Summary

The chapter opens with Susanna carrying Zach and Sallie back inside, as the rest of the adults talk about the skull on the ground. Leon and Tom claim that the skull is fake, while the others believe it to be real. Hugo joins them after a moment, and calls the Guards. Toby expects detectives, but the Guards who arrive are uniformed policemen. One of them goes inside to interview Zach, who is uncooperative, but reveals that he discovered the skull inside the hollow trunk of the elm tree. The police offer then informs the family that crime scene investigators will soon arrive to figure out more details.

The family stays inside the living room as more police officers, forensic teams, and finally, two detectives arrive. One of the detectives is named Mike Rafferty, later referred to only as “Detective Rafferty” or “Rafferty” by Toby...