Chapter 14

Summary

• The chapter takes place after Detective Stark dismisses the protagonist from the police station at 3:30 PM.
• The protagonist is feeling faint from hunger and stress due to dishonesty related to Giselle and something hidden over her heart.
• There's an inner turmoil over honesty, triggered by a childhood memory where the protagonist lied to her grandmother about being bullied at school.
• After paying her belated rent to Mr. Rosso, her landlord, the protagonist notes his exasperation at her tardiness and promises a receipt the next day.
• Alone at home, she feels overwhelmed and uncertain about contacting friends or her employer for support.
• While trying to relax with tea and biscuits, the protagonist recalls a painful memory of the day her grandmother informed her about her mother's death.
• The protagonist decides to tidy up to lift her spirits, polishing and arranging items in a curio cabinet that hold sentimental value.
• Feeling lonely and concerned about her current situation, she reaches out to her friend Rodney for help.
• She admits to Rodney that the police suspect her and Giselle, and that she returned to a crime scene to retrieve a gun for Giselle.
• The gun is hidden in her vacuum cleaner at work, and Rodney suggests they need to make it disappear to protect her.
• She also confesses to pawning Mr. Black's wedding ring due to financial problems and worries this could implicate her further in the crime.
• Rodney assures her he'll handle the situation with the gun and the ring and advises her to stay home and not to worry.
• The protagonist expresses gratitude and looks forward to thanking Rodney properly after the ordeal is over.
• The chapter concludes with the protagonist envisioning treating Rodney to an "all-expenses-paid Tour of Italy" to compensate for the trouble she's caused him.