Chapter Twenty-Two: The Killer's Identity Emerges

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Preston Jefferies, a Black farmer in Charon County, starting his corn harvest on a late October morning. As he operates his combine, Preston spots a strange object in the field. He dismounts and discovers a horrifying corpse.

The narrative shifts to Sheriff Titus Crown's office. Deputy Carla reports that Dayane Carter has packed a bag and left without notice. Steve confirms that Elias Hillington is still missing. Titus shares his theory with Steve: the killer is likely the boy who was abused at the Holy Rock camp—a boy who was illegally adopted and homeschooled, making him hard to identify. Titus instructs Steve to ask Elias's wife for photographs of that boy.

Trey delivers his report on the shooting involving Latrell and Tom. After reviewing videos and reports, Trey concludes that the shooting was justified. Titus accepts the finding but privately reflects that the narrative will protect the department regardless of the messy details.

Dr. Kim calls with updates: four more victims have been identified through dental records and DNA, coming from cities including Baltimore, Columbia, Hillsborough, Wilmington, and Philadelphia. The seventh victim remains unidentified. Before Dr. Kim can share additional information, Davy bursts in with urgent news: another body has been found in Preston Jefferies's cornfield.

At the scene, Titus lifts a sheet to reveal the mutilated body of Reverend Elias Hillington. Elias is naked, impaled on a wooden stake inserted in his anus. The words "THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THIS SAVAGE PLACE" are carved into his chest. His body bears dozens of slashes, nails through his palms, a flayed penis, and a dead rat snake protruding from his mouth. Deputies Davy, Pip, and Steve recite the Twenty-third Psalm; Titus remains silent, convinced that God is absent from such evil.

Back at the office, Scott Cunningham arrives and demands that Titus request state police takeover, threatening a recall. Titus is considering the request when his phone pings with an urgent email from Dr. Kim. The medical examiner ran DNA from the scene through CODIS and genealogical services, finding a match to Scott's maternal line through a site Scott used for a family history project. Titus confronts Scott, who denies having a half-brother but eventually admits his mother had an affair. Titus insists on questioning the mother; Scott threatens legal action. Titus counters with his authority as sheriff, and Scott leaves in a fury.

Key Events

Preston Jefferies discovers Elias Hillington's body in his cornfield.
Titus learns that Dayane Carter has fled town.
Trey confirms the shooting of Latrell and Tom was legally justified.
Dr. Kim identifies four more victims from different states.
Davy reports the new body, leading Titus to the gruesome scene.
Elias's corpse shows extreme mutilation, a carved message, and a dead snake in the mouth.
Scott Cunningham demands state police involvement.
DNA evidence reveals that the killer shares maternal markers with Scott.
Titus confronts Scott, who reveals his mother had an affair producing a half-brother.
Titus vows to interview Scott's mother despite threats.

Character Development

Titus Crown shows a willingness to set aside pride: he considers accepting state police help to catch the killer, demonstrating that his priority is justice rather than ego. His confrontation with Scott is measured but firm, and he does not gloat over the revelation. He also reflects on the power of names and narratives, acknowledging he gave the killer the moniker "Last Wolf."

Scott Cunningham is stripped of his usual arrogance. The news of a half-brother throws him into panic, revealing a vulnerable side beneath his political persona. His protective outburst about his mother shows a flicker of genuine family loyalty, even as he threatens legal action.

Preston Jefferies is introduced as a hardworking farmer who embodies the legacy of Black farming in Virginia. His shock at finding the body humanizes the rural community that has been victimized by the killer.

The deputies (Davy, Pip, Steve) display their faith by reciting the Twenty-third Psalm, contrasting with Titus's skepticism. Their reaction underscores the psychological toll the case has taken on the department.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Masks and Hidden Identities. Titus tells Trey, "The mask, Trey. We all wear a mask." The revelation that the killer is Scott Cunningham's half-brother—a secret kept for decades—illustrates how people present one face to the world while concealing another. Scott's mother's affair and the abandoned son were hidden from public view, just as the killer hid his violence behind a friendly facade.

Family Secrets and Legacy. The Cunningham family's hidden half-brother ties directly to the killer's motives. The abuse at Holy Rock, the illegal adoption, and the subsequent murders all stem from a family's failure to acknowledge and address its own sins. Titus's mother's saying, "Treat people bad, bad comes back to you," encapsulates this theme.

Narrative Control. Titus reflects that "whoever controlled the narrative controlled the truth," a lesson from Red DeCrain. This applies both to the department's public explanation of the shooting and to the Cunningham family's ability to suppress the existence of the half-brother.

The Snake as Symbol. The dead rat snake placed in Elias's mouth evokes biblical imagery of the serpent as deceiver and evil. The killer is not merely murdering but delivering a message: that this place is savage and inescapable, a perversion of Eden.

The Absence of God. When the deputies recite the Twenty-third Psalm, Titus does not join them. He thinks, "God wasn't here. This was the devil's work." The chapter suggests that conventional faith offers no comfort in the face of such depravity; only human action can stop the killer.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter provides the major breakthrough in the investigation. The DNA evidence linking the killer to Scott Cunningham's family narrows the suspect pool to a specific bloodline. It confirms Titus's theory that the killer is the boy abused at Holy Rock, now an adult who has been living in plain sight. The extreme violence inflicted on a clergyman raises the stakes and shows the killer's escalating rage. Titus's confrontation with Scott sets up a crucial interview with Scott's mother, which will likely reveal the killer's identity. The chapter also tests Titus's humility and resolve, as he is forced to weigh his own pride against the need for outside help.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Titus initially consider accepting state police involvement?
Answer: Titus realizes the case has grown beyond the resources of his small department. He values catching the killer over his personal pride, recalling a lesson on humility from the academy. Scott's threat of a recall also pressures him, but Titus's primary motivation is to stop the bloodshed.
What does the DNA evidence reveal about the killer's connection to Charon?
Answer: The killer is the half-brother of Scott Cunningham, making him part of one of the county's most prominent white families. This connection explains how the killer could operate locally without suspicion and why the secret was so deeply buried. It also adds a layer of political danger to the investigation.
How does the scene of Elias's body reinforce the novel's themes of place and savagery?
Answer: The carved message, "THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THIS SAVAGE PLACE," echoes an earlier theme that Charon itself is a breeding ground for violence. The mutilation—especially the snake—suggests a ritualistic, almost biblical punishment. The body is displayed in a cornfield, a symbol of rural life, contrasting everyday labor with unspeakable horror. Titus's refusal to recite the psalm emphasizes that this evil is human-made and not divinely ordained.