Chapter 34 Summary: Wilson Interviews Suzanne

⚠️ 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

Assistant Police Chief Peter Wilson arrives at Suzanne’s house at four o’clock for a scheduled interview. Determined to stay composed after an earlier argument with her stepbrother Arthur, Suzanne guides him to the office, where she has prepared a yellow pad listing everyone she can remember from her Hollywood past. Wilson brings his own list compiled from her manuscript, and the two lists match except for two names—Aaron Kolstein and Carter Reynolds. Wilson questions whether Buzz Carlyle’s hit-and-run death was truly accidental, suggesting it could have been a professional hit designed to harm Suzanne’s career or her personally. He insists she stop assuming that people she likes or trusts are harmless.

Suzanne explains that Kolstein was the business mind of their production team and seemed lost without Buzz Carlyle; she has had no contact with Kolstein since the show ended. She defends Carter Reynolds, who loved horses and was paralyzed in a riding accident at eighteen, so he could not be a suspect. Wilson crosses both names off. He then turns to her family. Suzanne admits she fought constantly with her stepfather, Raymond Barnes, and partly went to Europe to escape him. She describes Raymond as ardently loving her mother Lenore and always supporting Lenore’s ambitions for Suzanne, though disagreements often centered on Arthur’s career as a pianist. Wilson notes that the end of her series benefited Raymond by allowing him to focus on Arthur.

When Wilson presses about Arthur, Suzanne avoids the subject and then insists Arthur was absent for most of the accidents and had no reason to want her dead. Wilson reminds her not to assume. He also brings up Timothy Randolph, who played her brother in the series and later her boyfriend in horror films, and her agent Judd Malcome. He argues that these four people—her stepfather, brother, Tim, and her agent—have been the most constant figures in her life. Suzanne dismisses the agent, since Judd did not know she was back in the US. Wilson counters that notoriety does not always equal profit and that someone could have instigated accidents for publicity.

Wilson reveals that the death of Larry Hartvale during her last movie was not an accident; she was used as a weapon to hurt her. Suzanne becomes upset, and Wilson comforts her, explaining he must dig beneath the surface to find facts. He asks about her time in France, and she confirms she had no contact with the US except occasional calls to her mother. When her mother died of cancer, she learned through her husband’s attorney and attended the funeral. Wilson suspects the stalker saw her there and followed her back to France. Before leaving at five-thirty, he urges her to call if she thinks of anything. As he reaches the door, the doorbell rings, and Wilson opens it.

Key Events

Wilson arrives with a suspect list matching Suzanne’s; only Kolstein and Reynolds are extra.
Wilson theorizes Buzz Carlyle’s death might have been a professional hit aimed at Suzanne.
Suzanne defends Kolstein and Reynolds; Wilson crosses them off.
Suzanne describes her strained relationship with stepfather Raymond and his support of Arthur’s piano career.
Wilson presses about Arthur; Suzanne insists Arthur was absent and had no motive.
Wilson introduces Tim Randolph and agent Judd Malcome as constant figures, though Suzanne rejects them as suspects.
Wilson explains that Larry Hartvale’s murder was not an accident and that Suzanne was the weapon.
Wilson questions Suzanne about her years in France and her mother’s funeral.
Wilson leaves at 5:30; the doorbell rings as he reaches for the door.

Character Development

Suzanne: Struggles to remain calm and rational after her earlier argument with Arthur. She shows resilience in facing uncomfortable questions but also vulnerability when confronted with the idea that she was used as a weapon. Her trust in Wilson grows.
Peter Wilson: Methodical and empathetic. He balances firm investigative techniques with moments of gentleness, such as covering Suzanne’s hand. He insists she abandon her assumption that people she cares about are safe.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Trust vs. Suspicion: Wilson repeatedly warns Suzanne not to trust those close to her. The chapter contrasts her instinctive loyalty with the detective’s professional skepticism.
The Past as a Weapon: Events from Suzanne’s childhood and Hollywood career are revisited as potential motives for present danger, suggesting trauma can be exploited.
Family Dynamics: Raymond’s favoritism toward Arthur over Suzanne introduces jealousy and competition as possible drivers of conflict.
Control: Wilson’s investigation attempts to impose order on chaotic events; the doorbell ring at the end hints at loss of control.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the investigation by narrowing the suspect pool and emphasizing that the threat has been present since Suzanne’s early career. It reinforces the theme that people she loves may be involved and sets up tension for the next arrival at the door. Wilson’s theory that Larry Hartvale’s death was intentional raises the stakes: Suzanne is not merely a target but has been manipulated as an instrument of harm.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Wilson cross off Aaron Kolstein and Carter Reynolds from the suspect list?
Wilson crosses them off because Suzanne explains Kolstein was irreplaceable after Buzz Carlyle’s death and had no further contact with her, and Reynolds became paralyzed in a riding accident at eighteen, making him physically incapable of committing the recent attacks.
What does Wilson mean when he says Suzanne was “the weapon” in Larry Hartvale’s death?
He means the murderer used the circumstances of Suzanne’s career—probably her presence or actions on set—to cause Hartvale’s death without her direct intent, as a way to punish or control her.
How does Suzanne’s description of her stepfather Raymond contradict the idea that he might be a suspect?
Suzanne portrays Raymond as deeply loving toward her mother Lenore and supportive of Lenore’s ambitions for Suzanne, even though they often fought over Arthur. This suggests he had no clear motive to harm Suzanne, though Wilson still does not rule him out.