Chapter 26 (Chapter 21) Summary & 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 with Gary Soneji checking his watch at 3:30 p.m. after spending hours at the library. He plans to drive to his secret cabin in the Pine Barrens, making client visits along the way. He intends to shoot the Bulldog (a revolver) there and be ready to hunt for victims by sundown.
As he enters his black Saab, the car phone rings. It is his wife, Missy (Meredith Kasajian Murphy). She confronts him about not calling the night before. Soneji lies, claiming the motel’s pay phone was out. Missy points out he could have used the car phone, but Soneji argues about the cost—the phone was bought by his boss and brother-in-law Marty. Missy retorts that Marty can afford it for her peace of mind. Soneji sarcastically suggests she tell Marty that. After a silence, Missy asks when he is coming home; she and their two-year-old daughter Roni want to know. Soneji says he will be home Friday if he makes monthly quota. Missy says she will tell Marty to bring him home regardless. Soneji hangs up, wishing he could physically harm both Missy and Marty.
Soneji reflects bitterly on Marty. Marty inherited the family heating oil and propane business and acts as if he built it himself. He gave Soneji a job as a traveling salesman, not in computers. Soneji admits the job pays well and allows him time to play hooky. He has been using this time to develop a fake identity as a private school teacher, studying elite children and fantasizing about kidnapping them.
The chapter ends with Soneji turning his attention to more important matters: where to find his next victims.
Key Events
- Soneji leaves the library at 3:30 p.m. with plans to go to his secret Pine Barrens cabin.
- He receives a call from his wife Missy, who angrily demands to know why he didn’t call.
- He lies about the broken pay phone and mentions the expense of the car phone.
- Missy insists Marty can afford the expense for her peace of mind.
- Soneji promises to be home Friday if he meets his sales quota.
- After hanging up, Soneji fantasizes about slapping Missy and kicking Marty.
- He resents Marty’s inherited success and his own demeaning traveling salesman role.
- He reveals his salesman job provides cover for a private-school-teacher identity used to study children for kidnapping.
- Soneji shifts his thoughts to planning his next hunt.
Character Development
Gary Soneji displays ever-deeper pathology. His anger is barely controlled; he reacts to a minor marital spat with violent fantasies. His resentment of Marty extends to class envy—Marty inherited wealth while Soneji works a job he finds humiliating. Yet Soneji is cunning: he uses his job to enable his darker desires. The private-school-teacher persona shows a calculated effort to gain access to vulnerable targets. This chapter makes clear that Soneji’s evil is not impulsive but premeditated.
Missy is portrayed as a wife seeking connection and reassurance. She uses Marty’s resources to pressure Soneji, revealing underlying tension in their marriage. Marty remains offstage but looms as a symbol of inherited privilege that Soneji despises.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Deception and Double Life: Soneji’s entire salesman identity is a facade for his predatory plans. He lies effortlessly to Missy and manipulates his work schedule.
- Class Resentment: Soneji’s hatred of Marty is rooted in Marty’s unearned success. This resentment fuels his rage and his desire to take what he wants (including children).
- Predator as Worker: The chapter likens Soneji’s hunting to a job: he makes “client visits,” checks his “secret cabin,” and plans to be “hunting for targets by sundown.” He treats kidnapping as a systematic, career-like pursuit.
- The Bulldog: The revolver Soneji plans to shoot at the cabin suggests violence and preparation. It is a tool of his trade.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 21 is pivotal because it lays bare Soneji’s true motivation and his modus operandi. For the first time, we learn his job is a cover for stalking kids, and his anger at his family situation feeds his need to dominate and take. This chapter also establishes the “hunting” framework that will guide his future actions. It deepens our understanding of Soneji as a calculating, bitterly resentful predator, setting the stage for his next crime.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Soneji resent his brother-in-law Marty?
Marty inherited a successful business but acts like a self-made entrepreneur. He gave Soneji a job as a traveling salesman, a role Soneji finds beneath his skills, especially in computers. Soneji sees Marty as undeserving of his wealth and status. -
How does Soneji use his salesman job for his own purposes?
The job provides flexible time and travel, which Soneji uses to play hooky and try out a fake identity as a private school teacher. This identity allows him to observe and study elite children and fantasize about kidnapping them. -
What does Soneji’s reaction to his wife’s phone call reveal about his character?
His immediate anger and violent fantasies (wanting to slap Missy and kick Marty) show that he is volatile and lacks genuine affection. He lies habitually and sees his family as obstacles rather than loved ones. This call also highlights his contempt for the ordinary world he pretends to inhabit.
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