Chapter 54: Marliss's Memorial and a New Cold Case

⚠️ 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

On Tuesday morning, Joanna Brady is at her desk writing Marliss Shackleford's eulogy when she answers a call from Sheriff Tom Malloy of Hall County, Nebraska. He saw Joanna on Good Morning America and asks if they found a green barrette in Stephen Roper’s trophy case. The barrette belonged to Wendy Adams, a girl who vanished from the Nebraska State Fair in August 1991. After confirming the barrette, Roper admits he is responsible. Sheriff Malloy jokingly asks about Girl Scout cookies, reminding Joanna of Anna Rae Green’s earlier prediction that the press conference would pay off.

At 3 p.m., Joanna arrives at Higgins Funeral Home in upper Bisbee, an hour early for the service. The chapel is already full, with extra chairs and loudspeakers set up in the lobby. Norm Higgins tells Joanna that Marliss’s mother, Dianne Borison, paid for the cremation and reception but left without attending, claiming she needed to return to her husband in California. She leaves a note thanking Joanna for being her daughter’s friend and asks Higgins to entrust the ashes to Joanna, writing that she is too old to go mountain climbing. Joanna is furious that Dianne ignored both her and her daughter’s wishes.

The memorial service is one of the best attended in recent memory; people stand outside in the street. Marliss’s web-based reporting on the Cochise County Courier had filled a void after the Bisbee Bee ceased. Joanna gives brief remarks, acknowledging their differences but praising Marliss as a dedicated reporter who died pursuing an evil man. She thanks the community for honoring Marliss’s work. Marianne Maculyea closes the service.

Joanna almost skips the reception to avoid being grilled about the Stephen Roper case, but she spots retired detective Ernie Carpenter and is glad she stayed. Ernie, who had a serious prostate cancer diagnosis, says a new treatment worked and he and his wife Rose have returned from full-time RV living to a rental in Huachuca Terraces. Joanna realizes Ernie might want to return to work and offers him a cold case file with about ninety unidentified victims. Ernie enthusiastically accepts, offering to work for free out of boredom, and agrees to start the next day.

Key Events

Joanna receives a call from Sheriff Tom Malloy about a green barrette linked to Wendy Adams, a 1991 Nebraska State Fair disappearance.
Roper confirms his responsibility for Wendy Adams’s case after seeing the barrette.
Joanna learns that Marliss’s mother paid for the funeral but left without attending, leaving a note entrusting Marliss’s ashes to Joanna.
Marliss’s memorial service draws a large crowd, both inside and outside the funeral home.
Joanna delivers a eulogy honoring Marliss’s work and sacrifice.
Joanna encounters Ernie Carpenter, who reveals his cancer treatment was successful and he is back in Bisbee.
Joanna offers Ernie the chance to work on the large cold case file of unidentified victims, and he eagerly accepts starting tomorrow.

Character Development

Joanna Brady shows resilience by writing a respectful eulogy for a former adversary, balancing professional duty with personal grief. Her anger at Dianne Borison’s neglect reinforces her empathy for victims and their families. She also demonstrates leadership by quickly recruiting Ernie to tackle the cold cases.
Ernie Carpenter transitions from a cancer survivor facing boredom to a revitalized investigator eager to contribute again, highlighting his dedication and renewed purpose.
Dianne Borison remains distant and self-centered, abandoning her daughter’s memorial and refusing to honor Marliss’s wish to have her ashes spread on a mountain.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Justice and Identification: The green barrette serves as a symbol of a victim long forgotten—Wendy Adams—now finally identified through persistence and media exposure.
Community Mourning: The overflowing memorial reflects how Marliss’s reporting embedded her in the community; her death unites people in a shared loss.
Second Chances: Ernie’s recovery and his eagerness to work illustrate that life can offer new purpose after illness, mirroring how cold cases may still be solved.
Legacy vs. Neglect: Marliss’s mother’s absence contrasts with the crowd of mourners, emphasizing that true legacy is built through connections, not blood.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter ties together two storylines: the expanding scope of Stephen Roper’s crimes beyond Arizona, and the personal fallout for Joanna after Marliss’s death. The identification of Wendy Adams opens the possibility of many more victims being linked through the trophy case evidence. Meanwhile, Joanna’s recruitment of Ernie Carpenter signals a new phase—she is now actively organizing cold case investigations, shifting from reactive to proactive work. Ernie’s return also provides Joanna with a trusted ally, lightening her investigative load as she continues to deal with the aftermath of the Roper case.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What new evidence links Stephen Roper to a 1991 disappearance?
A green barrette found in Roper’s trophy case matches a girl named Wendy Adams, who disappeared from the Nebraska State Fair in August 1991. Sheriff Malloy of Hall County spotted the barrette on the news, contacted Joanna, and after confirmation, Roper admitted responsibility.

2. How does Joanna handle the memorial service for Marliss?
Joanna arrives early, speaks briefly and respectfully despite their difficult history, acknowledges Marliss’s dedication to reporting, and notes that she died chasing a dangerous criminal. Her eulogy focuses on honoring Marliss’s work and the community’s support.

3. What opportunity does Joanna offer Ernie Carpenter, and why?
Joanna offers Ernie the chance to work on a cold case file containing roughly ninety unidentified victims that likely link to Stephen Roper. She makes the offer because Ernie is retired, bored, and recently healthy after successful cancer treatment; he accepts enthusiastically and will start the next day without pay.