Stone Cold Fox

Bea Case is the protagonist of the novel, and her real name, Charlotte Wink, remains unknown until Syl reveals their relationship. Bea’s role in the novel is to center Koller Croft’s discussion of manipulation and the struggle to both survive and thrive despite disadvantages. Bea’s upbringing revolved around following her mother from man to man. She was never allowed to settle or function as a typical child, and these paradigms influence the way Bea handles her adult life. Although Bea admits to perpetuating her mother’s actions for a time, her goal is always to secure permanent safety, identity, and comfort, which she finds in Collin Case. Though Bea’s motivation with Collin is dishonest, she has no plans to hurt Collin or leave him, and she intends to fulfill her role as his wife wholeheartedly, creating a morally grey area in which Bea is both exploiting Collin for his money and fulfilling her role in an inherently transactional relationship. Bea’s marriage to Collin subverts her mother’s lifestyle, and Bea triumphs over the pull to be like her mother when she chooses to expose her own deception rather than kill Gale. Bea’s feelings of remorse and guilt help show how Bea learned from her mother and has decided to become a better person.