Chapter 37 Summary and Analysis
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Summary
The chapter opens at the funeral service for Fred and Sheila Merton. Dan, the younger son, steps to the lectern to deliver a eulogy. His voice trembles, but he is determined. He begins by acknowledging his father's public reputation as a successful businessman, then pivots to describe a very different private man. Dan reveals that his father was demanding, cruel, and vindictive, especially toward him as the only boy. He admits he was bullied at home, not at school, and that his father often called him the biggest disappointment of his life. Dan says the family was taught to keep quiet about these things, but he now recognizes the behavior as abusive. He then insists, almost rambling, that he did not kill his parents, despite what people might hear about him. He expresses hope that his mother died quickly and without suffering.
Catherine, seated in the front row, is horrified. She sees Dan losing control, pale and sweating, gripping the lectern. She rises and walks to him, gently taking his arm. He resists briefly, then gives in and returns to the pew with her. The congregation whispers, and Catherine is furious, though she tries to hide it. She attempts to catch Lisa's eye, but Lisa stares at the floor.
Detective Reyes, watching from the back, wonders if Dan is a disturbed young man. He exchanges a glance with Detective Barr. The service ends, and Reyes checks his phone—no news about the pickup truck they were looking for.
Rose Cutter, seated at the back, decides to slip away quietly rather than wait in line to speak to the family. She leaves the church without offering condolences.
Irena, the former nanny, hovers near the family as they receive guests. She is deeply disturbed by Dan's speech. Dan stands between his sisters, who have told him to say only “thank you for coming.” Irena feels exhausted and unsteady, as if standing on a precipice.
Dan then turns to Jake, who is beside Jenna, and loudly asks whether Jake was with Jenna all night on the night of the murders. Jake looks embarrassed and mumbles something. Dan smiles unpleasantly and accuses Jake of lying for Jenna. Irena notices that Detective Reyes is standing right beside her, listening. She watches in dismay as the family begins to turn on one another.
Jenna hisses at Dan to shut up, but Dan responds angrily, asking what she ever did for him. Lisa tries to coax Dan away, pulling on his sleeve. Dan spots Reyes and calls him over, waving. Reyes suggests they go outside, but Dan ignores him and speaks loudly, declaring that his sisters don't have alibis either. He points out that Ted lied for Catherine, and that Jake is likely lying for Jenna. He then reveals that both Catherine and Jenna knew about the disposable suits in his garage and could have taken one, since he rarely locks the garage. He suggests that either of them could have committed the murders, and that he himself is innocent.
The scene freezes as everyone in the church watches. Irena sees Audrey and her daughter on the periphery, Audrey smirking. Irena knows this family—they will turn on each other, as they always have. Photographers begin snapping pictures.
That evening, Reyes collapses into his armchair at home, exhausted. His wife tells him to rest. He reflects on the funeral and Dan's accusations. He considers whether Catherine or Jenna could have committed the murders, perhaps hoping to frame Dan and gain a larger inheritance. He recalls that Catherine lied about returning to the house that night. He also remembers Audrey's claim that Fred or Sheila had told one or more of the children about the plan to change the will in Audrey's favor. If true, who knew? Would losing half the estate be motive enough?
Reyes also thinks about Jenna and Jake. Jake is not a good liar. What really happened during the hour they were in the house with Fred and Sheila? Did they return and commit the murders together, or did Jenna act alone? For now, Jake is standing by her alibi. Reyes decides he must re-interview both sisters and also speak again with the former nanny, Irena, who probably knows the family better than anyone.
Key Events
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Dan delivers a eulogy that publicly describes his father as abusive and declares his own innocence.
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Catherine intervenes and escorts Dan back to the pew, while the congregation whispers.
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Detective Reyes observes Dan's behavior and questions his mental stability.
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Rose Cutter leaves the funeral early, avoiding the family.
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Dan confronts Jake about Jenna's alibi, then calls Detective Reyes over and accuses his sisters of having no alibis and knowing about the disposable suits.
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Irena watches the family turn on each other as photographers capture the scene.
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That evening, Reyes reflects on the funeral and decides to re-interview Catherine, Jenna, and Irena.
Character Development
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Dan Merton: Dan's eulogy reveals a deep-seated resentment toward his father and a desperate need to be heard. His public confession and subsequent accusations show a man unraveling, possibly unstable, and willing to implicate his own sisters to clear his name.
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Catherine Merton: Catherine's protective instinct toward Dan clashes with her fury at his outburst. She tries to maintain control of the family's public image, but her own lies about the night of the murder remain a point of suspicion.
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Irena: The former nanny observes the family's dysfunction with a sense of inevitability. Her exhaustion and vertigo suggest she is emotionally strained, and her knowledge of the family makes her a key figure for Reyes.
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Detective Reyes: Reyes is methodical and observant. He uses the funeral to gauge the family's dynamics and later weighs the plausibility of Dan's accusations, focusing on the sisters' motives and opportunities.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Public confession and reputation: Dan's eulogy shatters the family's carefully maintained facade, showing how secrets can explode in public settings.
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Family betrayal: The siblings turn on each other, with Dan openly accusing his sisters, highlighting the theme of fractured loyalty.
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Alibis and suspicion: The chapter emphasizes the fragility of alibis and how easily they can be questioned, driving the investigation forward.
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Inheritance motive: The possibility of a changed will and a larger share of the estate becomes a central motive for murder.
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Disposable suits as evidence: The suits in Dan's garage serve as a tangible link between the killer and the crime, and now become a point of contention among the siblings.
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Media scrutiny: Photographers capturing the family's discord underscores the public nature of the tragedy and the pressure it places on the characters.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal because it shifts suspicion among the siblings and provides Reyes with new leads. Dan's public accusations force the investigation to consider Catherine and Jenna more seriously, while also casting doubt on Dan's own mental state. The chapter also deepens the theme of family dysfunction and sets up the next round of interrogations. Reyes's decision to re-interview the sisters and Irena signals that the truth may be closer than anyone thinks.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Dan choose to reveal his father's abuse during the eulogy, and what effect does it have on the family?
Dan likely wants to expose the truth about his father and clear his own name, as he fears being suspected of the murders. The effect is immediate: the family's public image is shattered, Catherine is furious, and the siblings begin to turn on each other, giving the detectives more material to work with.
2. How does Detective Reyes interpret Dan's behavior and accusations?
Reyes wonders if Dan is disturbed, but he also takes the accusations seriously. He notes that both sisters had access to the disposable suits and lacked alibis, and he considers whether one of them might have killed the parents to frame Dan and gain a larger inheritance. This leads him to plan further interviews.
3. What role does Irena play in this chapter, and why is she important to the investigation?
Irena observes the family's breakdown with a sense of inevitability, knowing their patterns of betrayal. She is also present when Dan makes his accusations, and Reyes notices her discomfort. As the former nanny, she likely knows the family's secrets better than anyone, making her a valuable witness for Reyes to re-interview.