The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

Maggie tries to move her dresser in front of her bedroom door, but it is too heavy. Ethan knocks, then drags his mattress into the room. He is wearing glasses, and Maggie feels even more attracted to him. When Ethan sees that Maggie tried to move the dresser, and he reassures her that he won’t ever let anything happen to her. He says that he used to work for the Secret Service. He then notices Eleanor’s notebooks on Maggie’s bed. (She took them from the study and has been reading Eleanor’s work-in-progress.) Now, she tells Ethan how much Eleanor’s work has meant to her; for years, Maggie had only a library card and time, and Eleanor’s books were like friends to her. In exchange for her admission, Ethan offers more of his history, namely that because his father was in the military, Ethan himself attended 10 different schools. With Ethan, Maggie feels safe for the first time in years.

Ethan brings up the conversation that Maggie overheard at the Killhaven Christmas party. He explains that he knew that Colin was always going to leave Maggie because she “changed the rules” (133) when she outshone Colin with her talent, earnings, and character.