CHAPTER 19: Odd Relatives

Summary

The stock for Westing Paper Products continues to rise. Turtle is seen by the school nurse: she claimed to suffer from a toothache when she was found with a radio plugged in her ear. Otis Amber warns Crow to be careful, and is convinced that James Hoo is the bomber. Believing Otis, Crow swears vengeance on the person who scarred Angela Wexler's face.

Judge Ford looks over the information of Berthe Erica Crow: she was married to a Windy Windkloppel at 16, divorced at 40, was an alcoholic until she found religion. She now runs a soup kitchen in Skid Row and works as the cleaning woman of Sunset Towers, and has no discernible connection to Westing.

Crow goes up to Shin Hoo's, where Jake Wexler is having lunch and Grace Wexler is sorting sports photographs for the restaurant's upcoming makeover. Jake asks Crow to join him and Madame Hoo serves dumplings; Grace watches Madame Hoo giggle at Jake and suddenly feels jealous. Crow complains to her podiatrist about the pain in her feet and James Hoo comes to her rescue with a pair of his paper innersoles. She tries them on and the relief she feels convinces her that Otis was wrong about Mr. Hoo being the bomber.

Chris Theodorakis visits the hospital room where Angela Wexler and Sydelle Pulaski are recovering. Chris gives Angie the envelope he found in his brother Theo's bathrobe pocket, believing it to be a love letter for her. He then gives them MOUNTAIN, the clue Flora gave him, in revenge for Turtle Wexler kicking his partner Denton Deere. Angela opens the letter and finds it's not from Theo, as the note contains two clues that are from Otis and Crow, WITH MAJESTIES.

Doorman Sandy McSouthers and Judge Ford continue to go over the heirs, now examining the Wexler family of Jake, Grace, Angela, and Turtle. The Westing connections are that Grace Windsor Wexler claims Sam Westing is her real uncle, while Angela Wexler looks like Violet Westing, Sam's dead daughter. Sandy reluctantly tells Judge Ford that Jake Wexler is a bookie; Judge Ford isn't pleased by this but points out that Sam Westing never smoked, drank, or gambled - despite being crooked in many other ways. The Judge then sees that Grace Windsor Wexler was born Gracie Windkloppel, the same last name as Berthe Erica Crow's husband Windy. Looking over the notes from the private investigator more closely, Judge Ford also finds a transcript for a taped interview with a friend of Berthe Erica Crow: the friend's name is Sybil Pulaski, which means that Sam Westing had chosen the wrong woman as one of his heirs. Sandy asks what this means and Judge Ford explains that Sam Westing made his first mistake.

Notes

The final clues for Berthe Erica Crow's identity are provided in this chapter, as the Windkloppel name also ties together Sam Westing's actual extended family of the Wexlers. Jake's friendship with Madame Hoo is meant in part to stir jealousy in his wife, to remind her of her responsibility as wife and mother. Readers find out what happened to Crow's letter to Angela via Theo in this chapter, as Chris delivers the letter to Angela in the hospital.

Readers also finally find out who the mistake is in Westing's plan, showing how life can take unexpected - but fortuitous - directions, even with the best plans. Despite being a "mistake", Sydelle's notes are a crucial part of the Westing game and Turtle's eventual solution, while her strange quirks are matched by her partner Angela, thus giving them a special bond. In these ways, Sydelle makes herself invaluable to the extended Westing family despite having no "right" to be there in the first place.