By the end, Fowler has everything he wants. He's free of Pyle. He has his divorce. He can stay with Phuong and marry her. He can continue to be a reporter. Life's not back to the way it was before Pyle came on the scene; it's better! Or it would be if Fowler hadn't picked up something along the way. No, not a prison cell. The police have nothing on him. It's guilt. Fowler feels guilt. And he has no means to assuage it.