Chapter 85: Jenny Consults a Firearms Expert
⚠️ 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
Jenny arrives at the courthouse Tuesday afternoon to find the courtroom empty and Stafford Lee’s tracking app turned off. Unable to locate the bailiff or Mason, she retrieves an autopsy photo from Stafford Lee’s office and drives to Red’s Shooting Range. There she reconnects with Red Thompson, a close friend of her late father and an experienced firearms expert. Jenny shows Red a close-up photograph of Carrie Ann Penney’s chest wound from the alleged murder-suicide. Red explains that the stippling and powder marks indicate the shotgun barrel was within about two feet of the victim when fired. He notes that precise distance can be determined by test‑firing the shotgun from various ranges to match the pellet pattern. Jenny reviews the police report and finds that no distance testing was conducted. While Red offers to demonstrate on the range, Jenny notices a stunning custom Perazzi twenty‑gauge shotgun in the gun case. Red reveals that the shotgun belongs to Hiram Caro and refuses to let her handle it, stating it is part of a personal collection under maintenance.
Key Events
- Jenny searches for Stafford Lee at the courthouse but cannot find him; his phone shows no location.
- She retrieves an autopsy photograph of Carrie Ann Penney from Stafford Lee’s office.
- Jenny drives to Red’s Shooting Range and asks Red Thompson to analyze the shotgun wound.
- Red identifies powder stippling and estimates the firing distance at roughly two feet.
- He explains that test‑firing the actual shotgun can yield an exact distance by comparing pellet patterns.
- Jenny discovers that the police report indicates no distance testing was performed on the seized shotgun.
- Jenny eyes a custom Perazzi shotgun in Red’s gun case; Red says it belongs to Hiram Caro and is not for sale.
- Red locks the Perazzi back in the case, adamantly refusing Jenny’s request to hold it.
Character Development
Jenny demonstrates sharp investigative instincts by directly seeking expert knowledge outside official channels. Her comfort and history with Red show the influence of her father’s world (gun culture, trust in a handful of reliable contacts). She is methodical, pulling a piece of evidence from Stafford Lee’s office and pressing for details on muzzle‑distance determination. Her disappointment at being denied the Perazzi underscores her tenacity and willingness to follow any lead, even when thwarted.
Red Thompson serves as a foil to the “pencil necks” at the crime lab—practical, experienced, and blunt. His loyalty to Jenny’s family is clear, but so is his professionalism: he refuses to let her touch the Perazzi because it belongs to Hiram Caro, hinting at Caro’s power and wealth without any direct confrontation.
Hiram Caro is introduced indirectly through an object. The custom Perazzi, worth more than Red’s annual income, instantly marks Caro as a figure of extreme privilege. This chapter plants the first tangible link between Caro and the shotgun evidence in Carrie Ann’s case.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Expertise vs. Institutional Laziness: Red’s knowledge contrasts sharply with the lack of distance testing by the police. The theme of relying on independent experts recurs as Jenny bypasses official channels.
- Class and Access: The Perazzi shotgun symbolizes vast wealth and elite circles. Its owner, Hiram Caro, is untouchable even by Jenny’s persistence—Red will not let her so much as breathe on it.
- Investigation as Puzzle: Jenny’s careful examination of the photograph and the report mirrors the careful piecing together of physical evidence, a motif recurring throughout the novel.
- Father Figures: Red’s relationship with Jenny echoes her father’s mentoring; the shooting range becomes a space of inherited knowledge and trust.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 85 is pivotal because it introduces a concrete piece of evidence—the custom Perazzi owned by Hiram Caro—that directly ties a powerful outsider to the murder‑suicide investigation. The chapter also reveals a critical procedural failure: the police did not perform distance testing on the shotgun, suggesting either negligence or deliberate omission. Jenny’s reliance on Red Thompson highlights her willingness to work outside the system, setting the stage for potential conflict with Stafford Lee or law enforcement. The careful reading of the autopsy photo and the discussion of pellet patterns provides a technical foundation for future challenges to the official story.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Jenny decide to visit Red’s Shooting Range instead of waiting for Stafford Lee?
Answer: Jenny is frustrated that she cannot locate Stafford Lee and feels the need to pursue her own line of inquiry. She retrieves the autopsy photo from his office because she suspects the official investigation missed crucial details. Red is a trusted firearms expert who can provide independent analysis of the shotgun wound. -
What does Red explain about the significance of stippling and powder marks on a shotgun wound?
Answer: Red points out that the burned powder particles and stippling around Carrie Ann’s chest wound indicate the shotgun barrel was very close to the victim—within two feet. He explains that test‑firing the actual shotgun from different distances can produce an exact match of the pellet pattern, giving a precise firing distance. The failure of the police to perform this standard test raises doubts about their thoroughness. -
Why is the custom Perazzi shotgun significant, and what does its ownership reveal?
Answer: The Perazzi is a rare, valuable Italian shotgun with gold inlay, worth more than Red’s annual income. Red refuses to let Jenny touch it because it belongs to Hiram Caro and is part of a personal collection. This moment introduces Caro as a person of extreme wealth who may have a direct connection to the shotgun used in the murder‑suicide, suggesting that Caro or his interests could be linked to the case.