Chapter 60: Secret Places and New Leads
⚠️ 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
On Saturday morning, Anne drives Bodie to the airport while Fran takes the boys to tumbling class. As NPR broadcasts stories about men who killed themselves or harmed others after sexual misconduct allegations, Anne brings up Fran's protectiveness of Granby. Bodie realizes Fran wants her to drop the investigation, and Anne explains that Fran is trying to defend the school. Bodie reflects that Fran taught her how to rock boats but now seems to protect the institution.
Bodie then recalls the secret places at Granby: the storage closet off the wrestling room, the liquor stash for reunions, the three small graves in the woods. She remembers her own spaces—the theater lighting booth, gel room, prop storage, catwalk, and the darkroom. She thinks about the woods, the nonfunctional fireplace in Jacoby Hall, and how students used contraband keys to access empty classrooms. Fran, a day student, was able to wander campus at night, and she would often visit Bodie’s window.
Bodie’s thoughts turn to the equipment shed beside the gym, near the pool’s emergency exit. She wonders whether the shed, the press box above it, or the bleachers were ever searched in connection with Thalia’s murder. She texts Alder and Britt suggesting they investigate whether those areas were examined, whether paint covers evidence, and when the bleachers were last replaced. She then checks her United app for a flight upgrade.
Key Events
- Anne drives Bodie to the airport and they discuss Fran’s desire to protect Granby.
- Bodie recalls a series of hidden locations at the school that students used for privacy.
- NPR plays accounts of men who committed suicide or harmed others after sexual assault allegations.
- Bodie texts Alder a new investigative lead regarding the equipment shed, press box, and bleachers.
- Bodie checks her flight status, feeling uncertain about what she has set in motion.
Character Development
Bodie – Shows her relentless drive to uncover the truth, even as she leaves Granby. She revisits her own teenage experiences of secrecy and ownership, now repurposing that knowledge to find overlooked evidence. Her tension with Fran highlights her discomfort with institutional loyalty.
Anne – Mediates between Bodie and Fran, explaining Fran’s protectiveness as a home‑defense instinct. She represents the administrative perspective that cares about admissions and reputation, though she still supports Bodie.
Fran – Though not present in the car, Fran’s desire to “not rock the boat” is discussed. Bodie recalls that Fran once taught her to challenge authority, creating a poignant contrast with Fran’s current caution.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Secret spaces and hidden histories – Bodie’s detailed recollection of Granby’s covert spots mirrors the hidden aspects of the murder investigation. The physical school holds both adolescent escape routes and potential evidence sites.
Institutional loyalty vs. truth – Fran’s protectiveness and Anne’s concern about Google searches illustrate how institutions often prioritize reputation over justice. Bodie’s refusal to drop the case challenges that stance.
Persistent memory – The NPR stories running in the background echo Bodie’s own unresolved past. The repeated fragments (“the one where her shoes were gone”) create a rhythm of trauma that parallels her own fixation.
Physical environment as evidence – Bodie’s focus on the shed, press box, and bleachers suggests that the built environment itself may hold clues that were missed in the initial investigation.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter re‑engages Bodie with the investigation at a crucial moment. Just as she is physically leaving Granby, she sends a new lead to Alder and Britt, implying that the initial search may have been incomplete. The conversation with Anne deepens the thematic conflict between protecting an institution and pursuing the truth. Bodie’s memories of secret campus spaces also enrich the novel’s exploration of how memory and place intersect.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bodie text Alder about the equipment shed and press box?
Bodie realizes that the initial investigation focused on the gym because Omar worked there, but the shed and press box are close to the pool’s emergency exit and are known hiding spots. She believes those areas might not have been thoroughly searched and could contain evidence that was painted over.
2. How does the conversation with Anne reveal Fran’s motivations for wanting Bodie to drop the investigation?
Anne explains that Fran sees Granby as her home and is instinctively protective of it, much like a bee defending its hive. Fran is not accusing Bodie of lying but is worried about the school’s reputation and the impact of ongoing drama on admissions.
3. What effect do the NPR stories have on the mood of the chapter?
The brief, fragmented descriptions of suicides and assaults create a haunting backdrop that mirrors Bodie’s own troubled thoughts. They reinforce the real‑world prevalence of the kind of abuse and institutional failure the book explores, and they underscore the high stakes of Bodie’s quest for answers.