Swan Song Chapter 29: Thursday, August 22, 10:05 P.M. Summary & Analysis

Spoiler Notice: This chapter summary contains details from Chapter 29 of Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand. If you haven't read this chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

At 10:05 P.M. on Thursday, August 22, Chief Ed Kapenash and Detective Zara find Bull standing alone near the fire department’s barricade, his eyes red and watery. The Chief has no personal grudge against Bull but admits he never fully trusted him—unlike Addison, who went into business with Bull. The Chief begins questioning Bull about Coco, who lives in an apartment above the garage.

Bull insists he treated Coco well and finds it hard to believe she set the fire and disappeared. Zara presses about Bull’s personal relationship with Coco. Bull claims they were just friends, but the Chief notes that Leslee believes Coco had feelings for him. Bull denies this, saying Coco occasionally visited his office to talk, mostly about ensuring she wasn’t building resentments. He admits he may be “clueless” about the women in his life.

The Chief recalls the hot-tub party and feels uneasy. He asks directly what was going on between Bull and Coco. Bull reveals that a few weeks ago Coco gave him a screenplay she had written, hoping he would help produce it. Bull thinks Coco may have manipulated them by accepting the job to get close to him. He read the script but found it not viable and couldn’t pass it on. Coco tried to persuade him, possibly using sexual implications, but Bull rejected her. She left his office in tears.

Zara then asks if Bull knows Coco is in a relationship with Lamont Oakley since the Fourth of July. Bull says he didn’t know. Zara implies Leslee would be unhappy because she is fond of Lamont and likes to exert power over men. Chief and Zara discuss the rivalry between Coco and Leslee over Bull or Lamont. Bull thinks the vow renewal—which Coco herself helped plan—pushed Coco over the edge, though he says Coco seemed excited about it earlier.

The Chief decides to send home most guests except Lamont and his daughter. Bull sadly agrees, remarking that everyone else is a “total stranger.” After stepping away, the Chief receives a text from Lucy Shields: no one matching Coco’s description was on the last ferry. Coco has now been missing for over two hours.

Chief and Zara debate possibilities: Coco may have set the fire and then jumped off the boat, or Leslee might have pushed her upon hearing the fire news, or it could be an accident involving the unreliable back gate. As they walk past the ashes, they see Lamont speeding away in the Richardsons’ motorboat to search for Coco. Zara comments, “He loves her.”

Key Events

Chief and Zara interview Bull near the fire barricade.
Bull reveals Coco gave him a screenplay that he rejected, causing her to cry.
Bull admits Coco may have used her job to get close to him.
Zara asks about Coco’s relationship with Lamont; Bull was unaware.
Chief receives text confirming Coco was not on the last ferry.
Chief and Zara weigh possibilities: jump, push, or accident.
Lamont takes a motorboat to search for Coco.

Character Development

Chief Ed Kapenash: Remains observant and skeptical; he notes his own unease around Bull and reflects on past events like the hot-tub party. He balances duty with personal worry for his daughter’s involvement.
Zara: Shows sharp investigative instincts, pressing Bull on Coco’s relationships and motives. She empathizes with Lamont’s desperate search.
Bull: Presents himself as a reasonable employer but reveals a lack of awareness about the emotional dynamics around him—he calls himself “clueless” about women. His honesty about the screenplay rejection and his discomfort with Leslee’s power adds complexity.
Coco (absent): Motives become clearer: she was rejected professionally and personally, had a secret relationship with Lamont, and may have felt trapped between Bull and Leslee.
Lamont (brief appearance): Acts on impulse and love, racing off in a motorboat to find Coco, demonstrating his commitment.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Manipulation and Ambition: Bull’s belief that Coco “manipulated” them for career advancement echoes earlier themes of ambition driving behavior. The screenplay becomes a symbol of her artistic aspirations and the commodification of creative work.
Secrecy and Hidden Relationships: Coco’s relationship with Lamont was unknown to Bull, and Leslee’s rivalry with Coco remains under the surface. These secrets complicate the investigation.
Power Dynamics in Marriage: Bull’s comment about Leslee liking to “exert power over every man in her orbit” ties into the novel’s exploration of control within relationships, particularly between Leslee and Bull.
The Unreliable Gate: The mention of the back gate being “unreliable” introduces a motif of faulty barriers and unseen dangers, symbolic of the fragile boundaries between people.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 29 significantly advances the investigation into the fire and Coco’s disappearance. The interview with Bull provides a concrete motive for Coco—the rejection of her screenplay—and exposes a web of personal tensions involving Bull, Leslee, and Lamont. The confirmation that Coco did not leave the island raises the stakes, forcing Chief and Zara to consider that she may be dead or injured. Lamont’s impulsive departure to search adds emotional urgency and sets up the next chapter’s rescue or discovery.

Study Questions and Answers

What does Bull reveal about Coco’s screenplay and his reaction to it?
Bull says Coco gave him a screenplay weeks after she was hired. He read it, gave positive feedback, but knew he couldn’t sell it because it wasn’t viable. When he told her, she tried to persuade him, possibly with sexual implications, but he refused. She left his office in tears.
How does the relationship between Leslee and Lamont affect the investigation?
Zara reveals that Leslee is fond of Lamont and would not be happy to learn of his relationship with Coco. This suggests Leslee had a personal stake in keeping Coco away from Lamont, potentially adding a motive for conflict between the two women.
What possibilities does Chief consider for Coco’s disappearance?
Chief outlines three scenarios: Coco set the fire and then jumped off the boat to escape; Leslee heard about the fire, assumed Coco was responsible, and pushed her overboard in anger; or Coco accidentally fell against the unreliable back gate and was swept overboard while everyone was distracted.

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