The Official Darynda Jones Fan Group discussion

Hello Grimlets! Today we will be recapping chapters 13-15, and posting chapters 16-18 on Wattpad.

You can find chapters 16-18 here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/5574782...
We will be discussing these chapters on Wednesday, 12/16!

This thread is where you can discuss chapters 13-15, but be considerate of any newbies who are reading for the first time and keep your spoilers to a minimum!

Anyone who comments in this discussion is eligible to win one early copy of THE DIRT ON NINTH GRAVE!! Winners will be chosen on Wednesday, 12/16.

In Chapter 13, Charley wakes up to a note on her coffeepot:
What do you call a PI who doesn't give up?
Dead.

After scaring some Jehovah's Witnesses, Charley heads over to the office, where Cookie has looked into Janelle York's background. According to Janelle's sister, Janelle got heavily into drugs after a falling out with Mimi. Janelle also balked when asked about the disappearance of Hana Insinga. Cookie also reports about Tommy Zapata: his wife says he started acting strangely before he died, and told her "sometimes our sins are too great to be forgiven." Hmm. Charley and Cookie decide to go to Taos to talk to Kyle Kirsch's parents and see what else they can dig up. But before they leave, Ubie and Swopes stop by. Charley is still mad at Ubie for not telling her about the ex-con stalking her dad, and once Swopes hears that Charley nearly got stabbed the night before, he's pretty mad as well. Before Swopes leaves, he tells Charley that they need to interview the previous owner of Cookie's car.

Charley and Cookie head over to Taos to talk to Mr. Kirsch, the former Sheriff who worked on the Hana Insinga case. According to Mr. Kirsch, this case still baffles him -- they did everything they could to find the missing girl, and he personally interviewed every high school student about her disappearance. The testimonies were all so different that he couldn't put anything significant together, though he tried for over two years. Charley is convinced that Mr. Kirsch is telling the truth.

Back in Albuquerque, Charley, Cookie, and Swopes all go to visit the former owner of Cookie's car, Carrie Liedell. Charley goes out on a limb and asks her if she knows anything about a hit-and-run that happened about three years ago involving a homeless man, and it immediately becomes clear that Carrie was somehow involved. Dead Trunk Guy shows up and begins to guide Charley through the questioning, though he's never spoken to her before. As it turns out, Carrie was wasted, hit Dead Trunk Guy, and then told him to sit on the back of her car to recover for a minute. When he told her he was an undercover cop and that she was under arrest, she panicked, hit him over the head with brick, and shoved him in her trunk. Just as she confesses, Uncle Bob and two patrol cars pull up to take her in for the murder of Officer Zeke Brandt. Officer Brandt, aka Dead Trunk Guy, was missing for three years -- he was investigating a drug ring that used homeless people to sell for them. After the commotion, Charley talks to Officer Brandt (who was fully cognizant when he was sharing all those showers with her!) and allows him to pass through her to the other side.

Later that night, as Charley is sleeping, Reyes drops in. He's not dead yet, but he still won't tell Charley where he is. She decides to take matters into her own hands, and jumps in the car to go visit Amador Sanchez, Reyes's best friend and former cellmate. As it turns out, Amador and his family live in a huge, gorgeous house in a nice neighborhood, which is slightly abnormal for an ex-con. Amador and his wife immediately recognize Charley as Reyes's maybe-fictional obsession, Dutch. Unfortunately, they don't know where he is, or about his plan to ditch his mortal body. Amador does tell Charley that Reyes is so clever, Amador made a fortune in the stock market based on Reyes's advice. Reyes also allowed Amador to sell information and photos to Elaine Oake -- that was how he and his wife could afford a down payment on their house!

Charley returns to her apartment in better spirits, but is suddenly hit over the head, abducted, and thrown in a trunk. As she wakes up, Angel is in the trunk with her, trying to figure out how to help. Charley's captors, two white men, drag her out of the trunk and start torturing her in exchange for information about Mimi Jacobs. Charley realizes that she's been drugged. Angel's attempts to get Uncle Bob have been futile, but luckily, Swopes shows up and kills one of the captors. The other fires back at Swopes, who runs in to untie Charley. Swopes isn't alone, however: he's accompanied by the men who broke into Charley's apartment the previous morning (Frank Smith, Mr. Chao, and Ulrich). The firefight intensifies -- Charley's other captor has an automatic weapon -- and Swopes ends up shot. Charley steps out from behind her cover to take a shot at the guy, and summons Reyes to help her. As it did when she was attacked before, time slows, and she's able to dodge the bullets coming at her. She asks Reyes where he was last night when she was getting attacked, and he tells her he was there, watching, but she had a good handle on the situation. He re-iterates that Charley is capable of way more than she thinks she is. Then time speeds up again, the captor gets away, Frank Smith, Mr. Chao, and Ulrich leave before the cops show up, and Charley applies pressure to Swopes's wounds...

Extra points for discussion:
1. Do you believe Kyle Kirsch's father? Why or why not?
2. What do you think of Amador and his wife?
3. Did Dead Trunk Guy's origin story surprise you?
4. What do you think of Charley's and Reyes's weird relationship right now?
5. Who do you think Frank Smith, Mr. Chao, and Ulrich really are?

1. Do you believe Kyle Kirsch’s father? Why or why not?
I do believe Kyle Kirsch’s father wasn’t covering up for his son’s involvement in an unsolved murder case. He knew Kyle had lied about not being at the party. And yet, he didn’t give Kyle special treatment during the investigation.

2. What do you think of Amador and his wife?
I adore those two. They’re truly devoted to Reyes and will protect him at all costs.

3. Did Dead Trunk Guy’s origin story surprise you?
I was stunned. I had no clue DTG was a cop. I did think it was funny he was conscious during shower time with Charley.

4. What do you think of Charley’s and Reyes’s weird relationship right now?
I think it was the first time Reyes opened up about Charley. He watched over her through the years growing up. He confessed his true feeling for her. I thought!! YES finally something concrete from the Son of Satan.
“Because you’re the reason I breathe.” Sigh.

5. Who do you think Frank, Mr. Chao, and Ulrich really are?
I thought they were the real FBI Agents.

1. I am not sure about Kyle Kirsch's father. But I think I belive him. We will see. :)
2. I love them. They are soo nice and they are like the true friendswe all need in our life.
3. I was wery surprised. Didn't expect that! And I liked the way his story was told.
4. Every relationship has some weird things going on. I think They have something magical. Love unravels bit by bit and it gets better and sweeter, like chocolate. And then it will be even more awesome for them then it is now.
5. Have no idea! ;)

1. Yes I do believe Kyle's father. He was proud of his son and came across as honest and likable.
2. I enjoy reading about Amador and Bianca. I love knowing that Reyes had Amador in his life. The two of them along with Cookie make up the very definition of true friends.
3. Dead Trunk Guy totally surprised me. I would have never guessed he was an uncover police officer. But reading about his murderer being brought to justice made my breath catch in my throat!!
4. It's all the more exciting due to the unique situation. I know Reye's actions my heart go pity pat!!!!
5. I think Frank, Ulrich and Mr. Chao are secret service? They seem awfully cool and laid back yet completely capable at the same time.