Chapter 85: Veena and Janie Discover a Police Scene at Roz’s
⚠️ 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 (Complete and Chronological)
The chapter opens at 12:25 p.m. as Veena and Janie ride in a rideshare toward Roz Cline’s condo. Veena grows uneasy about the unusually slow traffic on Third Street. She checks the skyline for signs of trouble but sees nothing obvious, which only heightens her concern. She instructs the driver to pull over, offering an obscene tip to compensate for the shortened ride. Janie agrees without hesitation, and the two women walk east on Market Street.
As they battle the bitter January wind, Veena explains that slow traffic often means police activity. They suspect something is wrong near Roz’s building. At the end of the block, near the ramp to Penn’s Landing, they find two police vans blocking traffic and officers redirecting pedestrians. More police cars and an EMT truck arriving with sirens confirm the seriousness of the situation. Veena notes the absence of fire engines, suggesting the incident is not a fire.
Janie mentions her old press pass, five years out of date, and Veena encourages her to use it. They slip through the blockade by heading up Church Street past Christ Church and go unnoticed among the police vehicles. A crowd has gathered, and they catch fragments of conversation: someone cannot see anything, another warns that “you don’t want to look,” and a frustrated resident complains about being unable to get back to their apartment. Most chilling is the question: “Anybody actually see her jump?” The implication is clear: someone—likely Roz—has jumped from the building.
Key Events
- Veena notices abnormal traffic and decides to abandon the rideshare early.
- She and Janie walk toward Roz’s condo, encountering a police blockade.
- They use Janie’s outdated press pass to bypass the police.
- Veena and Janie hear crowd members discuss a possible jumper.
- The chapter ends without confirming who jumped, but the location and context point to Roz Cline.
Character Development
Veena demonstrates sharp observational skills and a strong protective instinct. She trusts her gut about the traffic and takes proactive steps to get closer to the scene. Her leadership is clear in directing Janie. Janie shows her loyalty by following Veena’s lead and digging out her old press pass, indicating she is willing to take risks for the investigation. The off-screen Roz Cline remains the focal point of the crisis, her fate uncertain but dire.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Instinct vs. Reason: Veena acts on a vague feeling of unease rather than concrete evidence, highlighting the importance of intuition in detective work.
- Urban Danger: The city streets, usually mundane, become a site of potential tragedy, emphasizing the vulnerability of public figures and the unpredictable nature of crime.
- The Press Pass as a Tool: Janie’s outdated credential symbolizes the duo’s reliance on past connections and their ability to circumvent official barriers, a recurring motif in the book.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter raises the stakes dramatically. The strong police and EMT response, combined with the crowd’s talk of a jumper, suggests that Roz Cline may have died by suicide or been attacked. The investigation now pivots from locating a missing person to possibly investigating a death. Veena and Janie’s decision to insert themselves into the scene underscores their commitment to uncovering the truth, regardless of the personal risk.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why did Veena decide to get out of the rideshare early?
Answer: She noticed the traffic was moving much slower than usual, which she associated with police activity. Her unease grew despite seeing no external signs of trouble, so she chose to proceed on foot to gain a better understanding of the situation. -
How did Veena and Janie manage to get past the police blockade?
Answer: Janie used her old press pass, even though it was five years out of date. They took a less conspicuous route up Church Street and through Christ Church, and the police did not pay them much attention, allowing them to slip through. -
What did the crowd’s comments suggest about the incident?
Answer: The crowd’s remarks included someone asking “Anybody actually see her jump?” and warnings that “you don’t want to look.” This strongly implies that a person—likely Roz Cline—jumped from a height, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.