The Golden Couple

The narrative shifts to Avery’s first-person perspective. Avery is at home, wondering who assaulted Matthew (Marissa called to tell her about the assault). Avery checks her mail to discover a notice from the life-insurance company that handled Paul’s life insurance. The insurance payout is being investigated as a possible medical fraud; it sounds like the insurance company thinks that Avery had something to do with Paul’s death. Avery calls her lawyer. The lawyer does some digging and learns that the insurer received an anonymous tip that Avery euthanized Paul. Avery knows that Acelia must be behind this “anonymous tip”—it’s revenge.

That evening, Avery has her fifth session with Marissa and Matthew. She’s disheartened: “This, our fifth session, is Devastation, the point at which my clients reach rock bottom and fear they won’t succeed. But in this case, I’m the one who is beginning to worry they won’t succeed.” (234). Avery asks Matthew and Marissa who might want to hurt Matthew; the implication is that it could be Marissa’s ex-lover. Avery privately decides that she will confront Marissa about her ex-lover’s true identity—Avery wants more information. The session ends with a call from the police; they have a suspect in custody for Matthew’s assault.