Chapter 43: Cassie, 2017 — Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens in Enid, Oklahoma, as Cassie and Duke pack to leave. Andrew has not appeared. Cassie's father arrives carrying her mother's wedding dress in a garment bag, apologizing and telling her that he loved her mother more than anything. Cassie confronts him about nearly killing Andrew, and warns that she will call every day and take Andrew if he ever drinks again. Her father acknowledges that he doesn't deserve his family and says he'll never forgive himself.

Back in Austin, Cassie and Duke are distant, moving around each other carefully. Cassie reflects that she never gave Duke a chance to see her broken parts, and wonders if her withholding of trust was a self-fulfilling prophecy. Andrew ignores her calls, so she talks to her father nightly. His sponsor picks him up for daily meetings, and Andrew is barely speaking to him.

Cassie tries on her mother's wedding dress, which fits her, and spends hours in it while Duke is at work, feeling close to her mother through this physical connection.

Having learned of Lore's pregnancy—which Lore hasn't told Cassie about—Cassie re-examines the case file from start to finish. She builds a timeline of the Rivera family's movements on the night of Andres's murder using index cards. She considers that Andres may have left a key to his hotel room for Lore, which would explain how Fabian knew where to find him. She notes the timeline gaps: Lore is unalibied from 5:15 to 6:15, and Fabian from 8 to 9:15, but Fabian was at the hotel during time of death—the brick wall she keeps hitting.

Cassie talks to Lore each evening at six. Lore asks if she regrets her confrontation with her father; Cassie says no, feeling freer. Lore advises her to keep offering herself to Andrew, saying that's what being a mother is. Cassie corrects her: a sister.

Key Events

Cassie's father gives her mother's wedding dress and apologizes
Cassie confronts her father about Andrew and threatens to take Andrew if he drinks again
Cassie and Duke return to Austin, their relationship strained
Andrew ignores Cassie's calls; she talks to her father nightly
Cassie re-examines the case file with knowledge of Lore's pregnancy
She builds a timeline of the Rivera family's movements
She theorizes Andres left a key to his hotel room for Lore
Lore advises Cassie to keep offering herself to Andrew

Character Development

Cassie takes a significant step in this chapter. She confronts her father directly, sets boundaries, and follows through on her threat to call daily. She also feels freer after revealing the secret of the abuse, describing it as cutting away a poisonous vine. Her re-examination of the case shows her growth as an investigator—she's willing to question her own theories and fit facts to evidence rather than the other way around.

Cassie's father shows vulnerability, acknowledging his failures and saying he'll never forgive himself. He's working on sobriety with a sponsor, though Andrew is barely speaking to him.

Duke remains distant, and Cassie reflects on how she never gave him a chance to see her broken parts.

Lore gives Cassie advice about offering herself to Andrew, showing warmth and maternal instinct despite being the subject of Cassie's investigation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Love as destructive force: Cassie reflects that love is the most destructive force, thinking about how people destroy the ones they love.

Forgiveness and amends: The father's apology and his work on sobriety; Cassie's nightly calls.

Secrets and lies: The secret of the abuse, which Cassie has now revealed; Lore's pregnancy, which she hasn't told Cassie about.

Re-evaluating evidence: Cassie's fresh look at the case file with new knowledge.

Motherhood and sacrifice: Lore's advice about offering yourself to your children; Cassie's connection to her mother through the dress.

Trust and self-fulfilling prophecy: Cassie's reflection on never giving Duke a chance.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances both the investigation and Cassie's personal arc. The pregnancy revelation forces a re-evaluation of the case, and the key theory provides a new explanation for how Fabian found Andres. Cassie's confrontation with her father and her subsequent feeling of freedom show her growth. The chapter also deepens the parallel between Cassie and Lore, as Cassie seeks advice from the woman she's investigating.

Study Questions

Why does Cassie's father give her the wedding dress, and what does it represent?

The dress is a gesture of apology and connection. It represents her mother's presence and the love her parents shared, and it gives Cassie a physical way to feel close to her mother. The grass stains on the hem suggest the dress was worn and lived in, making it feel more real to Cassie.

How does the knowledge of Lore's pregnancy change Cassie's reading of the evidence?

The pregnancy reframes Andres's visit to the bank and his note to Lore. Cassie considers that Andres may have left a key to his hotel room, which would explain how Fabian knew where to find him. It also raises questions about what Lore told Fabian and whether the murder was premeditated.

What does Lore's advice to Cassie reveal about her character?

Lore's advice—to keep offering herself to Andrew no matter how many times he steps on her—reveals her belief in unconditional love and sacrifice. It also shows her maternal instinct, even toward Cassie, and creates an ironic parallel: Cassie is investigating Lore for murder while seeking her advice on family.