Later Chapter 23 Summary and 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
Jamie Conklin and Liz Dutton drive to the Frederick Arms, a grim high‑rise in a rough neighborhood. The building is surrounded by police officers, sawhorse barricades, and news vans; a Channel 4 helicopter circles overhead. Jamie spots NY1 reporter Stacy‑Anne Conway on the scene. Liz, visibly upset, says they will never get inside Kenneth Therriault’s apartment. Jamie suggests they might attend Therriault’s funeral, but Liz believes he will be cremated privately with no relatives. As they turn back toward the Queensboro Bridge, Jamie glimpses a small grocery store and declares he sees Therriault. The shock causes him to vomit between his sneakers. Liz accepts this as confirmation that Jamie’s supernatural sight has indeed located the ghost of the man they were hunting.
Key Events
- Liz and Jamie arrive at the Frederick Arms, only to find it cordoned off by police.
- Jamie notices Stacy‑Anne Conway reporting for NY1.
- Liz weeps, expressing her belief they have failed in their mission.
- Jamie suggests attending Therriault’s funeral; Liz explains he will be cremated without a public service.
- During the drive away, Jamie suddenly sees Therriault’s ghost standing near a grocery store.
- Jamie vomits, confirming his identification of the ghost.
Character Development
Jamie Conklin: This chapter underscores Jamie’s deep connection to the supernatural world. His visceral reaction (vomiting) when he spots Therriault shows that seeing the dead still affects him physically. He also displays empathy by patting Liz’s hand—a gesture his mother would not approve of, but which reveals his growing emotional maturity.
Liz Dutton: Liz’s despair is raw and immediate; she cries when she realizes the police presence prevents them from reaching the apartment. Her tears indicate how much this case (and finding Therriault) means to her. Yet she remains pragmatic, predicting the private cremation and making the decision to head home. Her trust in Jamie is complete: one look at his vomit is “all the answer she needed.”
Kenneth Therriault: Although absent physically, Therriault’s ghost appears briefly at the grocery. He remains a spectral figure tied to the locations Jamie is drawn to.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Police as Obstacle: The overwhelming police presence turns the Frederick Arms into a prison‑like fortress. The barricades, news vans, and helicopter represent the official world that cannot see the dead—a barrier that only Jamie’s gift can bypass.
Vomiting as Physical Manifestation: Jamie’s vomiting is not just disgust but a physical sign that his supernatural sight has triggered a shock. It mirrors earlier moments in the novel when contact with the dead disrupts his body.
Grief and Determination: Liz’s tears and Jamie’s quiet pat on her hand show how the search for a dead man has forged a shared emotional burden. Their bond is tested but remains intact.
Why This Chapter Matters
This short chapter is a hinge point. After chapters of searching, Jamie finally locates Therriault’s ghost, proving that his ability can track the dead outside of controlled settings. The police blockade intensifies the tension: Jamie and Liz cannot access the building itself, but Jamie’s vision offers a new lead. It also reinforces the theme that the dead do not always appear where living authorities expect them. The chapter sets up the next phase—a potential confrontation with Therriault’s ghost away from the thick of the investigation.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Jamie vomit after seeing Therriault’s ghost?
Jamie’s vomiting is a physical reaction to the sudden, shocking encounter with a dead person he has been hunting. His body often rebells when he first sees a ghost, and the intensity of this particular sighting—combined with the stressful day—triggers the reflex.
2. What does Liz’s reaction (crying) reveal about her character?
Liz’s tears show that this case is personally important to her, possibly because she feels responsible for Kenneth Therriault or because she fears failing. They also contrast with her usual tough‑as‑nails demeanor, humanizing her in Jamie’s eyes.
3. How does the police presence affect the plot in this chapter?
The police barricade prevents Jamie and Liz from reaching Therriault’s apartment, forcing them to abandon their original plan. This creates a setback that later redirects their investigation—now they must follow the ghost’s new location rather than the physical building.