Chapter 35 (Chapter 34) 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
Present day. Natalie arrives home to find Detective Santoro at her front door. Panicking about the murder weapon (a bloody turtle figurine) hidden in her laundry hamper, she tries to avoid him. Santoro insists on asking a few more questions and suggests they talk inside or at the station. Natalie refuses entry, so the conversation takes place on the porch. Santoro asks about her salary and then reveals that Dawn sent Natalie an email on Monday afternoon requesting a meeting about missing money from the Vixed account. Natalie denies meeting with Dawn, claiming she was with her boyfriend Caleb all night. Santoro says he does not believe Caleb is telling the truth and warns that he will eventually uncover any lies. After the detective leaves, Natalie knows she must get rid of the turtle.
Key Events
- Detective Santoro arrives at Natalie’s house unannounced while she has the murder weapon hidden.
- Natalie refuses to let him inside, so they talk on the front porch.
- Santoro reveals that Dawn emailed Natalie about missing money in the company account—a detail Natalie cannot deny.
- Santoro pressures Natalie, stating he is good at detecting lies and that her boyfriend’s alibi will be investigated.
- Natalie maintains her false story, but internally she acknowledges her weak alibi and the incriminating object.
- Santoro leaves, and Natalie resolves to dispose of the turtle figurine.
Character Development
- Natalie Farrell: Her fear escalates as the evidence against her mounts. She is forced to confront the emotional cost of lying to the police and pressuring Caleb to do the same. Her desperation to avoid arrest outweighs any moral hesitation.
- Detective Santoro: He demonstrates sharp investigative instincts by connecting the missing-money email to Natalie’s possible motive. His casual tone hides a keen ability to probe for inconsistencies. He is methodical and patient, willing to wait for a suspect to slip.
- Dawn Schiff (mentioned): Even in death, Dawn’s actions (sending the email) continue to implicate someone in financial wrongdoing, deepening the mystery of what she discovered.
- Caleb (mentioned off-screen): Santoro’s doubt about Caleb’s truthfulness puts pressure on Natalie’s relationship—if Caleb cracks, her alibi collapses.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Deception and Truth: The chapter centers on Natalie’s performance of innocence while hiding physical and verbal lies. Santoro represents the truth-seeking authority that threatens her constructed story.
- Isolation: Natalie stands alone on her doorstep, cold and shaking, with no one to help her. The house that once felt secure is now a trap containing the weapon.
- The Turtle Figurine: This object symbolizes the irreversible act of violence. Natalie’s inability to dispose of it underscores her panic and lack of control. The turtle, once a harmless ornament, now defines her fate.
- Financial Motive: Santoro’s line of questioning introduces the idea that Dawn found evidence of payroll theft, giving Natalie a concrete reason to want Dawn gone. This shifts the story from a possible crime of passion to a premeditated financial motive.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter raises the stakes dramatically. The detective now has a specific motive to explore—missing money—and knows that Dawn wanted to meet with Natalie. Natalie’s forced denial of the meeting creates a direct contradiction with the email evidence that Santoro will surely verify. The hidden weapon becomes an even greater liability. More importantly, Natalie’s internal admission that her alibi is fake signals that she is fully committed to obstructing justice. The reader must now question whether Natalie is capable of murder and how far she will go to protect herself.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Natalie refuse to let Detective Santoro inside her house?
Natalie is terrified that Santoro will ask to search her home or notice something suspicious. The bloody turtle figurine is hidden in her laundry hamper, and she believes that if he sees it, she will be arrested on the spot.
2. What new evidence does Santoro reveal about Dawn’s last actions?
Santoro tells Natalie that Dawn sent her an email on Monday afternoon asking to meet about money that was missing from the Vixed account. This email establishes a direct connection between Natalie and a possible motive for Dawn’s murder—theft.
3. How does Natalie’s internal conflict deepen by the end of the chapter?
Natalie is torn between wanting to tell the truth to clear her name and the need to keep lying to avoid being accused. She acknowledges that she has no real alibi, pressured Caleb to lie, and still possesses the murder weapon. Her only way forward is to destroy evidence and hope the detective does not dig deeper.