In Chapter 9, Matt takes the reins for his penultimate chapter — and he's come armed with a plan. Three things were requested: a fight scene, an arrest, and an animal.
Whether all three actually turn up is another matter entirely.
The chapter opens with a chilling glimpse into the mind behind the murder. But before we can dwell on that, Chalk is pulled back to the event that's haunted him since the very first chapter. What actually happened at Cheddar Gorge? After eight chapters of teasing, we finally get the full story of what went down in those caves, and it's far more connected to the case than anyone expected.
There's also a late-night break-in at Willow Manor, and Chalk uncovers something deeply disturbing hidden in plain sight, leading to a brutal confrontation. What follows is an unexpected rescue, a revealing conversation, and a connection between two deaths that changes everything we thought we knew about the investigation.
By the end of the chapter, a legendary name from the past resurfaces in a way nobody saw coming, a familiar face makes a silent return, and a mysterious delivery raises more questions than it answers. The third act has well and truly begun and like Brie Roquefort, Matt is gripping the wheel tightly.