Chapter 45 Summary: Investigations and Family Tensions
⚠️ 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
Livvy phones her mother, Shannon, after learning that Shannon threatened a security guard and demanded that Traci Eddings fire Livvy. Shannon insists she is only trying to protect her daughter, citing Parrish’s death as proof of danger. Livvy counters that her mother’s behavior is humiliating and warns that she will block all contact if Shannon repeats such actions. That evening, Livvy pulls Felice into her dorm room and reveals that the medical examiner found alcohol, marijuana, and fentanyl in Parrish’s system. Livvy declares that Parrish was murdered and that she intends to find the killer, despite Felice’s initial reluctance. To entice Felice, Livvy mentions the $50,000 reward Traci Eddings has offered. Livvy then shows Felice the blue notebook—Parrish’s “bitch book”—which contains cryptic notes about guest complaints and inventory discrepancies. Felice recognizes a classic liquor scam: substituting well spirits for premium brands and charging top-shelf prices. Livvy adds that similar wine-taste issues have surfaced at the Verandah. Over bowls of ramen Felice prepares, Livvy shares that she has never known her father; Shannon became pregnant while working as a lifeguard at the Saint years ago, and a childhood drowning incident led to Shannon’s firing and lasting bitterness toward the Eddings family. Livvy theorizes that Parrish was killed because she was uncovering shady dealings at the hotel. The two friends divide investigative tasks: Livvy will probe the pro-shop inventory and the mattress mystery, while Felice looks into liquor, wine, and vendor fraud. Felice hesitates but ultimately agrees they are a team.
Key Events
- Livvy confronts Shannon over her disruptive visit to the Saint and threatens to cut off contact.
- The medical examiner’s report confirms fentanyl, alcohol, and marijuana in Parrish’s system.
- Livvy tells Felice that Parrish’s death was not accidental and that she wants to investigate.
- Felice is won over partly by the $50,000 reward offered by Traci Eddings.
- Livvy retrieves Parrish’s notebook, and Felice identifies a liquor-substitution scheme.
- They discuss possible fraud with wine, seafood, and meat vendors at the hotel.
- Livvy reveals she never knew her father and explains her mother’s past at the Saint.
- Livvy and Felice assign themselves specific areas to investigate.
Character Development
Livvy shows newfound assertiveness by standing up to her mother and setting a firm boundary. She also demonstrates trust in Felice by sharing the notebook and her personal history. Her determination to solve Parrish’s murder marks a shift from passive employee to active investigator. Felice exhibits skepticism at first but is drawn in by both the reward and her loyalty to Livvy. Her culinary skills and restaurant background provide practical investigative insight. Shannon, though not present in person, is portrayed as overprotective and unwilling to let go of past grievances, which drives a wedge between her and Livvy.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Mother-daughter conflict dominates the opening scene, as Livvy struggles to assert independence from a mother who conflates love with surveillance. Amateur sleuthing emerges as a central motif: Livvy and Felice take on roles traditionally handled by police, using Parrish’s notebook as a map. Corruption beneath the surface is suggested by the liquor and vendor scams, hinting that the hotel’s glamour hides systemic dishonesty. The ramen meal symbolizes resourcefulness and intimacy—Felice transforms cheap ingredients into comfort, mirroring how the two friends turn limited information into a plan.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter officially launches the duo’s investigation, transforming Livvy from a grieving coworker into a purposeful amateur detective. It also deepens Livvy’s backstory by revealing her unknown father and her mother’s traumatic past at the Saint, which explains Shannon’s hostility. The liquor scam and vendor fraud introduce plausible motives for Parrish’s murder, connecting her death to larger criminal activity at the hotel. The reward offer raises the stakes and cements Felice’s commitment.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Livvy threaten to cut off her mother?
Shannon came to Livvy’s workplace, threatened a security guard, and tried to get Livvy fired. Livvy feels humiliated and believes her mother’s overprotectiveness is controlling and unhealthy. She gives Shannon an ultimatum: stop the interference or lose contact.
2. What evidence convinces Livvy that Parrish was murdered?
The medical examiner found fentanyl in Parrish’s system alongside alcohol and marijuana. Livvy argues that fentanyl is not a recreational drug likely to be taken voluntarily at a beach party, and she suspects someone deliberately administered it.
3. What tasks do Livvy and Felice assign to themselves?
Livvy will investigate the pro-shop inventory and the “mattress thing” mentioned in Parrish’s notes. Felice will look into the liquor and wine substitution scheme and check the quality of seafood and meat vendors who are charging premium prices for subpar product.