Contents
Chapter 57
Overview
Casey breaks into Jolene Kettering’s apartment, finds Jolene alive but bleeding from a stab wound, and pretends to be a paramedic to assess the situation. She then terrorizes Jolene with burning cigarettes, forcing a confession that Jolene burned Nell. This cements Jolene’s culpability and reveals the depths of Casey’s ruthlessness to protect Nell.
Summary
Casey arrives at Jolene Kettering’s dilapidated Massachusetts basement apartment using Nell’s key, intent on confronting her about Nell’s abuse and Jax. Inside, the home reeks of cigarettes and spoiled food. Casey discovers Jolene alive but weak, bleeding from a stab wound, and initially pretends to be a paramedic to gauge the situation.
When Jolene demands hospital transport and dismisses questions about children, Casey notes Jolene’s contempt for her “rotten” daughter. Casey rifles Jolene’s purse for cigarettes, lights one, and deliberately blows smoke in Jolene’s face to unsettle her. She then reveals she is not a paramedic.
Casey escalates, using lit cigarettes as threats and weapons. She burns Jolene’s forearm and hand, warning that each lie will earn another burn. Pressed about the bruises and burns on Nell’s arms, Jolene denies responsibility, then blames Nell, prompting Casey to burn her again.
Under pain and fear, Jolene finally admits she burned Nell “a couple of times,” justifying it as discipline. Casey, disgusted and enraged, holds a smoldering cigarette inches from Jolene’s face, makes clear she never promised mercy, and ends the confrontation with Jolene’s abuse confirmed and Casey’s willingness to inflict harm to protect Nell fully revealed.
Who Appears
- Casey (Ella)Breaks into Jolene’s apartment, poses as a paramedic, then tortures Jolene with cigarettes to extract a confession about abusing Nell.
- Jolene KetteringFound alive but bleeding from a stab wound; admits to burning Nell after Casey coerces her with cigarette burns.