Chapter Thirty-Nine – A Nightmare Reveals a New Clue
Spoiler Notice: This summary and analysis contain key details from Chapter Thirty-Nine of Flashpoint by Catherine Coulter. Read the chapter first to avoid spoilers.
Summary
Hours after the attack in England, FBI agent Elizabeth Fawkes wakes from a vivid nightmare in the Saviches’ Georgetown home. In the dream, she relives the moment an assailant pinned her down and threatened to cut her face while another man held her. The nightmare is so intense she feels the rush of hot air as the knife descends – but in reality the knife struck her colleague Benny, nearly killing him. Elizabeth instinctively reaches for the small Ruger pistol and bullets she keeps locked in her bedside table, but stops herself, recognizing it was only a dream. She fights to calm her breathing and heart rate. As she recovers, the attacker’s words echo in her memory: “hold the bitch down! I’m going to cut up that pretty face!” She notes the voice carried a slight accent similar to Basara’s. This leads Elizabeth to question whether she might have heard that voice before the attack. Still unnerved, she jumps out of bed and runs to the Saviches’ bedroom to alert them, but pulls back her fist before knocking, realizing it is far too early. Leaning against the hallway wall, she collects herself and concludes that she only heard that voice on the day of the assault and now in her dreams.
Key Events
- Elizabeth jolts awake from a nightmare about the knife attack in England.
- She nearly opens her bedside drawer for the gun but stops herself.
- She recalls the attacker’s exact words and notes his accent resembles Basara’s.
- She runs to the Saviches’ bedroom but decides not to knock because of the early hour.
- She leans against the hallway wall and realizes the voice is only from that one day in England and from her dreams.
Character Development
Elizabeth Fawkes is shown in a moment of intense vulnerability. The nightmare demonstrates that she is still traumatized by the attack, even though she is safe in a different country. Her instinct to reach for the weapon reveals that she remains in a self-protective, hyper‑alert state. At the same time, she demonstrates self‑control by not grabbing the gun and by deciding not to wake the Saviches. Her analytical mind is at work as she examines the attacker’s voice and accent, searching for any prior recognition – a sign that she is already trying to turn her trauma into a usable clue. This scene deepens her characterization as a strong agent who is nevertheless shaken by violence, yet still capable of clear thinking.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Actually Evidenced Here
- Trauma and Memory: The chapter explores how traumatic events linger in the subconscious. Elizabeth’s nightmare is not a simple replay; it heightens sensory details (“whoosh of hot air”) and reminds her of the attacker’s exact words. Her memory becomes both a source of fear and a potential investigative tool.
- The Key and the Gun: The small key to the bedside table and the Ruger pistol symbolize Elizabeth’s need to feel prepared and protected. That she stops herself from grabbing the weapon shows that even in panic she retains rational control – a motif of professional discipline versus raw fear.
- The Voice as a Clue: The attacker’s voice, with its accent similar to Basara’s, introduces the idea that auditory memory may be as important as visual recognition. Elizabeth’s focus on the voice suggests that this detail will become a lead in identifying the assailant.
Why This Chapter Matters
This short but intense chapter is pivotal for understanding Elizabeth’s psychological state after the England attack. It bridges the external action of the assault with the internal aftermath of living with that memory. By having Elizabeth consciously analyze the attacker’s voice and accent, the chapter positions her personal trauma as a step toward solving the larger mystery. It also reinforces her resourcefulness: even in a nightmare‑induced panic, she controls her actions and avoids alarming her hosts. Finally, the chapter plants a subtle clue – the accent – that may connect the attacker to Basara or another character introduced earlier. Without this moment, readers would miss the deepening of Elizabeth’s character and the first hint that the attacker’s identity might be uncovered through vocal recognition.
Study Questions
1. Why does Elizabeth stop herself from grabbing the gun and bullets?
She recognizes that she is reacting to a nightmare, not a real threat. By telling herself “Get a grip, it was a nightmare, only a nightmare,” she forces her rational mind to override the panic. This shows her ability to regain control even when deeply frightened.
2. What does the dream reveal about the attacker’s characteristics?
The dream reveals that the attacker was highly excited (“like he was high on drugs”) and that he intended to disfigure Elizabeth (“cut up that pretty face”). It also reveals that the assailant had a slight accent similar to Basara’s, which Elizabeth later tries to place – suggesting the attacker may have come from the same region or known Basara.
3. How does Elizabeth’s reaction to the nightmare show character growth or lack thereof?
On one hand, her immediate thought is to arm herself, which shows she is still operating in survival mode – a sign that the trauma has not healed. On the other hand, she quickly talks herself down, uses logic to analyze the voice, and chooses not to disturb the Saviches. This balance of fear and discipline demonstrates that she is not frozen by her experience; rather, she channels it into a determined search for clues, indicating potential growth in resilience and composure.