtlety goes out the window: Leo punches an office worker and demands to see the employment records.
  • Leo looks at the factory inspectors' schedules, cross-referencing them with the murders. Finally, he connects the dots—Andrei, his brother, is the killer.