Contents
Chapter 18
Overview
Bret drives Thom to LAX; Thom asks him to keep an eye on Susan and reveals Robert claims a stalker, exposing Thom’s doubts and naiveté. Shaken, Bret reads the Trawler’s chilling letter in the newspaper. Discovering Susan abruptly left for Palm Springs and Robert also went to the desert, Bret decides to follow the trail to Palm Springs.
Summary
Bret picks up Thom Wright for a noon flight to New York. During the easy drive, Thom checks on Bret about Matt’s death, then asks Bret to spend time with Susan while he’s gone. Bret bristles, sensing distrust, and the request alters how he sees Thom.
Thom probes Bret’s view of Robert Mallory. He confides that Robert told him he’s being stalked by “some freak” since he first visited L.A. Thom also floats the mistaken idea that Robert might be gay, citing the party incident. Bret denies this and suspects Robert’s interest in Susan. At LAX, Thom departs; Bret notes it’s the last time he saw Thom happy.
Back at Buckley, Bret reads a front-page Los Angeles Times article quoting a letter from the Trawler. The letter details stalking rituals, “alterations,” “assemblages,” and the cult-like language of “sacrifice” to “the God,” intensifying Bret’s fear and exhaustion.
Overwhelmed, Bret leaves school, numbs himself at home, then calls Susan. Gayle Reynolds says Susan abruptly drove to Palm Springs to stay with her grandparents. Bret phones Robert’s listed number and speaks with Abby, Robert’s aunt, who says Robert is away “in the desert,” staying with a friend in Rancho Mirage.
Concluding the two trips may be linked, Bret secures his aunt’s closed Palm Springs house for the weekend and plans to drive out, determined to untangle the lies before the truth inevitably breaks open.
Who Appears
- Bret Easton EllisNarrator; drives Thom to LAX, wrestles with jealousy and suspicion, reads the Trawler’s letter, and plans a Palm Springs trip.
- Thom WrightAsks Bret to keep an eye on Susan; shares Robert’s stalker claim; misreads Robert’s sexuality; departs for New York.
- Robert MalloryDiscussed as unstable; claims a stalker; absent and reportedly in Rancho Mirage with a friend for the weekend.
- Susan ReynoldsOff-page; abruptly leaves for Palm Springs to see grandparents; subject of Thom’s request that Bret watch her.
- Gayle ReynoldsTells Bret Susan left for Palm Springs and plans to return Sunday night.
- AbbyRobert’s aunt; answers Bret’s call, says Robert is away in the desert, evasive about details.
- Laurie WrightThom’s mother; seen sending Thom off from their Beverly Hills home.
- Lionel WrightThom’s father; funds Thom’s first-class flight; reason for New York visit.
- Miss CrumbrineBuckley librarian; present as Bret reads the L.A. Times.
- The TrawlerSerial killer; letter in the L.A. Times details stalking, rituals, and “alterations.”
- RosaHouse staff at Bret’s home; briefly seen as Bret returns from school.