Chapter 40 Summary: Glitches Get Stitches — 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.
Summary
The chapter opens with Nate Graves preparing to leave the hospital after receiving seven stitches for a forehead wound and a prescription for antibiotics. His wife Maddie has stayed home with their son Oliver, who experienced what she describes as an “episode”—he wandered into the woods and had a meltdown, with Jed and Zoe helping to manage the situation. Maddie’s vague explanation leaves Nate anxious rather than reassured; being told not to worry only makes him worry more.
As Nate tries to leave, he’s intercepted by John Contrino Jr., deputy chief of state police. Contrino explains he’s responding to a report from Nate’s partner, Axel Figueroa, about an incident at the Fish and Game office. Figueroa reported an alarm malfunction that turned out to be a naked, injured girl on the premises, who then ran away.
Nate confirms Figueroa’s account, though internally he’s relieved Fig didn’t mention the lightning or the ex-serial killer hiding inside it. He faces a choice: confirm the story (making himself sound unreliable) or deny it (potentially costing Fig his job). He chooses loyalty.
Contrino presses further, asking why Nate didn’t file a report and whether the incident caused his head wound. Nate claims he slipped on ice and hit a rock or branch, but Contrino notes the nurse said the injury was consistent with a blade. Nate deflects, suggesting scrap metal, and explains he didn’t report because Fig would handle it while he got stitched up.
Contrino departs with a dismissive remark about Fish and Game’s work, saying police will watch for the girl. Only then does Nate feel the full weight of exhaustion, wanting only to go home to his wife and son.
Key Events
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Nate receives seven stitches and an antibiotic prescription at the hospital
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Maddie reports Oliver’s “episode”—wandering into the woods and having a meltdown
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Deputy Chief Contrino intercepts Nate to ask about the Fish and Game incident
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Nate confirms Figueroa’s report of finding a naked, injured girl
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Nate lies about the cause of his head wound, claiming ice and a rock
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Contrino reveals the nurse noted the wound was consistent with a blade
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Nate deflects and explains why he didn’t file a report
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Contrino leaves, promising police will watch for the girl
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Nate, exhausted, heads home
Character Development
Nate Graves: This chapter shows Nate’s exhaustion and the weight of the secrets he’s carrying. His decision to confirm Fig’s story—even at the cost of his own credibility—reveals his commitment to partner loyalty. His lie about the wound shows he’s willing to protect the truth about what happened, even when pressed by law enforcement. His internal reflection on how police treat unexplainable reports reveals his cynicism about the system he used to work in.
John Contrino Jr.: Contrino is presented as a competent, if blunt, investigator. He’s doing due diligence—checking why a former cop didn’t report an incident, noting the discrepancy between Nate’s story and the nurse’s observation. His dismissive comment about Fish and Game suggests a condescending attitude toward Nate’s current job.
Maddie and Oliver (off-page): Oliver’s “episode” continues the pattern of strange events affecting the family. Maddie’s vague description and her instruction not to worry only heighten Nate’s anxiety.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Glitches: The chapter title “Glitches Get Stitches” plays on the idea of glitches—unexplainable anomalies—and the physical cost they exact. Nate’s stitches are the visible mark of a glitch in reality.
Loyalty: Nate’s decision to back Fig’s story, even when it makes him look unreliable, underscores the code of partnership.
Secrecy: Nate actively conceals the truth about the girl, the lightning, and the ex-serial killer. The chapter is built on what he doesn’t say.
Police skepticism: Nate’s internal monologue about how police treat reports that “don’t add up” reflects a broader theme of institutional disbelief toward the supernatural.
Storm as catalyst: The storm is the backdrop for all these events—power outages, accidents, and the strange occurrences at the Fish and Game office.
The supernatural: The chapter gestures toward the unexplainable without naming it—the girl, the lightning, the wound that looks like a blade cut.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the mystery at the heart of the novel. Nate’s lie to Contrino establishes the stakes: he’s now actively concealing evidence of something supernatural. The chapter also shows the ripple effects of the storm and the strange events on Nate’s family life, with Oliver’s episode adding another layer of concern. The tension between Nate’s past as a cop and his current role as a protector of secrets is central to his character arc.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Nate choose to confirm Figueroa’s story rather than deny it?
Nate weighs two options: confirming the story makes him sound unreliable, but denying it could cost Fig his job. He reflects that police aren’t equipped to handle reports that don’t add up, and he knows the code: you stand by your partner. Loyalty wins over self-preservation.
2. What does the nurse’s observation about Nate’s wound reveal?
The nurse noted the injury was consistent with a blade, contradicting Nate’s claim that he slipped on ice. This detail shows that the truth is harder to hide than Nate hopes—and it gives Contrino a reason to be suspicious.
3. How does the chapter use the storm as a narrative device?
The storm serves as both a physical backdrop (power outages, accidents, flooded basements) and a catalyst for the strange events—the alarm malfunction, the girl’s appearance, and Oliver’s episode. It creates a sense of chaos that makes the unexplainable feel plausible.