The Missing Half Chapter Nine: Building Trust and Searching for Lauren
⚠️ 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
Nic accompanies Jenna to her home in Osceola to discuss their next steps. Inside, she is shocked to find an enormous research wall covered with clippings, maps, and articles about the sisters’ cases—evidence of Jenna’s obsessive dedication. After Jenna makes them sandwiches, Nic confronts her about the earlier lie regarding Kasey’s red Jeep. Jenna apologizes and explains she acted out of desperation, not malice. Nic sets conditions for their partnership: full honesty and transportation because she lost her license after a DWI. Their tension breaks with laughter when Nic demands Jenna’s tomato as a token of regret.
They then brainstorm how to find other witnesses from the victims’ workplaces. Nic recalls Kasey’s coworker Lauren Perkins, who gave her a ride the day of the disappearance. Nic logs into Facebook for the first time in years and finds Lauren now married with children under the name Lauren Tate. They send a message asking to talk. A week passes with no reply, and Jenna points out that Lauren has read the messages but chosen not to respond. Frustrated, Jenna suggests they track her down at the church she attends every Sunday: Holy Mount Presbyterian.
Key Events
- Nic sees Jenna’s full research wall for the first time, realizing the depth of Jenna’s commitment.
- Nic and Jenna eat together and finally address the trust breach over the Jeep lie.
- They agree to work together after Nic extracts promises: no more lies, and Jenna must provide transportation.
- Nic discovers that Lauren Perkins is now Lauren Tate, a married mother of two living in Mishawaka.
- They send a Facebook message to Lauren, which goes unanswered for over a week.
- After checking message read receipts, they confirm Lauren has seen but ignored their outreach.
- Jenna proposes attending Lauren’s church to speak with her in person.
Character Development
Nic’s arc in this chapter centers on reclaiming agency. She moves from anger and hurt (over Jenna’s deception) to a position of setting boundaries. Her demand for a physical token—the tomato—shows a playful but firm side, and her shared laughter with Jenna signals a thaw in their relationship. Nic also faces her own stagnation: seeing Lauren’s polished life forces her to confront that she has frozen herself in grief while others have moved forward.
Jenna reveals her obsessive dedication through the research wall, which Nic initially compares to a serial killer’s display. Jenna’s apology feels genuine, and she demonstrates patience as Nic lists conditions. Her willingness to travel to a church—a place she likely does not frequent—shows her determination to find answers. Jenna also discloses her own vulnerability, joking about being an “old maid” at thirty-three.
Lauren Tate is characterized only through her Facebook profile, but the contrast between her current life and Nic’s memory of her generates emotional complexity. Lauren has embraced domesticity and faith—a stark shift from the free-spirited teen who wanted to leave Indiana.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Research Wall
Jenna’s wall of clippings and maps symbolizes obsession but also active resistance. While Nic has tried to forget, Jenna has physically surrounded herself with the facts of their sisters’ cases. The wall serves as both a tool and a marker of how differently the two women cope with trauma.
The Tomato as a Token
Nic’s whimsical demand for Jenna’s tomato becomes a symbol of regained power and the beginning of trust. It is a small, physical object that represents Jenna’s willingness to make amends and Nic’s need for something tangible to hold onto.
Digital Footprints vs. Real Connection
The chapter explores how social media both connects and distances people. Nic finds Lauren easily on Facebook but cannot compel a reply. The profile offers a curated version of Lauren’s life, one that feels alien and superficial. The shift from a digital message to the decision to physically attend a church underscores the limits of online communication.
Frozen in Grief
Nic admits she assumes everyone else is frozen in time like she is. Lauren’s marriage and children force Nic to imagine a different future for her dead sister Kasey, a painful exercise she rarely allows herself.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter Nine solidifies the partnership between Nic and Jenna after a rocky start. It moves the plot from domestic tension to active investigation by identifying a potential witness and recognizing the need for face-to-face contact. The chapter also deepens Nic’s character: she acknowledges her DWI, begins to confront her emotional stagnation, and takes a small step toward healing when she laughs with Jenna. The decision to attend church introduces a new setting and potential conflict, setting up the next phase of the search.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Nic demand a tomato from Jenna, and what does this moment reveal about their relationship?
Nic asks for the tomato as a physical token of Jenna’s regret. The absurdity of the demand makes both women laugh, breaking the tension. It shows that Nic is willing to forgive but needs a small symbolic gesture, and that they can share humor despite the gravity of their situation. This moment marks a turning point from suspicion toward partnership.
2. How does the contrast between Nic’s life and Lauren’s Facebook profile affect Nic?
Seeing Lauren’s polished family life makes Nic feel both envious and betrayed. She assumes everyone has moved on from Kasey’s disappearance, and Lauren’s apparent happiness feels like a slight against Kasey’s memory. This reaction forces Nic to admit she has remained frozen in grief while the world continued.
3. Why do Nic and Jenna decide to go to church to find Lauren?
Lauren read their messages but did not reply, indicating she does not want to talk remotely. Since her social media posts show she attends Holy Mount Presbyterian regularly, Jenna concludes that showing up in person at the church may be the only way to get an answer. The decision shows their growing desperation and willingness to step outside comfort zones.