Chapter 20 – Arrival in Bisbee and the First Murders
⚠️ 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
After leaving Minnesota, Stephen Roper arrives in Bisbee, Arizona, in late June 1976. He checks into the San Jose Lodge and meets real estate agent Linda Mulligan. Over several days, he purchases a modest house with a workshop near Naco, hires a contractor for renovations, and buys furniture. To prepare for a road trip, he buys surgical gloves to hide a scar and mixes chloroform using acetone and bleach, storing it in a sandwich container under his car seat. On July 3, he picks up a hitchhiker—Richard Romero—on Highway 86, drives to a remote wash, strangles him, and takes his silver belt buckle. Three days later in Los Angeles, he strangles an unidentified prostitute (Alley Girl) and leaves her in a dumpster. Both deaths are ruled homicides but remain unsolved. A monsoon flood later moves Romero’s body, and the case goes cold. Stephen returns to Bisbee, settles into his house, and begins teaching at Bisbee High with his usual intimidating first-day speech.
Key Events
- Stephen Roper arrives in Bisbee and adopts the name “Stephen” for his new identity.
- He meets real estate agent Linda Mulligan and begins house hunting.
- He buys a termite-damaged house near Naco with a workshop and negotiates a low cash offer.
- He hires a contractor for renovations and purchases furniture from Whitehead’s.
- He prepares for a road trip: buys surgical gloves to hide his scar and mixes chloroform from acetone and bleach.
- He stores the chloroform-soaked handkerchief in a plastic sandwich container under the driver’s seat.
- On July 3, he picks up a drunk hitchhiker, Richard Romero (Maze Man), on Highway 86 near Three Points.
- He strangles Romero in a dry wash and takes his silver “Man in the Maze” belt buckle.
- He drives to Los Angeles and on July 7 strangles a prostitute (Alley Girl), taking a dangling earring.
- The bodies are discovered; Romero’s case becomes a cold homicide, and the prostitute’s remains unidentified.
- Stephen returns to Bisbee and prepares for the school year.
Character Development
- Stephen Roper: Deliberately separates his past (Steve, from Fertile) from his present (Stephen, new teacher). He becomes more methodical: uses gloves, mixes chloroform, and plans the road trip as a “hunting ground.” His internal “voices” are satisfied by the two murders.
- Linda Mulligan: Serves as a friendly, helpful local who facilitates Stephen’s settling in; she remains unaware of his true nature.
- Richard Romero (Maze Man): An innocent victim—an elderly Tohono Oʼodham man whose belt buckle becomes a trophy.
- Alley Girl: An unnamed victim, highlighting the dehumanization of Stephen’s targets; her case remains unsolved.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Identity and reinvention: Stephen actively creates a new self in Bisbee, discarding “Steve” as a past persona.
- Methodical evil: The chapter emphasizes planning—chloroform, gloves, container—showing Stephen as a calculating predator rather than impulsive.
- Trophies: The belt buckle and earring are collected as souvenirs, linking to the earlier Reservoir Girl scar and the cigar box.
- The monsoon: Nature acts as an accidental accomplice, moving Romero’s body and misleading investigators about the crime scene.
- Blending in: Stephen uses excuses (eczema) and disguises (gloves) to avoid detection; his normalcy as a teacher is the ultimate cover.
- Marginalized victims: Both victims—an elderly Native man and a street prostitute—are people society easily overlooks, contributing to the cases going cold.
Why This Chapter Matters
- It marks Stephen’s transition from one murder (Reservoir Girl) to serial killing, establishing his method and trophy-taking pattern.
- It provides crucial backstory for later police investigation: the belt buckle, the cold cases, and Stephen’s established life in Bisbee.
- The chapter deepens the psychological portrait of the killer, showing his planning and his ability to compartmentalize his identities.
- It sets the stage for his teaching career, where he will continue to prey on vulnerable people.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Stephen decide to wear surgical gloves during his road trip, and what does this reveal about his mindset? Answer: He wants to hide a visible scar on the back of his hand, a reminder of his first victim (Reservoir Girl), because it might attract questions and hinder his ability to blend in. This shows he is becoming more self-aware and cautious, actively trying to avoid detection while planning future crimes.
2. How does the author use the setting (Bisbee, monsoon season) to influence the plot in this chapter? Answer: The remote desert setting near the border provides isolated areas (washes, dirt roads) where Stephen can commit murder without witnesses. The monsoon season later moves Romero’s body and washes away evidence, misleading investigators into thinking the murder occurred near Three Points rather than farther west, which helps the case go cold.
3. What is the significance of Stephen collecting the belt buckle and earring from his victims? Answer: These items serve as trophies, allowing Stephen to relive his kills. The belt buckle (Man in the Maze) and the earring likely join the cigar box mentioned earlier, reinforcing his pattern of preserving mementos from each victim. This behavior is common among serial killers and gives investigators potential trace evidence.