Chapter 17 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

The chapter opens on Monday morning with Brian and Hank reviewing hours of Costco parking-lot surveillance footage. Roland Shea, who had vanished ten days earlier, returned to his house on Friday night, forcing the two detectives to work through the weekend to keep him under watch. Brian’s mind keeps drifting to his Friday date with Tara, but he hasn’t been able to reach her since—she has no phone, and he never thought to get her email. He reflects on that night, recalling how he had blurted out the darkest moments of his life in the pub because he sensed Tara was about to end things. He had read her file before meeting her, had access to her records, and had arrested her; he felt the power imbalance was unfair, so he tried to level the playing field by sharing his own vulnerabilities.

As they continue scanning the footage, Hank spots a car pulling into the lot and stopping directly behind Roland’s SUV. Roland climbs out of the passenger seat, waves at the driver, and heads to his own vehicle. The driver isn’t visible, but the car is a bright yellow PT Cruiser—an unusual model that Chrysler stopped making years ago—and they capture a partial license plate.

The next day, Brian decides to reach out to Tara the only way he can think of: by sending flowers. He enlists his aunt Rosemary’s help, meeting her outside a flower shop during her work break. Rosemary, delighted to hear about a woman named Tara, presses for details, but Brian only says they met through work. Inside the shop, Rosemary guides him through the overwhelming array of choices, asking what he wants to say. Brian explains that Tara thinks she’s not a flowers kind of girl, and he wants to change her mind. Rosemary suggests he bring Tara to her upcoming wedding. Brian hasn’t yet told Hank about that wedding, and he feels a knot of anxiety. He spends $140 without hesitation.

By Thursday afternoon, Brian decides he must see Tara before the day ends. He tells Hank he needs the evening off. Hank teases about a “marketing girl,” but Brian doesn’t correct him. Hank then mentions he’s booked a fishing trip off Montauk for the seventeenth—the same date as Rosemary’s wedding. Brian’s gut twists, but before he can explain, Hank’s phone rings. While waiting, Brian checks his email and finds a DMV report: the yellow PT Cruiser is registered to Andrea Leary, a twenty-nine-year-old from lower Manhattan with minor drug charges. The name feels vaguely familiar, but he can’t place it.

When Hank finishes his call, he apologizes for being a pain lately and says the fishing trip is partly a thank-you. Brian is stunned by this uncharacteristic remorse and finds he can’t tell Hank about the wedding conflict. He instead shares the PT Cruiser information, and Hank suggests Brian dig into it tomorrow.

Key Events

Brian and Hank review Costco surveillance footage and spot a yellow PT Cruiser dropping off Roland Shea.
Brian reflects on his date with Tara and his decision to share personal secrets to balance their power dynamic.
Brian enlists Rosemary’s help to choose flowers for Tara, spending $140.
Hank reveals he booked a fishing trip on the seventeenth, the same day as Rosemary’s wedding.
Brian learns the PT Cruiser is registered to Andrea Leary, a name that seems familiar.
Hank offers a rare apology, making it harder for Brian to cancel the fishing trip.

Character Development

Brian shows growing emotional vulnerability. He admits to himself that he shared his darkest moments with Tara to level the playing field, a deliberate act of trust. His decision to send flowers—something he’s never done—demonstrates a willingness to step outside his comfort zone for a relationship. Yet he remains conflicted: he can’t bring himself to tell Hank about the wedding, and he keeps Tara’s existence secret from his uncle. This tension highlights his struggle between personal happiness and family loyalty.

Rosemary emerges as a warm, practical confidante. She immediately supports Brian’s romantic gesture, offering guidance without prying too hard. Her suggestion to bring Tara to the wedding plants a seed of future possibility, even as Brian avoids committing.

Hank shows a softer side. His apology for being “a pain in the ass” and his admission that he knows Brian puts up with a lot reveal a layer of self-awareness and gratitude. This moment makes Brian’s impending conflict over the fishing trip more painful, as Hank’s kindness complicates Brian’s need to be honest.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Power imbalance and trust: Brian’s reflection on reading Tara’s file and giving her money underscores the inherent inequality in their relationship. His decision to share his own secrets is an attempt to build trust on equal footing.
Flowers as a symbol of intention: The bouquet Brian sends is not just a gift; it’s a message that he sees Tara differently than she sees herself. Rosemary’s emphasis on sending the “right” flowers mirrors the care Brian is trying to put into the relationship.
Secrecy and family obligations: Brian’s inability to tell Hank about the wedding—and his decision to keep Tara’s identity hidden—shows how family expectations can create internal conflict. The fishing trip date becomes a ticking clock.
Communication barriers: Tara’s lack of a phone and Brian’s failure to get her email highlight how fragile their connection is. The flowers become a workaround, but also a risk.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the investigation into Roland Shea by introducing a concrete lead—the yellow PT Cruiser and its owner, Andrea Leary. It also deepens Brian’s personal arc, showing him actively pursuing a relationship with Tara while juggling the demands of his job and family. The conflict between the fishing trip and Rosemary’s wedding sets up a future dilemma that will likely force Brian to choose between loyalty to Hank and his own commitments. Additionally, Hank’s apology humanizes him and complicates Brian’s ability to be honest, raising the stakes for the coming chapters.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Brian decide to share his darkest personal moments with Tara during their date?

Brian realizes that his professional knowledge of Tara—her file, her records, his role in her arrest—gives him an unfair advantage. He senses she is about to end things because of that imbalance, so he deliberately reveals his own vulnerabilities to level the playing field and build trust.

2. What does the yellow PT Cruiser reveal about Roland Shea’s movements?

The surveillance footage shows Roland arriving in the passenger seat of the PT Cruiser, indicating he was dropped off by someone else. The car’s unusual color and model, plus the partial plate, allow Brian and Hank to trace it to Andrea Leary, a woman with minor drug charges. This suggests Roland may have connections to people outside his immediate circle.

3. Why does Brian hesitate to tell Hank about the fishing trip conflict?

Hank’s unexpected apology and his framing of the trip as a thank-you make Brian feel guilty. Brian also hasn’t yet told Hank about Rosemary’s wedding, and he’s been keeping his relationship with Tara secret. The combination of Hank’s kindness and Brian’s own avoidance makes it difficult to deliver the news, so he postpones it.