Contents
Chapter 55
Overview
Charly is awakened by a call from Regina Barry, who reveals Clark once lived down the hall from Regina and Kyle, and that Clark and Kyle were friends. Regina doubts Kyle shot Charly over the divorce, reframing the motive. Overwhelmed by pain and suspicion, Charly ends the call just as Clark appears in her doorway.
Summary
Charly wakes to a phone ringing on her left side, locates her glasses, and, notably, uses her left hand to answer. The caller is Regina Barry, Charly’s former patient and Kyle Barry’s ex-wife, whose voice triggers Charly’s anxiety and a worsening headache.
Regina explains she sought out Charly after reading an article and reveals that Clark once lived in the same hallway as Regina and Kyle. She says Clark and Kyle were close friends and that Clark was dating Haley at the time. Regina challenges the accepted motive—that Kyle shot Charly out of anger over the breakup—asserting Kyle didn’t care about the divorce and was focused on money due to his gambling.
Regina says she tried to inform the police but was ignored, prompting her to call Charly directly. The revelations make Charly question how Clark first entered her life and whether his “heroic” intervention with Kyle was genuine.
Overwhelmed by pain and fear, Charly ends the call, searches for relief, and as the door opens, she expects a nurse. Instead, Clark stands in the doorway, heightening the tension of the new suspicion.
Who Appears
- Charly McKennaProtagonist; wakes, answers a call with her left hand, hears revelations linking Clark to Kyle, grows suspicious and distressed.
- Regina BarryFormer patient and Kyle’s ex-wife; calls to reveal Clark was Kyle’s neighbor/friend and doubts the established motive.
- Clark DouglasCharly’s controlling husband; revealed to have known Kyle earlier; appears in Charly’s doorway at the end.
- Kyle BarryRegina’s ex-husband and Charly’s shooter; said to care about money, not the divorce, undermining the assumed motive.
- HaleyClark’s former girlfriend from before the shooting; mentioned as part of Regina’s account.