Contents
Chapter 28
Overview
Terry hides Spirit’s mutilation, telling Debbie it was a seizure, deepening her panic and distrust. At school, Thom confronts Susan and Robert; Susan ends the relationship, and Bret escalates accusations at Robert. That night Bret finds Matt’s items laid out and receives Debbie’s hysterical call after she discovers photos of Bret with Terry. Debbie later reports a pool attack and a missing dog; by morning she and her BMW have vanished, leaving blood traces.
Summary
Wednesday, Terry summons Debbie to Cedars-Sinai and lies that Spirit died of a heart abnormality, concealing the mutilation and any cult or Trawler angle. Debbie, disbelieving and enraged, confronts the stables but finds Spirit already disposed of. Bret, who witnessed the scene, skips school and suppresses what he knows.
That evening Susan comforts a devastated, suspicious Debbie. Afterward Susan chooses to visit Robert instead of Thom, triggering Thom’s suspicion and an anxious, sleepless night. Thursday at Buckley, Susan and Robert arrive together. Over lunch, Thom demands clarity. Bret accuses Susan and Robert of an affair and calls out Robert’s lies and ties to Matt and Katherine Latchford. Susan ends things with Thom, who breaks down privately. Bret tells Thom, “We have to do something about him.”
That night Bret drives aimlessly, returns home, and finds Matt Kellner’s jockey shorts and the Maxell cassette laid out on his bed, then answers a call from Debbie screaming. Debbie, high and drinking at Stone Canyon, calls security about a missing dog and later claims someone grabbed her in the dark pool; police find a blood drag consistent with a coyote attack.
As Debbie prepares to stay at Susan’s, she discovers a manila envelope of explicit photos of Bret with her father, Terry, and calls Bret in hysterics. She dismisses the officers and security. By morning, Debbie’s BMW is gone, blood droplets speckle the driveway, and she never arrives at Susan’s or school.
Who Appears
- BretNarrator; provokes a confrontation at lunch, later finds Matt’s shorts and tape on his bed, receives Debbie’s frantic call.
- Debbie SchafferLearns Spirit is ‘seizure’ dead, spirals, reports pool attack and missing dog, discovers photos of Bret and Terry, then disappears overnight.
- Susan ReynoldsComforts Debbie, then chooses Robert over Thom; at lunch she breaks up with Thom amid rising tensions.
- Thom WrightConfronts Susan and Robert; humiliated by the breakup, devastated; Bret urges action against Robert.
- Robert MalloryDeflects accusations, suggests a talk; implicated by Bret regarding Matt and Katherine; shifts tables after the blowup.
- Terry SchafferFrom Cedars, lies to Debbie about Spirit’s death; his affair with Bret is exposed by photos.
- Liz SchafferLeaves photos exposing Bret and Terry; passes out, unaware of Debbie’s crisis.
- Mike StevensVeterinarian who managed Spirit’s disposal; stops and then confirms the seizure story to Debbie.
- Dr. CroftHeadmaster; scans assembly, reminding Bret of their tense meeting.
- Ryan VaughnObserves the tense lunch; Robert relocates to sit with him.
- Beverly Hills Police officersRespond to Debbie’s calls; search property; find a blood drag near the pool.
- Bel Air Security patrolmanTakes Debbie’s reports about the missing dog and supposed pool attack.