Alex Stern, #2
Hell Bent
by Leigh Bardugo
Contents
Chapter 34
Overview
Alex and Turner meet after another demon assault on Turner, then visit the hospital to question Andy Lambton. Andy calmly confesses but reveals he was guided by a “ram,” a courteous “gentleman” who knew New Haven lore. Alex connects the clues and concludes the mastermind is Darlington, prompting her to race to Black Elm.
Summary
Alex hurries to meet Turner, worried that Praetor news ignored the Gauntlet fallout and suspecting Michael Anselm may be missing. Turner arrives exhausted after a demon posed as his grandfather in the parking lot, nearly luring him away. He recognized the imposture when scripture failed to move it, but the encounter left him shaken and drained.
They head to Yale New Haven Hospital to see Andy Lambton. The setting stirs Alex’s memories of psychiatric wards and a near-miss with electroshock as a teen. Turner admits a gut feeling that something in Andy’s confession doesn’t fit despite matching forensics.
With Dr. Tarkenian observing, they interview Andy, who appears calm but uneasy. He acknowledges anger over Marjorie Stephen and Beekman humiliating his father, Ed Lambton, and admits he wanted revenge but not murder. Pressed on access and motive details, Andy says “the ram” told him how to find and approach the victims, describing the source as kind, knowledgeable, and unfailingly polite—a “gentleman.”
Alex connects the description to Darlington: horns like a ram, encyclopedic New Haven lore, and a taste for elaborate, history-laden tableaux. She recalls his remarks about Judges and Charles II and Anselm’s warning that anything returning from hell wouldn’t be the Darlington she knew.
Realizing the killings were orchestrated as a demon’s game by Darlington, Alex abruptly leaves, intent on getting to Black Elm as the implications of his manipulation come into focus.
Who Appears
- Alex SternSuspects Anselm’s disappearance; helps interrogate Andy; connects the “ram/gentleman” to Darlington and rushes to Black Elm.
- Detective TurnerShaken after a demon mimics his grandfather; follows a gut feeling that Andy’s confession is off; facilitates the hospital interview.
- Andy LambtonConfesses but claims a ‘ram,’ a courteous gentleman, guided him; sought humiliation, not murder, for his father’s sake.
- Dr. TarkenianPsychiatrist observing the interview; former student of Ed Lambton; provides context on Lambton and Beekman.
- Daniel Arlington (Darlington)Offstage presence; inferred as the ‘ram/gentleman’ manipulating the murders through New Haven lore.
- Michael AnselmAbsent Praetor whose silence raises suspicion; his status prompts Alex’s concern.