Chapter 18 Summary 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.
Summary
Andrew returns to Professor Troth's office, where she returns Eddie's ring and hands him a folder containing her mentoring notes and Eddie's own research on the Fulton family history. She proposes that Andrew take over Eddie's folklore project, offering co-authorship on a publication. Andrew quickly recognizes that Troth's interest is not purely altruistic; she sees an opportunity to co-opt a student's labor to advance her own academic career. He notes that she had known Eddie for less than six months, so loyalty to the Fulton legacy seems unlikely to drive her persistence. Instead, the chance to publish from Eddie's fieldwork appeals to her.
While reviewing the folder, Andrew discovers that Eddie's field interview notes are missing. Troth confirms she does not have them, and they both realize that a full semester's worth of interviews and audio recordings are unaccounted for. Together, they compile a list of six potential interview subjects from Troth's records, including an elderly couple, Rob and Lisa McCormick, and a name Eric Middleton. Troth recalls that Eddie was excited about a recent discovery at the dinner party where he left his ring, but she never learned what it was. Andrew leaves with the folder and a Post-It note of names, feeling that he is now retracing Eddie's steps.
Outside, he checks his phone and sees missed calls and a text from Riley asking him to call. He texts Sam asking if she knows any of the names, but receives no response. He returns to Capitol, where he finds Riley and Del waiting. Riley quickly leaves, and Del confronts Andrew about their shared history, the tattoos they all got together, and Eddie's death. She explains that she came to say goodbye, acknowledging that she had lost Andrew to Eddie once and now needs closure for herself. She criticizes Andrew for never truly caring about her except as a conduit for his feelings, and she leaves after stating her purpose.
Key Events
- Troth returns Eddie's ring and gives Andrew a folder with her mentoring notes and Eddie's Fulton family research. - Troth proposes Andrew continue Eddie's folklore project, offering co-authorship; Andrew sees her self-serving motive. - Andrew discovers Eddie's field interview notes are missing; Troth confirms she lacks them. - They compile a list of six potential interview subjects, including Rob and Lisa McCormick and Eric Middleton. - Troth mentions Eddie's excitement about a recent discovery at the dinner party where he left his ring. - Andrew texts Sam about the names but gets no response. - Del confronts Andrew at Capitol, discussing their past relationship, the tattoos, and Eddie's death, and says she came to say goodbye.
Character Development
Andrew continues to evolve from a passive mourner into an active investigator. He consciously decides to use Troth's academic interest for his own ends, acknowledging that they are both exploiting each other. His internal monologue reveals a growing suspicion that Eddie's research may hold clues to his death, and he becomes more determined to retrace Eddie's steps. The missing field notes become a central obsession, and he begins to see the investigation as a tightrope walk.
Professor Troth is revealed as a pragmatic academic who is willing to co-opt a deceased student's work to further her own career. She admits her motives are not purely altruistic, and she shows a calculating side when she closes the door to discuss the missing notes. Her interest in the folklore is genuine, but her primary concern is publishable material.
Del's appearance provides a stark contrast to Andrew's current life. She represents a past that Andrew and Eddie shared, and her confrontation forces Andrew to confront the ways he and Eddie excluded her. Her decision to say goodbye is a form of closure for herself, and she articulates the pain of being left out of their intimate bond. This scene deepens Andrew's understanding of the consequences of his and Eddie's relationship.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Missing field notes symbolize the lost knowledge and secrets that Eddie took to his grave. They also represent the incomplete picture Andrew must reconstruct. - The tattoo serves as a symbol of connection and exclusion. Del points out that the tattoo marked Andrew as Eddie's, but she was never given one, highlighting the exclusivity of their bond. - Academic exploitation is a central theme, as Troth seeks to profit from Eddie's work and Andrew uses her in return. - Retracing steps becomes a motif as Andrew must piece together Eddie's research and movements to uncover the truth. - Secrets and self-discovery are evident as Andrew realizes Eddie was using folklore to explain his own secrets, not just academic interest.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter advances the central mystery by introducing a concrete list of potential witnesses and confirming that Eddie's field notes are missing, suggesting they may have been stolen or hidden. It also deepens Andrew's characterization as he becomes more manipulative and focused on his investigation. The confrontation with Del adds emotional weight, forcing Andrew to reflect on his past and the cost of his relationship with Eddie. Troth's proposal sets up a potential collaboration that will likely lead Andrew into dangerous territory as he follows Eddie's leads.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Andrew decide to accept Troth's offer to continue Eddie's project, despite recognizing her self-serving motives?
Andrew sees the project as a way to access Eddie's research and retrace his steps. He needs the list of interview subjects and Troth's knowledge to find out what Eddie discovered. He also acknowledges that they are using each other, but he is willing to exploit that for his own ends.
- What does Del's confrontation reveal about the nature of Andrew and Eddie's relationship with her?
Del reveals that she felt excluded from the intimate bond between Andrew and Eddie. The tattoo, which they shared but did not give her, symbolized their exclusivity. She felt used as a conduit for their feelings rather than as an equal partner. Her decision to say goodbye is a final acknowledgment that she was never truly part of their inner circle.
- How does the missing field notes motif contribute to the novel's mystery?
The missing notes represent the crucial evidence that could explain Eddie's death. They are tied to the phone and audio recordings that are also absent. Their disappearance suggests that someone may have taken them, possibly to hide a discovery Eddie made. Andrew's search for them drives the plot forward and connects the academic investigation to the murder mystery.