Chapter summaries The Intruder Freida McFadden

The Intruder Chapter 38: The Gun is Missing

⚠️ 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

Casey berates herself for leaving an unsecured gun in the bedroom where Eleanor is staying. She decides she must retrieve it, hoping Eleanor has not found it. She stuffs her notebook under the sofa cushions, removes her slippers for silence, and creeps across the living room. The bedroom door hinge whines loudly, but Eleanor appears to be asleep—her chest rises and falls steadily. The room is cold. Casey steps carefully, each floorboard creaking, and eases open the top dresser drawer. She reaches inside, but her hand finds nothing. As she fumbles further, a voice stops her: “Looking for this, Casey?” Eleanor is sitting up in bed, wearing Casey’s sweater, and pointing a gun at Casey’s head.

Key Events

  • Casey realizes her mistake: she left a loaded gun in a drawrer in the room where Eleanor is sleeping.
  • She decides to sneak in and retrieve it without waking Eleanor.
  • She moves quietly across the house, noting the noisy floorboards and door hinges.
  • She opens the dresser drawer and searches for the Glock, but it is not there.
  • Eleanor reveals she is awake, has taken the gun, and now holds it aimed at Casey.

Character Development

  • Casey: Her decision to reclaim the gun shows her growing fear of Eleanor and recognition of her own recklessness. She is desperate to regain control, but her careful planning is undermined by the house’s noises and Eleanor’s deception.
  • Eleanor: She demonstrates cunning and patience. By pretending to be asleep, she waits for Casey to make a move, then seizes the opportunity to turn the tables. Her calm revelation—“Looking for this?”—signals that she is no longer a passive victim; she has taken charge.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The gun: A symbol of power and threat. Its location shifts control between the characters. Casey loses it through carelessness; Eleanor gains it through awareness.
  • Sound and silence: The creaking door, floorboards, and drawer underscore Casey’s loss of stealth. The contrast between the expected silence of the sleeping house and the loud noises heightens tension.
  • Deception: Eleanor feigns sleep, using a simple but effective trick to lure Casey into a vulnerable position. This motif of appearances versus reality runs through the chapter.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the power dynamic. Casey, who has been trying to protect herself and manage the situation, suffers a major setback. Eleanor, who appeared helpless, reveals herself as an active threat. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, with Casey at gunpoint, raising the stakes for the remainder of the story. It also reinforces the theme of unintended consequences—Casey’s earlier neglect directly creates this dangerous confrontation.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Casey go to the bedroom in the middle of the night?
    She realizes she left her unsecured gun in the dresser drawer and fears Eleanor might find it. She wants to retrieve it before Eleanor discovers it.

  2. How does Eleanor hide the fact that she is awake?
    She lies still in bed, breathing in a steady rhythm that makes her appear fast asleep. When Casey opens the drawer, she waits until the right moment to reveal her awareness.

  3. What changes in this chapter regarding the control of the gun?
    At the start, the gun is hidden in the drawer (Casey’s possession, though unsecured). By the end, Eleanor has taken it and now holds it, pointing it at Casey, reversing the power dynamic.

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