Chapter 29 Summary: Naomi's Chapter — Key Events and 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.
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Summary
The chapter opens on a Friday night in January 2023, four months before Naomi's death. She is alone in her dorm room, working at her desk, researching a list of Greystone alumni connected to the Hunt scandal to see if any of them are linked to Lila Jones. Naomi has been helping Amy with this investigation all week—reading articles, conducting “informational interviews” with alumni—and the effort has left her exhausted and increasingly paranoid. She fears that the people they are investigating will discover what she and Amy are doing, and that they might even be listening to their conversations.
Seeking a distraction, Naomi texts Liam to ask if he wants to get dinner, but he does not reply. Rather than wait, she decides to go for a run despite the freezing cold and deep snow. As she runs, she tries to clear her mind, focusing on her breathing and the physical exertion. But her thoughts keep returning to the investigation and, more painfully, to her failed attempt to talk to her sister that morning.
The narrative shifts to a flashback of that phone call. Naomi had called Maya hoping to ask her about Lila Jones, but the question got stuck in her throat. Maya has always refused to discuss Greystone, and Naomi has never told her that she is a member of the same secret society. Naomi instead invites Maya to stay after the BAC show for a late dinner, hoping to create an opportunity to talk. But Maya is distracted, dealing with her children Dani and Nate in the background. She mentions Cecily and the Hunt internship, which Naomi has already turned down after learning about the Times investigation. Naomi wants to confess her fear and ask for help, but she cannot bring herself to do it. The call ends abruptly when Dani has a meltdown, and Maya hangs up without saying goodbye.
Back in the present, Naomi slows to a walk, her lungs raw from the cold. She notices that a thick fog has rolled in, obscuring her vision and making her feel uneasy. She hears a rustling sound and stops, convinced someone is watching her. Her heart races, but she sees only a squirrel emerge from the bushes. She laughs nervously, telling herself she is being paranoid. She continues running, but the feeling persists. She hears footsteps behind her, turns, and sees no one. Then, near the bridge, she catches a glimpse of a shadowy figure on the path. She shouts, but the figure slips away into the trees. Terrified, she sprints back to campus. After catching her breath, she looks back and wonders if she imagined the whole thing.
Key Events
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Naomi works alone at her desk, researching Greystone alumni connected to Lila Jones, and grows paranoid about being discovered.
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She texts Liam for dinner, but he doesn't respond, so she goes for a run in the snow.
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In a flashback, she calls her sister Maya, hoping to ask about Lila, but instead invites her to stay after a BAC show.
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Maya is distracted and distant, mentioning Cecily and the Hunt internship, which Naomi has already turned down.
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Naomi fails to confide in Maya, and the call ends abruptly.
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During her run, Naomi hears rustling and sees a squirrel, but then hears footsteps and spots a shadowy figure on the path.
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She sprints back to campus, unsettled and unsure if she imagined the threat.
Character Development
This chapter deepens our understanding of Naomi's psychological state in the months before her death. She is clearly under immense stress, both from the investigation and from her strained relationship with her sister. Her paranoia is palpable—she believes she is being watched, and she cannot shake the feeling that her actions have put her in danger. The chapter also reveals her isolation: she is alone in her dorm, her friends are out, and she cannot turn to her sister for support.
Naomi's relationship with Maya is a central focus. She desperately wants to ask Maya about Lila, but she is held back by years of unspoken secrets and Maya's refusal to discuss Greystone. Naomi's internal conflict is evident: she wants to be close to her sister, but she also fears Maya's reaction—the alarm, the questions, the possibility that Maya might try to stop her. This tension highlights Naomi's vulnerability and her inability to bridge the gap between them.
The chapter also shows Naomi's decisiveness in turning down the Hunt internship. She has already made a moral choice to distance herself from the fund, even though she hasn't told Maya. This decision adds to her sense of isolation, as she is carrying a secret that further separates her from her family.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Paranoia and Surveillance: Naomi's fear of being watched is a dominant theme. She believes that “they” might be listening to her conversations, and her run is punctuated by sounds and shadows that feed her anxiety. This paranoia reflects the broader atmosphere of secrecy and danger surrounding the investigation.
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Isolation and Vulnerability: Naomi is physically alone throughout the chapter—in her dorm, on the run, and in her inability to confide in Maya. The cold, snowy landscape and the thick fog emphasize her isolation and the sense that danger is closing in.
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Family Secrets and Estrangement: The phone call with Maya reveals the deep rift between the sisters. Naomi's inability to ask about Lila stems from years of unspoken truths, and the chapter underscores how secrets can create barriers even between loved ones.
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The Fog as a Symbol: The fog that surrounds Naomi on her run obscures her vision and heightens her unease. It symbolizes the hidden dangers and the unclear path ahead, as well as the way secrets cloud judgment and perception.
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The Hunt Internship as a Moral Choice: Naomi's decision to turn down the internship, though not fully explained here, signals her growing awareness of the corruption within the Hunt fund and her desire to distance herself from it. This choice adds to her sense of being an outsider.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is crucial for understanding Naomi's state of mind in the months leading up to her death. It establishes her as a deeply anxious and isolated figure, already entangled in an investigation that she fears will have consequences. The chapter also foreshadows the danger that will ultimately claim her life—the shadowy figure on the path suggests that she is being followed, and her paranoia may be justified.
Moreover, the chapter deepens the mystery surrounding Lila Jones by showing Naomi's active research into the Greystone alumni connection. It also highlights the strained relationship between Naomi and Maya, which will likely become significant as the story unfolds. Naomi's failure to confide in her sister is a missed opportunity that may have tragic implications.
Finally, the chapter reinforces the novel's themes of secrecy, surveillance, and the cost of uncovering hidden truths. Naomi's fear is not unfounded; the reader senses that her investigation is putting her in real danger, and this chapter raises the stakes for the rest of the narrative.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Naomi decide to go for a run instead of waiting for Liam's response?
- Naomi is feeling overwhelmed by the investigation and her failed phone call with Maya. She wants to escape her thoughts and the pressure of her work. Running gives her a physical outlet and a way to momentarily forget her worries, even though the cold and the fog soon make her feel more anxious.
- What prevents Naomi from asking Maya about Lila Jones during their phone call?
- Naomi is held back by years of unspoken secrets. Maya has always refused to discuss Greystone, and Naomi has never told her that she is a member. Naomi also fears Maya's reaction—she imagines Maya's alarm and the questions she would ask. She is not ready to reveal her involvement or to risk being stopped.
- How does the chapter use the setting to reflect Naomi's emotional state?
- The cold, snowy landscape and the thick fog mirror Naomi's isolation and confusion. The fog obscures her vision, making her feel vulnerable and uncertain, just as her investigation and family secrets obscure her judgment. The empty path and the shadowy figure amplify her paranoia, suggesting that danger is lurking just out of sight.