Chapter 27 Summary and Analysis: Trust Troubled Past
⚠️ 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 the failed ambush in Ricketts, Devine decides not to stay at the bed-and-breakfast recommended by Mercedes King. He buys cardboard and duct tape to temporarily repair his shot-up 4Runner and drives back toward the Odoms’ home. Along the way he calls Nate Shore, who tells him Korey Rose has cooked fish for dinner. Devine stops at the scene of the shooting, finds a single shell casing (likely from the shooter on the motorcycle), and photographs a slender tire track. He notices he never heard the motorcycle, suggesting it was electric or deliberately silenced. Arriving at the Odoms’ house late, Devine speaks with Shore, who reveals his past as a U.S. Army sergeant who qualified for Delta Force but left after persistent racism from white peers and senior officers. Rose serves an elaborate meal of cobia with his signature marinade and side dishes. While eating, Devine shares what he learned in Ricketts: the autopsy report is pending but the local authorities seem committed to a drug-overdose narrative; the mayor is married to the older police chief; and the town appears to live beyond its means. Shore and Rose express desire to become Betsy’s guardians but recognize their drug-rehab history and lack of steady income are obstacles. Devine then reveals that someone tried to kill him in Ricketts, possibly involving the police. After dinner he retires to Betsy’s old room, unaware that he is being watched through night-vision optics from outside.
Key Events
- Devine fixes his damaged 4Runner with cardboard and duct tape.
- He revisits the ambush site, collects a shell casing, and photographs a motorcycle tire track.
- He deduces the motorcycle was nearly silent, indicating an electric motor or a muffler.
- Arriving at the Odoms’, Devine learns Nate Shore served in the Army and qualified for Delta Force.
- Shore explains he left the military due to racial discrimination within the unit.
- Korey Rose cooks a gourmet meal, showcasing his culinary skills despite his past meth addiction.
- Devine shares information about the suspicious deaths of Dwayne and Alice Odom and the town of Ricketts.
- Shore and Rose offer to be Betsy’s guardians but acknowledge their shortcomings.
- Devine admits he was shot at and believes the police may be involved.
- The chapter ends with an unknown person watching Devine through night optics.
Character Development
Travis Devine
Devine demonstrates resilience and thorough investigation. He returns to the crime scene alone to gather evidence, uses his phone to document tracks, and analyzes the absence of motorcycle noise. His ability to build trust with Shore and Rose is evident as they share personal histories over dinner. Devine’s vulnerability shows when he confesses his truck was shot up; he remains focused on the case despite personal danger.
Nate Shore
Shore’s backstory deepens: he was an Army sergeant who earned a spot in Delta Force—an elite special-missions unit—but quit after enduring racist treatment. This revelation explains his mistrust of authority and his bond with Rose, another man shattered by systemic failures. His offer to adopt Betsy reflects genuine care, though he is realistic about his limitations.
Korey Rose
Rose’s skills as a chef are showcased in the chapter. He learned to cook to survive and worked in high-end Seattle restaurants before meth derailed his career. His ability to prepare a complex meal for a visitor hints at a disciplined, creative side that contrasts with the chaos of his addiction. He and Shore share a deep brotherhood built on mutual support.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Racism and institutional failure: Shore’s experience in Delta Force explicitly ties the novel’s investigation of corruption in Ricketts to broader social issues. The military brass ignored discrimination, forcing a highly capable soldier out.
- Redemption through skill: Rose’s culinary talent and Shore’s military training are unused or underused because of past mistakes and external prejudice. The dinner scene symbolizes the potential for recovery and second chances.
- Silence and surveillance: The silent motorcycle and the final image of someone watching through night optics emphasize hidden dangers and the theme of being observed. Silence suggests technology (electric vehicles) or deliberate concealment, making threats harder to detect.
- Trust and confession: The dinner conversation becomes a confession of failures and hopes. Devine earns trust by sharing his own dangerous situation, which encourages Shore and Rose to open up about their pasts.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the characterizations of Shore and Rose, transforming them from ex-convicts into sympathetic, complex individuals with legitimate grievances. It also advances the mystery by confirming that someone with resources (possibly law enforcement) is actively trying to stop Devine. The discovery of the silent motorcycle provides a crucial clue about the shooter’s identity. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, raising the stakes for Devine’s safety and the forthcoming custody hearing. Additionally, Shore’s Delta Force background suggests he could be a formidable ally if Devine can fully win his trust.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Devine conclude that the motorcycle he saw at the ambush site was unusual?
Devine did not hear the motorcycle, even though such machines are normally loud when accelerating. This tells him the vehicle was either electric or had a specially modified muffler, pointing to a premeditated attack by someone who wanted to avoid drawing attention.
2. What reason does Nate Shore give for leaving the Army after qualifying for Delta Force?
Shore says he was subjected to racial harassment from white soldiers in the unit, and the leadership refused to intervene. Rather than continue enduring that mistreatment, he chose not to re-enlist.
3. Why are Shore and Rose unlikely to be granted guardianship of Betsy at the court hearing?
Both men have criminal records involving drugs (methamphetamine) and have been in and out of rehab. They lack steady jobs and a stable income, which a judge would consider insufficient to provide for the child, regardless of their emotional bond.