Chapter 9 Summary: Practice Testimony

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens early the next morning, before court is scheduled. Bodie meets with two assistant defense counsel – Hector and Liz – in the “Blue Ballroom” of the Calvin Inn for a practice testimony session. The room is large, carpeted in a stained paisley, and furnished with wedding-style chairs. Bodie learns that the state’s cross-examinations are taking longer than expected, so her own testimony will likely be delayed until late tomorrow. Britt Gwynne is expected to testify that day about the blood evidence.

Alder keeps Bodie updated via text, reporting on the judge’s demeanor and Omar’s visible state, but without revealing actual testimony content. Hector begins by reminding Bodie about sequestration orders and hands her a list of the judge’s rules. Liz, who will play the role of the prosecutor, immediately launches into questioning.

The easy part covers her name, job, dates at Granby, and rooming with Thalia. Then Liz asks about Bodie’s 2018 visit, her podcast role, and the discovery of the blood. They review the 1993–1994 and 1994–1995 planners, with Bodie explaining her color-coded interpretation. Liz asks if Bodie knows of anyone Thalia was romantically involved with besides Robbie Serenho. Bodie states her strong belief that Thalia was involved with music director Dennis Bloch, citing the Bethesda Fountain incident, time spent alone in his classroom, lingering after rehearsals, and Thalia’s yearbook entry.

Liz then shifts into cross-examination mode, adopting a harsh tone. She presses Bodie on whether Thalia ever told her what her planner dots meant, whether Thalia ever mentioned a relationship with Bloch, and whether Bodie ever saw them kissing or touching. Bodie has to admit she never saw any of that directly. Liz seizes on the ankle-touching incident, questioning how that one observation could support an assumption of a sexual relationship. Bodie feels her confidence eroding.

Liz further presses: did Bodie approach investigators in 1995? No, because they didn’t ask about Thalia’s love life. Then Liz suggests that Bodie’s suggestion to search the athletic shed could be used by the prosecution to imply she planted evidence. Bodie realizes the defense is bracing for that attack. Liz asks if Bodie wants a break; Bodie very much does.

Key Events

• Bodie meets with Hector and Liz for practice testimony at the Calvin Inn.
• Discovery that her testimony is delayed; Britt will testify about blood evidence.
• Liz walks Bodie through easy questions about identity and her Granby connection.
• Bodie states her belief in Thalia’s relationship with Dennis Bloch, citing the ankle-touching and other indicators.
• Liz role-plays a prosecutor, aggressively undermining Bodie’s interpretations.
• Bodie admits she never had direct knowledge from Thalia about the planner or the relationship.
• Liz challenges the ankle-touching as feeble evidence.
• Bodie reveals she suggested searching the athletic shed.
• Liz warns that the prosecution may accuse Bodie of staging or meddling.
• Bodie’s confidence wavers; she realizes speaking Bloch’s name in court may produce no effect.

Character Development

• Bodie Kane: Throughout the practice, Bodie moves from assured preparation to painful self-doubt. She repeatedly second-guesses her own memory and the strength of her evidence. The simulated cross‑examination makes her feel like a “meddling fame whore,” and she confronts the possibility that naming Bloch might not ignite public outrage. Her vulnerability and frustration deepen.
• Hector: The younger attorney is nervous but professional. He records the session for Amy and offers encouragement (“Remember how you phrased that”). His presence adds a layer of support.
• Liz: She is skillful and aggressive in her role. She pushes Bodie to her limits, exposing weaknesses in the case. Her shift from friendly coach to harsh prosecutor shows the dual role defense attorneys must play.
• Thalia Keith: Though absent, she is central. The chapter reinforces how little anyone really knew her inner life – her planner marks, her relationship with Bloch – and how Bodie’s interpretations may be just guesses.
• Dennis Bloch: He remains a shadowy figure, referenced as the object of Bodie’s suspicion. His power over Thalia is implied but unproven.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

• Memory and Interpretation: The chapter foregrounds the gap between what Bodie observed and what she inferred. The ankle-touching, the planner dots – all are shown to be ambiguous. The motif of “interpretation” recurs, underlining the fallibility of memory.
• Credibility and Gender: Bodie fears being seen as a “nosy person, overinvolved, trying to make a name.” This reflects how women’s testimony is often dismissed as meddling or attention‑seeking. The practice mimics the real cross‑examination she will face.
• Power and Silence: The unequal power between a teacher (Bloch) and a student (Thalia) is central, yet Bodie’s evidence rests on circumstantial details. The chapter questions whether silence – Thalia’s never telling Bodie – is meaningful.
• Justice as Performance: The practice session is a theatrical rehearsal. The ballroom setting, role‑playing, and scripted questions highlight how trials are constructed narratives.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Bodie’s confidence in her own narrative. It strips away the self‑assurance she had built through the podcast and prepares the reader for a trial outcome that may be ambiguous. It also raises the stakes: if Bodie’s testimony can be dismantled, then the entire case against Bloch may collapse. The chapter underscores the fragility of memory and the difficulty of proving abuse when only indirect evidence exists. Moreover, it foreshadows the defense’s strategy – to paint Bodie as unreliable – and shows Bodie’s psychological preparation for that attack.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Liz push Bodie so hard about the ankle‑touching incident?
Liz wants Bodie to see how a prosecutor will trivialize her evidence. By forcing Bodie to admit that ankle‑touching could be innocent, Liz makes Bodie confront the weakness of her case. This prepares Bodie to face similarly aggressive questioning in court.

2. What does Bodie realize when Liz suggests the prosecution might imply she staged the blood evidence?
Bodie realizes that her role in the case can be turned against her. Instead of being a helpful witness, she could be painted as a meddler who planted evidence to gain attention. This insight deepens her anxiety about testifying.

3. How does the practice testimony illustrate the theme of interpretation?
Throughout the session, Bodie is forced to admit that her conclusions are based on inference, not direct knowledge. The planner marks could mean homework; the ankle‑touching could be accidental. The chapter shows that interpretation is subjective and subject to attack, making Bodie’s entire theory fragile.