Chapter One Hundred Seven Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Jane returns home and sees a missed call from Jimmy, but his phone is off. She decides to call her sister Brigid and confess everything: her visit to Edmund McKenzie’s house, what she did there, and the potential consequences for both of them. Brigid is silent at first, then erupts in anger. She accuses Jane of always doing what she wants without regard for others, especially after promising to stay away to keep Brigid safe. Brigid declares she is leaving town to save her marriage and tells Jane she loves her but calls her a selfish bitch before hanging up. Jane notes it is the second time that night she has been called that.
Jane tries Jimmy again but fails. She thinks about the upcoming trial—jury selection is days away—but feels that the case is just one piece of a larger story. She admits that perhaps Brigid is right, but she is tired of being threatened and pushed around. She reflects on her ex-husband Martin and how she never let him dominate her for long. She thinks about her father, Jack Smith, and remembers a dream from the previous night: young Jack watching her play hockey from the stands, then vanishing when she tries to find him after the game. Jack hated being alone and worked hard to avoid an empty apartment after his daughters left for college.
Jane takes her dog Rip for a walk, carrying her Glock. She sets the alarm and places the gun on the bedside table rather than in the drawer. She leaves the bedroom door cracked with a light on, not wanting total darkness. The chapter ends with Jane reflecting that her father was not the only one who met all kinds of people—so has his little girl.
Key Events
- Jane arrives home and sees a missed call from Jimmy; his phone is off.
- Jane calls Brigid and confesses her actions at McKenzie’s house.
- Brigid responds with anger, calls Jane selfish, and says she is leaving to save her marriage.
- Jane reflects on being called a “selfish bitch” twice that night.
- Jane recalls the end of her marriage to Martin and her refusal to be controlled.
- Jane dreams of her father Jack Smith watching her hockey game; he is younger and disappears afterward.
- Jane walks Rip with her Glock, then sets the alarm and leaves the gun on the bedside table.
- Jane leaves a light on and the bedroom door cracked.
Character Development
Jane’s defiant, independent nature is on full display. She admits her actions may have endangered Brigid but justifies them as necessary because they were already in danger. Her willingness to break promises and act alone shows a deepening recklessness, even as she prepares for a high-stakes trial. Brigid’s raw anger reveals the strain Jane’s choices place on their relationship; Brigid prioritizes her marriage and distance over solidarity. Jane’s memory of her father and the dream reinforce how she sees herself as his daughter—tough, stubborn, and unwilling to be pushed. The dream also hints at unresolved feelings about his loneliness and her own isolation.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Inheritance of defiance: Jane explicitly identifies as “my father’s daughter,” linking her stubbornness to Jack Smith’s tough ex-Marine persona.
- The gun as symbol: Placing the Glock on the bedside table instead of in the drawer signals Jane’s heightened vigilance and possible death wish, as she acknowledges.
- Aloneness: Jack Smith’s hatred of being alone is echoed in Jane’s decision to keep the door cracked and a light on, suggesting a fear of complete darkness and solitude.
- Selfishness vs. loyalty: Brigid’s accusation and Jane’s internal debate highlight the conflict between personal autonomy and familial responsibility.
- Cancer as uncontrollable force: Jane contrasts the choice she made tonight with the disease she had no choice over, framing her actions as reclaiming control.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the rift between Jane and Brigid, potentially removing one of Jane’s few emotional supports as she heads into trial. It reinforces Jane’s willingness to disregard promises and take risks, setting the stage for further confrontations. The reflection on Jack Smith introduces a backstory that may connect to the larger mystery Jane suspects. The dream and the gun motif build tension for the coming trial and the personal battle Jane faces.
Study Questions and Answers
Q1: Why does Brigid call Jane a “selfish bitch”? A1: Brigid is furious because Jane went back on her promise to leave the investigation alone in order to keep Brigid safe. Jane’s actions at McKenzie’s house likely put them both back in danger, and Brigid feels Jane prioritized her own need for action over Brigid’s safety.
Q2: What does Jane’s dream about her father reveal about her current state of mind? A2: The dream shows Jack Smith younger and alone in the stands, watching Jane play hockey but vanishing when she seeks him after the game. It reveals Jane’s longing for her father’s presence and approval, a sense of being observed, and a fear of abandonment. It also reinforces her identity as stubborn and self-reliant, like him.
Q3: How does this chapter set up Jane’s mindset for the upcoming trial? A3: Jane explicitly states that the trial no longer feels all-consuming; she sees it as just one element of a larger story. This indicates she will likely continue her own investigation rather than focus solely on legal strategy. Her heightened alertness (leaving the gun on the table) suggests she expects danger and is prepared to confront it.