Odd Thomas

Odd watches Robertson, reluctant to reveal his presence, and the cat mirrors his unease. Little Ozzie returns, and while Odd is distracted, Robertson disappears. After Odd explains the situation, Ozzie suggests he get a gun for protection, which Odd declines due to his dislike of them. Ozzie says Odd should be cautious regarding Robertson, as it’s clear someone may be following him. As Odd heads to the kitchen to get more wine, he discovers Robertson appeared in the backyard.

Odd pursues Robertson from Ozzie’s backyard into the thick trees that cut the yard off from the neighbors. He calls out to Robertson but receives no response. Odd eventually finds the back gate closed, indicating the other man’s exit. After securing the house, Odd recounts the encounter to Ozzie, who is surprised and concerned. They discuss the audacity of Robertson’s actions, and Odd expresses his fear of him. Ozzie agrees to take precautions and locks his doors. Odd takes a winding route to avoid being followed when he leaves, eventually arriving at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church. Despite no immediate threats, he feels watched and on edge.

Odd meets up with Stormy at the church, the tallest structure in Pico Mundo. At the top of the church’s bell tower, they enjoy snacks and wine while discussing recent events, including Little Ozzie’s cow incident and Odd’s encounters with Robertson. As they watch the sunset, Odd notices Robertson in the cemetery below, staring at them and making obscene gestures. Odd tries to convince Stormy to leave, but she refuses. Eventually, they descend the tower, leaving their dinner behind.

Odd and Stormy navigate the dim church after leaving the bell tower and hide in the sacristy. Odd worries Robertson might be lurking nearby, and his knowledge of Robertson’s obsession with mass murderers and serial killers keeps him on edge. They cautiously explore escape options, mindful of the potential danger posed by Robertson, who stands between them and Terri’s car outside. Following their shared intuition, they silently agree on a plan: Odd will unlock the sanctuary door, and if Robertson attacks, Stormy will open the outer door and call for help.

Odd unlocks the door, and they reenter the church proper. As they go to the main doors, they hear crashes from the sacristy. They choose not to investigate and instead hurry away. While they drive, Odd has Stormy call Chief Porter. When she does, he gives the chief an account of their encounter with Robertson and the threat to the church.

Chief Porter is concerned about the vandalism but believes it might be an opportunity to investigate Robertson further. He also mentions the upcoming August 15th deadline and the need to understand what Robertson is planning. Chief Porter sees this as an opportunity to investigate Robertson further.

While waiting for Chief Porter to call back, Odd and Stormy sit in a parking lot. Stormy asks Odd about his break-in at Robertson’s house. Their conversation shifts toward their relationship, with Stormy saying she already accepted Odd’s numerous marriage proposals in her way. Odd expresses his desire to improve their financial situation, but she says she’s not marrying him for his money. Their conversation is interrupted by the chief, who says the church was vandalized but the perpetrator was gone when the police arrived. As they drive away to search for Robertson, Stormy insists on retrieving her pistol for protection. Odd argues against it, and when she asks why he’s afraid of guns, he retorts by asking why she’s scared of sex. He immediately regrets his words and reveals Stormy’s past to the reader. When she was seven, she was sexually assaulted by her adoptive father for months until she reported him to a social worker. Odd apologizes, and they reconcile.

Odd and Stormy drive to Green Moon Lanes, the bowling alley, because of his recurring dreams. They don’t spot Robertson’s car in the parking lot. Despite Odd’s apprehensions, they enter the bowling alley. Odd becomes uneasy as they explore, with the sounds of crashing pins taking on an ominous tone. Stormy suggests they look around and see if Odd gets any “bad vibes.” He notices the employee is wearing tan slacks and a green polo shirt, the same uniform as the victims in his dream. As they continue their investigation, Odd spots a young blonde woman behind the bar who matches the description of one of the victims from his dream.

Odd and Stormy sit in the bar of Green Moon Lanes. He is anxious to leave the bowling alley, but Story doesn’t want to. Odd contacts Chief Porter, who dispatches an officer to the scene to watch for Robertson. Stormy intends to warn the bartender, the blonde from Odd’s dream, to prevent violence. However, Odd hesitates to interfere, fearing that altering one person’s fate may lead to another person’s death. Eventually, they leave the bowling alley. They’re stopped by Simon Varner, another new officer, who was the one sent to watch the bowling alley. He asks them what they know about Robertson, and Stormy notices a tattoo on his arm that says POD. They manage to leave the conversation, and Odd worries about how unprepared Varner seems for an attack.

They next visit Viola, the waitress who dreamed of dying, at her home near Camp’s End. Odd presses for details of the dream. She recalls strange light, running from something, and the noise of a large crowd. Viola reveals she doesn’t see the event where she gets shot but finds herself looking down at her dead face, covered in blood. She also describes a dead man lying beside her, one arm twisted behind his back, dressed in khaki pants and a blood-spattered green polo shirt. Odd remembers this is the new uniform employees wore at the bowling alley.

Odd asks Viola about her plans for August 15th, her day off. Her plans include household chores in the morning, taking her daughters to a movie in the afternoon, and dinner at the Grille. He suggests she should change her plans to avoid crowds and public places, and she agrees. Odd describes Robertson to her and says she should avoid him. On intuition, he asks to see Viola’s daughters. Viola takes him and Stormy to the girls’ room, where they sleep peacefully. Odd sees five bodachs standing in the room.

Odd can’t do anything to banish the bodachs but still doesn’t tell Viola about them. Instead, he assures her daughters are safe due to the window bars. He advises her again to keep them away from public places the next day. He also tells her not to reveal her plans and insists on personally taking the family to Viola’s sister’s house the following morning to ensure their safety.

As midnight approaches, beginning August 15th, Odd and Stormy park behind the Pico Mundo Grille. Stormy suggests a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas, and Odd reminisces about his grandmother, who taught him poker, and why he doesn’t gamble. Stormy says she suggested Vegas because she wants to get married, and Odd questions the rush after her previous hesitation. She fears for his safety and becomes emotional, prompting Odd to reassure her that everything will be fine and they’ll plan their wedding soon. She tells him to stop tempting fate with his optimism. Odd writes on how he changed since that night but says Ozzie is telling him not to let the narrative get too dark.

Odd and Stormy go to Terri’s apartment behind the diner to return her car. Odd mentions taking Elvis for a ride and says he seems worried. This further alarms Stormy. She interprets Elvis’s actions as a warning, while Odd disagrees. Despite her pleas to avoid danger, he feels compelled to help as a psychic investigator. He reflects on Terri and Stormy’s love and concern, noting they are the most important women in his life.