Chapter 22 Summary: The Chief

⚠️ 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

Chief Kapenash learns from Officer Dixon that Vivi’s bloodstained sneakers were found in a Stop and Shop break-room trash bin by a janitor named Donald. Because Cruz DeSantis works there, suspicion falls on him. The Chief arranges to pick up Cruz and interrogates him during a short drive. Cruz admits he lied about his route the morning of the hit-and-run: he came from Hooper Farm, where he tried to see Peter Bridgeman about a photo received the night before. He insists he did not hit Vivi but found her on the ground, called 911, and stayed. Cruz expresses frustration that everyone on the island assumes he is guilty because he is Black. The Chief tells Cruz he believes he didn’t do it, but that someone is framing him. The Chief decides to talk to the night custodian Donald and to Peter Bridgeman to follow the thread.

Key Events

Officer Dixon informs the Chief that a janitor found Vivi’s bloodstained sneakers in the break-room trash at Stop and Shop.
The Chief realizes the clothes (shorts and tank top) are still missing and that the sneakers alone don’t prove guilt.
The Chief orders the shoes sent to forensics expert Lisa Hitt on Cape Cod.
The Chief picks up Cruz from work and drives him around for a thirty-minute interrogation.
Cruz admits he lied about his route: he came from Hooper Farm, not directly from home.
Cruz explains he went to see Peter Bridgeman about a photo Peter sent in the middle of the night, but Peter wasn’t home.
Cruz reveals he then went to the Howe house because he wanted to talk to Leo about the photo and about their fight.
The Chief deduces that if the sneakers were planted, someone is trying to frame Cruz.
Cruz angrily notes that because he is Black, people automatically assume he is a criminal.
The Chief decides to interview the night custodian Donald and Peter Bridgeman.

Character Development

Chief Kapenash: Shows a blend of skepticism and empathy. He is determined to find the truth rather than rush to charge Cruz. He listens to Cruz’s anger and reacts with self-restraint (“Sit with your discomfort”). He regards the case as personally irksome, recalling an earlier unresolved death.
Cruz DeSantis: Appears exhausted, traumatized, and defensive. He admits his earlier lie and shares that he was upset and distracted. He shows emotional depth when speaking of Vivi as “like a mother to me.” His anger about racial profiling surfaces powerfully, adding complexity to his character and highlighting the social pressures he faces.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Injustice and Framing: The discovery of the sneakers ties Cruz to the crime, but the Chief suspects a setup. This theme echoes Cruz’s complaint about being judged because of his race.
Secrecy and Trust: Cruz’s initial lie about his whereabouts and his reluctance to discuss the photo suggest hidden teenage conflicts that may or may not relate to Vivi’s death.
Evidence as Double-Edged: The sneakers are both a potential forensic clue and a tool for manipulation. Their location—in Cruz’s workplace—feels too convenient, pointing to a deliberate act of misdirection.
Racial Profiling: Cruz directly calls out the assumption that “I’m Black, so I must be a criminal.” The Chief’s willingness to listen and his recognition of the discomfort in that moment suggest a thematic exploration of prejudice within the investigation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter moves the investigation forward by introducing a concrete piece of evidence—the sneakers—and establishing the possibility that Cruz is being framed. It deepens Cruz’s character and reveals his emotional ties to Vivi and his frustration with prejudice. The Chief’s plan to interview Peter Bridgeman and the night custodian sets up the next phase of mystery and suggests that the truth may lie in the high-school drama Cruz is reluctant to discuss.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does the Chief initially hesitate to call in a homicide detective from the state police?
The Chief doesn’t want to involve the detective—referred to as “the Greek”—because he feels they have no forensic evidence tying the death to any suspect. He wants to follow his own leads before escalating.
What does Cruz admit about his whereabouts on the morning of the hit-and-run?
Cruz admits he was coming from Hooper Farm, where he went to see Peter Bridgeman to talk about a photo Peter sent in the middle of the night. He did not find Peter home, so he then drove to the Howe house to speak with Leo.
How does Cruz explain his anger toward the Chief and the community?
Cruz says that everyone on the island—friends, coworkers, the community—assumes he killed Vivi because he is Black. He expresses that he is being treated as a criminal based on his race, not on evidence.