Chapter Twenty-Five Summary: Jen Investigates Imogen Holt's Flat
⚠️ 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
Jen wakes to a mild, blustery day and rain. She had conducted a brief reconnaissance of Imogen Holt’s flat the previous night but saw no lights and did not want to explore in darkness. She has breakfast alone at the hotel, then decides to walk to Imogen’s place, needing fresh air and exercise. The walk takes her through a quiet, tree-lined road near the estuary. She notices a young father jogging with his two preschool boys on scooters and imagines a “super-mum” inside preparing homemade granola, reflecting that she could never aspire to that kind of parenting.
When Jen reaches Imogen Holt’s address, she finds a ground-floor flat with two doorbells: “HOLT” and “SAVAGE.” The front windows have wooden slatted blinds that make it nearly impossible to see inside. She slips through an unbolted gate into the back garden, which is overgrown. The kitchen window shows a mug of tea with a film on top and a plate with a knife, suggesting someone left quickly without cleaning up. Jen feels a moment of disquiet, imagining another body like Rosco’s. The back door is locked.
She moves to the bedroom windows, where the blinds are not fully closed. Through the gap she sees a cluttered double bed with the quilt thrown back, and beyond it a pile of clothes. The angle prevents a clear view. Her unease grows into near panic. A small upper window is slightly open, held on a catch. Jen grabs a three-step aluminium stepladder she spotted by the back door, lifts the catch, and pushes the blinds aside. As she focuses on the room, she does not hear soft footsteps on wet grass. Someone pulls the ladder away, and Jen falls, hitting her shoulder on the paving. The pain makes her light-headed, and she blacks out.
Key Events
- Jen wakes to rain, has breakfast, and decides to walk to Imogen Holt’s flat.
- She notes the quiet, affluent neighbourhood and reflects on her own feelings about motherhood.
- At the flat, she sees two doorbells: Holt and Savage.
- Unable to see through the front blinds, she enters the back garden.
- She observes a mug, plate, and knife in the kitchen, suggesting a hasty departure.
- Attempting to look into the bedroom via an upper window, she uses a stepladder.
- While looking inside, someone pulls the ladder away, causing Jen to fall and lose consciousness.
Character Development
Jen Rafferty is shown to be thorough and persistent: she had already scouted the location at night and now returns by day, walking despite the weather. Her internal commentary about the jogging father and the imagined super-mum reveals a lingering self-doubt about her own parenting abilities—a vulnerability that contrasts with her professional determination. As she peers into Imogen’s windows, her disquiet grows into panic, showing that even a seasoned investigator can be unsettled by potential violence. Her failure to hear the attacker until it is too late underscores her focus on the task at hand and the sudden danger she faces.
Imogen Holt remains offstage, but her flat suggests a person who may have left in a hurry, adding an air of mystery.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Sight and Obstruction: Blinds and windows form a recurring motif. Jen struggles to see into the flat, forcing her to use the ladder, which ultimately leads to her attack. The idea of blocked or partial vision mirrors the investigation’s difficulty in uncovering the truth.
- The Ordinary Masking Danger: The quiet, tree-lined road, the young father jogging with children, and the overgrown garden all appear innocuous. Yet this ordinary setting turns threatening when Jen is knocked unconscious, emphasizing that peril can hide in plain sight.
- Vulnerability and Isolation: Jen works alone, without backup, in an unfamiliar area. Her fall and blackout leave her defenceless, highlighting the risks of solo fieldwork.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter functions as a dramatic cliffhanger. Jen’s investigation into Imogen Holt’s flat has just begun when she is attacked, leaving her condition unknown. The attack raises immediate stakes: who pulled the ladder? Could Imogen be in danger? The chapter shifts the focus from Rosco’s death to a new, live threat, propelling the narrative forward and creating suspense that will carry into the next chapter.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Jen decide to walk to Imogen Holt’s flat rather than drive?
She wants fresh air and exercise, and she also hopes to avoid the problem of residents’ parking. Her waterproof jacket and boots suggest she is prepared for the showery weather.
2. What details in the kitchen make Jen suspect something is wrong?
She sees a mug half-filled with tea that has a film on top, as well as a plate and a knife on the draining board. This suggests someone left quickly without clearing up, which fuels her unease.
3. What happens immediately after Jen uses the stepladder to look through the bedroom window?
She does not hear the soft footsteps on wet grass. Someone pulls the stepladder away, causing her to fall. She hits her shoulder on the paving, feels light-headed, and loses consciousness.