Open Season Chapter 18: Exploring Connections and a Private Meeting

Spoiler Notice: This page contains detailed discussion of events from Chapter 18 of Open Season. If you have not yet read the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

After leaving Whitney’s mother, Milo and Alex discuss the case in the car. Milo observes the mother’s harsh treatment of Whitney, and Alex suggests Whitney may have been escaping more than just conflict with Sterling—possibly also her mother’s controlling influence. They speculate about a possible link between Sterling and Boykins, both wealthy men who might have hired the same shooter. Milo mentions checking the dark web but dismisses it as mostly scams. Alex receives a call from Lee Falkenburg, who insists on meeting privately rather than speaking over the phone. Back home, Alex interacts with Robin and their dog Blanche before driving to UCLA to meet Lee.

Key Events

• Milo and Alex drive away from Whitney’s mother’s home, discussing her abrasive personality.
• Alex posits that Whitney’s mother may have driven Whitney away, similar to how Sterling’s need to control may have pushed her.
• Milo and Alex explore the idea that Sterling and Boykins, though in different industries, might have used the same hit man if they knew each other professionally.
• Milo dismisses the dark web as a reliable source for hit men, citing a case where a man was scammed then shot his wife himself.
• Alex receives a phone message from Lee Falkenburg and returns the call; Lee insists on a private in-person meeting.
• Alex goes home, finds Robin working on a guitar restringing, and Blanche the dog sleeping soundly after a walk.
• After a brief conversation with Robin, Alex leaves to meet Lee at a parking area near UCLA.

Character Development

• Milo Sturgis demonstrates persistence and creative thinking by linking the two cases through a possible shared hit man, showing his willingness to follow unconventional leads.
• Alex Delaware remains the analytical observer, connecting the mother’s hostility to Whitney’s possible desire to escape. His curiosity is piqued by Lee’s call, hinting at his readiness to engage with new information.
• Lee Falkenburg appears only through a phone call, but her insistence on meeting in private suggests she holds sensitive information that cannot be discussed over the phone—a sign of either danger or confidentiality.
• Robin Castagna is shown absorbed in her work, yet she remains affectionate and supportive, providing a brief moment of normalcy in Alex’s day.
• Blanche the dog is portrayed as content and lazy, adding a touch of domestic comfort that contrasts with the case’s tension.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

• Escape and Control: The conversation about Whitney’s mother and Sterling highlights how individuals may seek to escape oppressive relationships—whether with a spouse or a parent.
• The Dark Web as Illusion: Milo’s dismissal of the dark web as a source for hit men reinforces a theme of empty threats and scams, contrasting with the real danger of personal violence.
• Professional vs. Personal Boundaries: Lee’s request for a private meeting rather than a phone call underscores the blurred lines between Alex’s professional life as a psychologist and the personal risk of the case.
• Interruption and Comfort: The brief, peaceful scene with Robin and Blanche serves as a calm interlude before Alex is drawn back into the investigation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the investigation by connecting two separate suspects through a possible common hit man, showing Milo’s deductive progress. It also introduces a new source of tension with Lee Falkenburg’s secretive request, which promises to reveal crucial information. Additionally, the domestic scene with Robin provides a grounding moment that emphasizes the high stakes of Alex’s involvement in the case.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Milo dismiss the dark web as a source for professional hit men?
Milo cites a real case where a man paid bitcoins to a dark web site to kill his wife but received nothing; he then killed her himself and left evidence. This demonstrates that dark web hit man services are usually scams that take money without delivering.

2. What possible link between Sterling and Boykins does Milo suggest?
Milo suggests that because both men are executives—one in music (Boykins) and one in fashion (Sterling)—they might have known each other through business dealings (e.g., Sterling dressing dancers for Boykins’s videos) and could have hired the same shooter after sharing frustrations.

3. Why does Lee Falkenburg insist on meeting Alex in private instead of talking on the phone?
Lee’s insistence suggests she possesses sensitive information that she cannot trust to phone lines, possibly because she fears surveillance or because the information is too dangerous to convey without visual confirmation. It also raises the stakes for the upcoming meeting.