49 pages • 1 hour read
Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door
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Chapters 26-36Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes graphic violence, animal cruelty, and sexual content.
Chapter 26 Summary
Nick drives Riley back to her home. He tries tamping down his feelings for her, reminding himself she has a guy like Gabe around. At her apartment, they find brownies and a note from Gabe, which incites Nick’s jealousy. Riley reminds him that she and Gabe aren’t together and invites him in so that they can follow through with their plan.
The two sneak into Dickie’s messy apartment to inspect the crime scene. The only thing they find for evidence is “a calendar of the township’s summer rec league” (192), which they guess Dickie could have been betting on. Riley changes the conversation to Nick’s relationship with Sergeant Jones; she noticed sexual tension between them. Nick admits that they went on a few dates but insists that nothing is going on. The arrival of a suspicious car downstairs interrupts them.
Chapter 27 Summary
The two flee Dickie’s apartment and shuffle through the halls, convinced that there’s another intruder. Riley gets distracted when she notices that Nick has an erection. They sexually tease each other, forgetting that they might be in danger. Finally, they deduce that the potential intruder must have been Mrs. Penny coming home late.
