Chapter summaries Open Season Jonathan Kellerman

Chapter 27 (28) – Suspicion and Dead Ends

Spoiler Warning: This summary and analysis contains key plot points from Chapter 28 of Open Season. Read on only if you are prepared to learn major developments.

Summary

Alex Delaware, with his workday finished and feeling restless, drives to the Boykins residence in Beverly Hills. He notices the security guard has changed: the orange Camaro and Walt Swanson are gone, replaced by a black Mustang GT and a huge, black-suited guard whom Alex dubs “Ham.” He sees Kiki Boykins speaking briefly to the guard before returning inside. Speculating about Swanson’s departure, Alex wonders if Swanson was fired (as Gerald Boykins was angry about their earlier easy entry) or if Swanson took on a private assignment after Milo and Alex asked questions. He theorizes that Boykins might have paid Swanson to kill Jamarcus Parmenter and Paul O’Brien to protect Keisha Boykins. Alex also considers the possibility that Jay Sterling hired Swanson to murder Whitney Sterling for custody of Jarrod. Back home, he searches online and even the dark web for Swanson, finding nothing. He calls Milo Sturgis, who investigates Swanson’s background: twenty‑one years on the Venice police force, ending with a desk job after a motorcycle accident; no excessive‑force complaints; now working private security but apparently fired by Pacific Security. Milo reports that other leads (parking‑ticket alibis, pay‑lot searches) have gone nowhere, and the two agree to meet the next day.

Key Events

  • Alex drives past the Boykins house and sees the new imposing security guard.
  • He watches Kiki Boykins talk to the guard briefly before going back inside.
  • Alex speculates that Walt Swanson may have been fired or may be moonlighting as a hitman for the Boykinses.
  • He considers Swanson as the possible killer of both Jamarcus Parmenter and Paul O’Brien, motivated by protecting Keisha.
  • He also considers Jay Sterling’s possible role in hiring Swanson to kill Whitney.
  • Alex fails to find any online information about Swanson.
  • Milo calls back with Swanson’s police record: clean, with no excessive force complaints.
  • Milo confirms that Swanson no longer works for Pacific Security and that other investigation threads have dried up.
  • Milo and Alex plan to meet the next day.

Character Development

  • Alex Delaware
    Restless without a case to work, he actively pursues leads on his own. His suspicion shifts from Gerald Boykins to Swanson as a potential contract killer. He is self‑aware enough to worry that his theories might be wishful thinking to absolve himself of earlier choices.

  • Milo Sturgis
    Thorough and pragmatic, he quickly uncovers Swanson’s clean record but admits the investigation has stalled. His dry humor (“a meeting” as a coping mechanism) shows his weariness with dead ends.

  • Kiki Boykins
    Appears again, speaking calmly to the new guard. Her brief, business‑like interaction hints that she is involved in household security.

  • Walt Swanson
    Remains offstage, but his background is fleshed out: long police service, no disciplinary issues, now fired from his security job. The lack of online presence deepens the mystery.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Suspicion and Professional Distance
    Alex’s drive‑by observations and his dark‑web search highlight the gap between amateur curiosity and professional investigation.

  • Protecting the Vulnerable
    The motive Alex ascribes to Boykins—protecting Keisha from O’Brien—echoes earlier themes of guardianship.

  • The Hidden Past
    Swanson’s spotless record and sudden disappearance suggest a life deliberately kept off the grid, fitting the motif of characters whose histories are concealed.

  • Dead Ends and Uncertainty
    The chapter ends with multiple leads exhausted (“less‑than‑zero”), reinforcing the novel’s atmosphere of accumulating questions.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter pivots the investigation from Gerald Boykins to Walt Swanson as a possible professional killer. It provides concrete background on Swanson while also confirming that the official inquiries (parking tickets, pay lots) have stalled. Alex’s internal debate about jumping to conclusions shows his growing self‑awareness. The meeting Milo sets up promises to advance the plot, making this a bridge chapter that deepens the mystery.

Study Questions

  1. Why does Alex drive to the Boykins house, and what does he observe there?
    Alex feels restless after finishing his workday. At the Boykins house, he sees that Walt Swanson has been replaced by a large, black‑suited guard. He watches Kiki Boykins speak to the guard briefly but finds no immediate evidence.

  2. What does Milo discover about Walt Swanson’s background?
    Milo learns Swanson worked twenty‑one years for the Venice police, ending with a desk job after a motorcycle accident. He had no excessive‑force complaints and received commendations. He was recently fired from a private security firm called Pacific Security.

  3. How does Alex’s theory about Swanson change during this chapter?
    Initially, Alex speculates Swanson might have been fired because of the earlier security breach. He then considers that Boykins may have hired Swanson to kill Parmenter and O’Brien, or that Jay Sterling hired Swanson to kill Whitney. Milo’s report keeps the theory alive but unconfirmed.

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