Chapter 15: Martin Kehoe's Disturbing Account of Paul O'Brien

Spoiler Warning: This summary and analysis contains plot details from Chapter 15 of Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman. If you haven't read the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Milo and Alex meet Martin Kehoe at a seedy bar on the Sunset Strip at 8:50 a.m. Kehoe initially tries to back out of the interview, explaining that his girlfriend Caitlin warned him that coming forward could make him a suspect. Milo reassures him and Kehoe eventually agrees to talk. Kehoe reveals that he and Paul O'Brien were roommates about two years ago in a Culver City sublet. O'Brien owed him nearly $1,800 in small loans. Kehoe describes O'Brien's behavior with women he met while working club doors. Several times Kehoe witnessed O'Brien bringing unconscious women home and later carrying them out in the middle of the night. When confronted, O'Brien claimed the women were merely asleep after sex. Kehoe suspected OBrien drugged them, but never reported his concerns. Milo shows Kehoe a photo of Jamarcus Parmenter, but Kehoe does not recognize him. The interview ends with Milo satisfied with the information, and Alex heads off to his paying job.

Key Events

Milo and Alex arrive at the Tidy Tavern on Sunset Boulevard just before 9 a.m. to meet Martin Kehoe.
Kehoe initially refuses to talk, citing Caitlin's warning that witnesses can become suspects.
After Milo's reassurance, Kehoe agrees and describes living with Paul O'Brien four years ago and leaving two years ago.
Kehoe reveals O'Brien borrowed money often, totaling $1,785, and never repaid a cent.
Kehoe recalls that O'Brien regularly brought women home from clubs and sometimes carried them out unconscious, claiming they were just asleep after sex.
Kehoe confronted O'Brien once about where he took the women; O'Brien got aggressive but backed down when Kehoe stood his ground.
Kehoe estimates that over two years, O'Brien carried out about twelve to fifteen unconscious women.
O'Brien never had repeat visitors from those incidents and never had a girlfriend, calling relationships "cancer."
O'Brien mentioned a past marriage to someone he called "The Bitch," but Kehoe knows no other details.
Milo shows Kehoe a photo of Jamarcus Parmenter; Kehoe does not recognize him but notes he could be a club acquaintance.
Milo and Alex leave the bar after Kehoe has nothing more to add.

Character Development

Milo Sturgis: Demonstrates patient, non-confrontational interviewing. He deflects Kehoe's fears by validating his moral character and explaining that only people who insert themselves into investigations become suspects. Milo's question about racial preference shows he is considering whether O'Brien targeted women of a specific race, possibly linking to Keisha or another victim.
Alex Delaware: Acts primarily as an observer and occasional questioner, using his psychology background to frame questions (e.g., asking if Paul "came on too strong" and if the women "didn't just look asleep"). Alex's presence helps keep the conversation moving.
Martin Kehoe: Portrayed as a decent but fearful man. He is physically large but socially diffident, aging quickly, and haunted by guilt over not intervening when O'Brien carried out unconscious women. He lives modestly, works multiple jobs, and has a supportive girlfriend who is suspicious of police. His emotional honesty about his regrets makes him a sympathetic figure.
Paul O'Brien (mentioned): Through Kehoe's testimony, O'Brien emerges as a predatory, manipulative man who used loans and club access to drug and assault women. He laughed frequently at inappropriate times, avoided personal connections, and boasted about his sexual exploits.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Bystander guilt and moral complicity: Kehoe openly wrestles with his failure to act when he saw O'Brien carrying unconscious women. He fears he contributed to O'Brien's crimes by lending money and staying silent.
Predatory sexual violence: O'Brien's pattern of drugging unconscious women from clubs is a clear motif of sexual predation. The chapter implies that he may have escalated to murder, connecting to the larger investigation.
The seedy underbelly of LA's nightlife: The Tidy Tavern is described as dingy and unwelcoming in daylight, symbolizing the hidden dangers behind the glamour of the Strip. The panhandler Clayton and the cheap bar reinforce a world where exploitation is normalized.
Deception and self-protection: Kehoe's initial reluctance and his girlfriend's caution reflect a theme of distrust toward law enforcement, especially in communities where coming forward can backfire.
The "Dad Look" and aging: Kehoe's premature aging and self-consciousness about his appearance contrast with O'Brien's crude confidence, highlighting the different ways men navigate masculinity and power.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter provides the most concrete evidence so far of Paul O'Brien's predatory habits. Kehoe's detailed account confirms that O'Brien regularly drugged and transported unconscious women, establishing a criminal pattern that may have led to murder. The interview also introduces the possibility that O'Brien's prior behavior is connected to the homicide of Jamarcus Parmenter or to the victim that started the investigation. Kehoe's moral struggle adds emotional depth, reminding readers that fear and guilt can keep witnesses silent and that solving such cases requires patience and trust-building.

Study Questions and Answers

What specific behavior did Martin Kehoe witness Paul O'Brien engage in that suggested he was drugging women?
Kehoe saw O'Brien bring women home from clubs who appeared unconscious, not merely asleep. O'Brien would carry them in and later carry them out in the middle of the night. When Kehoe asked, O'Brien laughed and claimed the women were just sleeping after sex, but Kehoe knew that sexual activity does not cause that level of unconsciousness.
Why was Martin Kehoe initially reluctant to talk to Milo, and what did his girlfriend Caitlin advise him?
Caitlin told Kehoe that even well-intentioned witnesses can become suspects, as she learned from true-crime shows and internet articles. Kehoe feared that his past silence about O'Brien's behavior could make him culpable, especially if one of the women was later murdered.
How does the chapter use the character of Martin Kehoe to explore the theme of bystander guilt?
Kehoe openly admits that he should have done more when he saw O'Brien carrying unconscious women. He now worries that his loans helped O'Brien buy drugs. His guilt is compounded by the realization that he prioritized his own comfort over intervening, a common dilemma for bystanders. Milo's reassurance that Kehoe has no criminal culpability does not fully relieve Kehoe's moral distress, highlighting the lasting psychological weight of inaction.