Chapter Thirty-Seven: Fear and Revelation on Ba’ Day

⚠️ 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

During the Kirkwall Ba’ game, Perez spots Barbara Johnson in the crowd and wonders why she is there. Head teacher Lucy Martindale approaches him with disturbing emails from George’s school account, showing he was not the perfect teacher. Perez receives her card to obtain the evidence. After the throw-up, James goes to join Willow and Vaila, but Willow later cannot find him. Panic sets in as Perez and Willow search. Miles offers to help and asks for James’s description. Perez glimpses James being led away by a figure; he pursues through alleys and finds Miles with James, who is laughing and explains they took a shortcut. Perez’s relief is mixed with lingering suspicion. They reunite with Willow, just as Lawrie wins the boys’ Ba’ by jumping into the harbour.

Key Events

Perez sees Barbara Johnson in the crowd, questioning his theory.
Lucy Martindale tells Perez she found disturbing emails in George’s work account.
Perez arranges for Lucy to send the emails; he wants to discuss with Willow but cannot find her.
Perez and Willow realize James is missing after the throw-up.
Miles offers to help search; he learns James’s clothing description.
Perez glimpses a figure leading a boy in a blue jacket away from the harbour.
He chases through lanes and finds Miles with James on a narrow path.
James explains they were taking a shortcut to see the finish; Perez texts Willow that James is safe.
Lawrie wins the boys’ Ba’ by jumping into the harbour, cheered by the crowd.

Character Development

Jimmy Perez: His concern for others (Barbara Johnson) and his intense anxiety over James’s disappearance reveal his deep vulnerability as a parent. He feels guilt for not keeping a closer watch.
Willow: Her maternal fear is raw; she admits panic and relies on Perez for support.
Miles: His helpfulness seems genuine, but Perez’s distrust lingers. Miles’s lack of a mobile phone is noted.
James: Unaware of the tension, he treats the incident as an adventure.
Lucy Martindale: Takes initiative in investigating George’s emails, showing her commitment to integrity.
Barbara Johnson: Her unexpected presence at the Ba’ casts doubt on the police theory that she was grieving in her hotel room.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Hierarchy of Grief: Perez reflects that some victims (Archie, George) are mourned more than others (Rodney Johnson). Even in death, worthiness is judged.
Hidden Truths: George’s emails shatter his saintly image; Perez realizes every character may be hiding something.
The Ba’ as Chaos: The game’s chaotic, body‑crushing nature mirrors the confusion of the investigation and the danger of losing a child in the crowd.
Pursuit and Perspective: Perez’s literal chase through the lanes echoes his mental chase for the truth, and his blurred vision suggests his inability to see clearly.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the turning point where the investigation shifts toward George’s secrets, and the personal stakes for Perez and Willow become life‑changing. James’s brief disappearance tests their parenting under pressure and forces Perez to confront his obsessive focus on the case. The revelation about George’s emails provides the break the detectives need, while Barbara Johnson’s presence at the game hints that their theory of her as the killer may be wrong. The chapter ends with Lawrie’s triumphant Ba’ win, a moment of communal joy amidst the tension.

Study Questions and Answers

Q1: Why does Perez feel “no elation” when he thinks the emails provide the proof to close the case?
A1: He senses the evidence is too neat and mistrusts his own conclusions. The presence of Barbara Johnson at the game undermines their theory, and he is unsettled by how many people might have lied to protect someone.

Q2: How does the Ba’ game function as a symbol in this chapter?
A2: The game’s chaotic, rule‑free nature mirrors the detective’s confusion. It is also a space where the community’s hierarchy—who is worthy of grief—plays out, and where a child can vanish for a few terrifying minutes.

Q3: Why does Perez ask Miles to walk ahead of him and James after finding them?
A3: Despite Miles’s explanation, Perez still feels an irrational urge to hit him and wants physical distance. It shows that Perez’s trust in Miles is broken, even though he thanks him publicly.