A Visit from Patti Love unfolds in 1969 when Patti Love Andrews, the grieving mother of Chase Andrews, makes a pivotal visit to the sheriff’s office. Dressed in mourning attire, her eyes filled with sorrow and a lingering sense of disbelief, Patti Love presents herself as a woman who has yet to accept the tragic loss of her son. She is convinced that Chase’s death wasn’t simply a freak accident but something far more sinister. She shares her growing suspicion with Sheriff Ed and Deputy Joe, expressing her belief that someone was involved in his untimely demise, not just the unfortunate circumstances. At the heart of this suspicion is the mysteriously missing shell necklace, an item of great sentimental value that Chase had been wearing the night he died. Patti Love explains that the necklace, a gift from the Marsh Girl, was not among the belongings returned by the coroner, leading her to conclude that its absence could be a crucial piece of the puzzle—an indication of foul play, rather than an accidental death. She argues that the theft of such a meaningful item suggests a deliberate act, hinting at the possible involvement of someone close to Chase and perhaps even a jealous lover.

The conversation between Patti Love and the sheriff becomes increasingly tense as more details about Chase’s life and relationships emerge. Despite his marriage to Pearl, the rumor mill had long churned with whispers about an affair between Chase and the enigmatic Marsh Girl, a reclusive woman known for her work gathering mussels and for navigating the swampy waters of the marsh in her old, weather-beaten boat. Patti Love, now sharing her suspicions with the authorities, paints a picture of a woman driven by jealousy and resentment, someone who, in her mind, might have gone to drastic lengths to settle old wounds. Her theory is that the Marsh Girl, possibly feeling betrayed by Chase’s marriage, took the necklace as a personal trophy or evidence of her anger, further suggesting that Kya, the Marsh Girl, could be responsible for Chase’s death. This shift in focus from the initially suspected accident to a more personal and violent confrontation adds a layer of complexity to the case, with deeper emotional and psychological motivations coming into play. Kya, once seen as an outsider in the community, now becomes central to a murder investigation, where both her past relationships with Chase and the mystery surrounding the missing necklace are fueling suspicions.

The absence of the shell necklace becomes a critical turning point in the investigation, shifting the focus to Kya. Sheriff Ed and Deputy Joe now see a new direction in the case: the Marsh Girl, once just a figure on the fringes of town life, is now being considered as a potential suspect. They begin to wonder if someone familiar with the marsh’s winding paths and secluded spots could have lured Chase into a trap, orchestrating a fatal encounter under the guise of a romantic meeting. The idea that the Marsh Girl may have orchestrated Chase’s death, or at least played a role in it, is a stark contrast to the initially simple narrative of a tragic accident. With this fresh lead, the investigation is reinvigorated, though it also becomes more complicated, as the missing necklace might be the only tangible piece of evidence pointing to Kya’s involvement.

The chapter draws to a close with a decisive shift in the investigation. Sheriff Ed and Deputy Joe, now armed with the suspicion surrounding Kya, decide to pursue this new lead, beginning with questioning her about her whereabouts on the night of Chase’s death. They also intend to press her on the missing necklace, which could hold the key to unlocking the mystery behind his demise. This new development raises the stakes in the case, and as the investigation deepens, the line between truth and rumor blurs. The chapter illustrates how the community’s long-held prejudices and suspicions have shaped their view of Kya, turning her into a suspect in a crime she may not have committed. The tangled web of relationships, secrets, and hidden motives slowly unravels, leaving the reader questioning whether Kya’s connection to Chase was truly innocent or if there was more beneath the surface of their complicated past.