# Chapter 25 Summary: Cassie, 2017

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

Otherwise, read on for the full breakdown of Chapter 25 below.

(You've been warned.)

Summary

The chapter opens with Cassie's private confession: she lied to Andrew about calling her father. She hung up after the second ring, but Andrew believes the call helped. When Andrew reports that her father seems to be attending meetings and credits Cassie's call, she hates herself for taking credit for what is at best a temporary improvement. Andrew's earlier question—whether she knew her father was an alcoholic—haunts her at odd hours.

Cassie throws herself into writing sample chapters about Lore: her arrival in Mexico City, meeting Andres, their midnight walk at Chapultepec. She notes that she began the project wanting to dissect Lore, but now she finds herself inhabiting her subject, and it unnerves her how easy it is.

During a FaceTime call, Lore romanticizes her marriage to Andres, describing how they married five days after the earthquake and how the minister's phrase about the foundation of their union captured their starting point. Cassie, in a crabby mood, challenges this using the earthquake as a metaphor: the old mansions in Roma were destroyed by cracks in their foundations caused by newer construction. She argues Lore couldn't have been as independent as she claims—Andres never knew her as a mother, for instance. Lore counters that there are things carried in bodies and souls that don't need to be explained to be known. Cassie calls this a justification.

Cassie presses further, asking what Lore didn't give Fabian—fidelity, honesty, time. Lore says she was more present in their time together than she had been before. Cassie asks if Fabian would agree, and Lore deflects, asking about Cassie's engagement. Cassie says money, but Lore's response—whatever you need to tell yourself—suggests she doesn't believe it.

The investigation into Andres's last day stalls. Oscar refuses calls, Fabian declines prison interviews, Carlos Russo doesn't respond. Finally, Sergio Muñoz answers. He's garrulous, extending anecdotes to twenty minutes, eager to talk about everything except Lore and Fabian. He describes the ranch, his childhood friendship with Fabian, and the economic crisis that cost him his job.

When the conversation turns to the day of the murder, Sergio's voice becomes heavy. He reveals Fabian sounded not good on the phone—stressed, needing to get out of the house. Fabian was standing dazed in the driveway when Sergio picked him up. Sergio didn't ask what was going on, and Fabian didn't tell him about meeting Andres.

Sergio mentions that Fabian bought Lore a gun for protection. Cassie's mind races: if Lore had a gap in her alibi, if Andres's note told her where he was staying, if he'd been bothering her, and if she happened to be carrying a gun. But she recognizes it's all speculation.

Sergio reveals that Fabian wanted to stay overnight at the ranch, but Sergio drove him back because of mosquitoes, heat, and discomfort. He expresses deep regret: what if Fabian was trying to keep himself away, to talk himself out of it, and Sergio drove him right back. The last thing Fabian said that night: pointing to his truck, noting of course it had rained—he'd just washed it.

Key Events

Cassie admits she lied to Andrew about calling her father
Cassie writes sample chapters and finds herself inhabiting Lore
FaceTime conversation where Cassie challenges Lore's romanticized version of her marriage
Lore deflects Cassie's questions by asking about her engagement
Cassie's investigation stalls as sources refuse to cooperate
Sergio Muñoz finally agrees to talk
Sergio reveals Fabian was stressed and wanted to stay at the ranch
Sergio reveals Fabian bought Lore a gun
Sergio expresses regret about driving Fabian back

Character Development

Cassie confronts her own cowardice and self-deception in this chapter. Her lie about the phone call, her guilt about taking credit, and her inability to answer Lore's question about her engagement all suggest she's avoiding truths about herself. Her writing process reveals an uncomfortable identification with Lore—she's no longer just analyzing her subject but inhabiting her.

Lore continues to romanticize her past, describing her marriage to Andres in terms of rebuilding and independence. When challenged, she deflects with a question about Cassie's engagement. Her hurt when Cassie calls the project a job reveals how much she wants the relationship to be personal.

Sergio Muñoz is a new character who provides crucial testimony. His garrulousness masks deep regret. His description of Fabian's state of mind complicates the narrative—Fabian was stressed, wanted to get away, wanted to stay at the ranch.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Self-deception and justification: Cassie's lie about the phone call parallels Lore's justifications about her marriages. Both women tell themselves stories that make their choices more bearable.

The earthquake as relationship metaphor: Cassie uses the earthquake to challenge Lore's claim of independence. The old mansions destroyed by cracks from newer construction suggest that relationships can't be as separate as Lore claims.

The writer inhabiting her subject: Cassie's discomfort at how easily she can inhabit Lore suggests a blurring of boundaries between observer and subject.

Unreliable witness accounts: Sergio's witness statement said Fabian sounded normal, but he now says Fabian sounded not good. Memory, loyalty, and regret shape what witnesses report.

Universal potential for violence: Sergio's comment about how he'd react if Marta had done what Lore did echoes a theme Cassie has encountered throughout her research: under the right circumstances, anyone might be capable of violence.

Missed opportunities and regret: Sergio's regret about driving Fabian back—what if he was trying to keep himself away—haunts him years later.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter provides crucial new information about Andres's last day. Sergio's testimony reveals that Fabian was stressed, wanted to get out of the house, and wanted to stay at the ranch—suggesting he may have been trying to avoid a confrontation. The detail about the gun Fabian bought Lore opens new possibilities about her involvement, though Cassie recognizes it remains speculation.

The chapter also deepens Cassie's personal arc. Her lie about the phone call, her guilt, and her inability to answer Lore's question about her engagement all suggest she's avoiding truths about herself. The parallel between Cassie's self-deception and Lore's justifications becomes increasingly explicit.

Finally, the chapter complicates the question of responsibility. Sergio's regret—I drove him right back—suggests that even minor decisions can have catastrophic consequences. The chapter leaves readers questioning who is truly responsible for what happened.

Study Questions

1. How does Cassie's lie about calling her father parallel Lore's self-deception?

Cassie lies to Andrew about calling her father, then takes credit when Andrew reports the call seemed to help. She hates herself for this, recognizing it as cowardice. Similarly, Lore romanticizes her marriage to Andres, describing the earthquake as a rebuilding moment and claiming independence. Cassie calls this a justification. Both women tell themselves stories that make their choices more bearable, and both are confronted with the gap between their narratives and reality.

2. What does Sergio's testimony reveal about Fabian's state of mind on the day of the murder, and how does it complicate the narrative?

Sergio reveals that Fabian sounded not good on the phone—stressed, needing to get out of the house. He was standing dazed in the driveway. He wanted to stay overnight at the ranch, but Sergio drove him back. Sergio's regret—what if he was trying to keep himself away, to talk himself out of it—suggests Fabian may have been trying to avoid a confrontation. This complicates the narrative by suggesting Fabian's actions were not premeditated but the result of circumstances and choices made by multiple people.

3. Why does Cassie's speculation about Lore's possible involvement remain speculation rather than evidence?

Cassie constructs a chain of possibilities: if Lore had a gap in her alibi, if Andres's note told her where he was staying, if he'd been bothering her, and if she happened to be carrying a gun. But each link is conditional. Sergio can't confirm Lore carried the gun. The note's contents are unknown. Cassie herself acknowledges it didn't change anything—even if Lore had been involved, Fabian could still have acted independently. The chapter demonstrates how circumstantial speculation differs from evidence.