the gardener and other questions

[Corinne]

If you read this book can you please tell me if I missed some link with the gardener? I believe the cologne smell she recognized in Hannah's room and on her dad's costume was the cologne of the gardener but I'm not sure. I suppose he was shot b/c he had something to do w/ the nightwatchmen. also why did she even bother to talk about the visit to paris and the father pretending that his friend tried to set him up w/ another professor? why did the professor make up his daughters (psyche and whatever her name is)? Just to throw Blue off the scent? Did Lu and Jade have sex w/ the guys in the bar bathroom to emmulate what the *thought* Hannah was doing at Cottonwoods? Please help me!

[Rombod]

Hi.

Yes, I believe we are meant to think it's Andreo's cologne that follows Blue around everywhere. I think he was the "assassin" of the Nightwatchmen and that he killed Hannah for these reasons:

1. While listing deaths supposedly attached to TNW, the following hit is mentioned: "In November 2000, an executive at the center of an accounting fraud, Mark Lecinque, had unexpectedly hanged himself at his family home twenty minutes north of Baton Rouge a pistol—fully loaded, apart for a single bullet—was found on the floor next to him." After Andreo arrives on Blue's doorstep with a "single bullet" in him, the cleaning company they used is said to arrive from Baton Rouge to clean the blood-stained steps. From these clues, he's clearly the hit-man. Perhaps the gardening was just a cover? Not sure about that part.

2. While he gardens, Blue notes "(He always threw the stub in a
clandestine place, tossing it behind a bromeliad or into a dense section of bamboo without even making sure it was extinguished.)" which given the still-lit cigarette butts at the campsite before Hannah is killed, and the camouflage and night-vision goggles Blue sees him buying, implies it was him at the campsite, and from the fact that his previous hit (the Baton Rogue one) was made to look like a suicide, it is very likely it is he who killed Hannah,

3. The infamous cologne is, as you suggested, his, I believe: Blue remarks that the smell on the Brighella costume reminds her faintly of Howard and Wallmark, both direct ties to Andreo.

4. The visit to Paris, I think, was a cover for a Nightwatchmen meeting (both her dad and the professor are implied to be members—the limping clue and fake professors invited to dinner as recruits, etc) and with suspected-member Andreo floating around, this is almost confirmed. It's even possible they convened to decide what to do with Hannah, and resolved to have her killed. I don't think he did make his daughters up. Not sure about that.

5. That's an interesting theory about Jade and Lu emulating Hannah. I have a feeling, though, they were probably just doing it for thrills and to feel good about themselves (or whatever). You'll remember that they are repulsed by Hannah's Cottonwood behaviour, with Lu in particular making them promise she won't behave like that. I'm not too sure it's something they'd want to emulate.

Hope that helps.

[Lynn G.]

Rombod wrote: "Hi.

Yes, I believe we are meant to think it's Andreo's cologne that follows Blue around everywhere. I think he was the "assassin" of the Nightwatchmen and that he killed Hannah for these reasons:
..."

Rambod, thanks for your insights into this book. I became so bogged down in the distraction of the parenthtical asides that I missed much of what you found. Yet, I still enjoyed the book.

[Steve]

Same here, Lynn. Thanks Rombod, Andreo's possible involvement never occurred to me. I kinda wish Pessl made that link clearer.

[Sarah]

Rombod wrote: "Hi.

Yes, I believe we are meant to think it's Andreo's cologne that follows Blue around everywhere. I think he was the "assassin" of the Nightwatchmen and that he killed Hannah for these reasons:
..."
Andreo called out for his father when he was shot. Do you think his father is Servo? Gareth asks Servo about his son who studied in Mexico. Maybe Andreo never says much because Spanish is his second language. Maybe he just lets people assume that he's Hispanic. Blue thinks she hears someone speaking Greek at Hannah's party. He may have used the camoflage from WalMart in the woods the night he killed Hannah. I missed the clue about Andreo dropping cigarette butts. That was a good observation.