@morriswalters
I don’t know that every thread is solved by CD. Here are some of them:
- Who invites Madrigal Raith to SplatterCon!!! a year ago? Has Maeve been Nfected for a year at this point?
- Why is Mab in the Winter garden? What is the purpose of the garden? What are the other statues in the garden?
- Who all were involved in the attack on Arctis Tor? When did it occur?
- Who hits Harry’s car in the beginning?
- Why were Summer & Winter forces aligned at the border for months against each other despite the Ramps encroaching on their territory?
Regarding your earlier question about the Gatekeeper - he seems to be able to sense black magic outside of linear time - no doubt his mantle & eye help.
Sandra Marling. Unless you have a simpler theory this is a foreshadowing of the events in White Knight. Somebody wanted the finger pointed at Madrigal. Harry was more than likely supposed to go all Harry on him, leaving a corpse. Yes, Maeve was infected by the time of Dead Beat, because at that point Lea is detained by Mab although she is unaware that Maeve is compromised. After that point she couldn't have gotten to Maeve.
Mab is watching, see the final paragraph. A prison. The other statures are described by JB in some WOJ.
We know the identity of the Denarian involved although no one else in particular. In the description we know that the deaths of the guard is caused by hellfire thus placing the Denarian and his identity is revealed in Small Favor. The attack occurs sometime during the events of Dead Beat. Somewhere around the same time the Reds attack the Senior Council calling in the aid of Outsiders.
Ace is the driver, Murphy describes the attack as an attack of opportunity. The only other candidate is Cassius. But no wizard could safely make the bombs used later. And Cassius can still use magic as evidenced by his attack on Mouse in the museum. By the time of Cold Days it is fairly obvious that Ace has been following Harry and in point of fact has stolen from Harry's repertoire. As evidenced by his use of the Wyld Fae. Consider his father is the Red Cap and remember Harry's description of him.
The attacks on the Winter Court were designed to pin Mab to the borders of Winter and to keep her from retaliating against the Reds. While Maeve was doing her whisper campaign against Mab she was using Lilly as a pawn. This serves to keep Mab in the dark about the degree of Summers involvement. Down two of her primary allies Mab has restricted freedom of motion and must react as if Summer is preparing to attack even though she suspects otherwise.
The attack itself probably had no other purpose. There is no indicator that shows that other than kicking down the door that anything else occurred.
Lea's involvement in Changes is almost certainly payback for the events of Arctis Tor. Changes, Cold Days and Skin Game are all payback books, where Mab wreaks vengeance of those who wronged her. The Reds, Maeve and Nicodemus.
I suspect that Mab told the Gatekeeper. She's on a war footing and is watching everything. Mab's plan is designed to expose the traitor or traitors within Winter. Her involvement consists entirely of warning Harry. After that it's all about watching the pieces move. Mab simply turned the light on in a roach infected kitchen(our illustrious wizard) and watched where everybody scurried. Scarecrow was acting under someones orders, probably Maeve's. This is the simplest explanation of his behavior. Lucius Glau was coopted by somebody, probably in Egypt. A number there will turn up on his sisters phone in Turn Coat. She could have back stabbed him, that's questionable and I won't support it. Taking Molly to Arctis Tor has no benefit to Mab, but plays to Maeve's story that Mab is crazy. Mab will tell Harry in Cold Days that she had another purpose in mind for Molly.