Chapter 32: The Yearbook and the Search for Rodney

⚠️ 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

Ballard and Masser drive back to Los Angeles after retrieving Mallory Richardson’s high school yearbook from her mother. Ballard examines the 1999 Veritas yearbook, noting no inscriptions because it was mailed to Mallory after she left school. They identify two Rodneys in the senior class—Rodney McNamara and Rodney Van Ness. Masser questions whether Mallory’s suicide was caused by rape or trauma, given she seemed to protect her baby’s father. Ballard finds photos of Mallory’s best friends, Jacqueline Todd and Emma Arciniega. Robin Richardson calls to provide the last name of the prom date: Rodney Van Ness. Ballard reflects on her own mother’s disappearance and decides to call Dan Farley in private later.

Key Events

Ballard has Masser drive so she can examine the yearbook first.
They translate Veritas (“truth”) and discuss Latin phrases ipse dixit and Mortui vivos docent.
Ballard identifies two Rodneys in the senior class photos.
Masser posits a contradiction: Mallory’s apparent suicide may stem from rape or trauma, yet she kept the father’s identity secret.
Ballard locates photos of Mallory’s close friends: Jacqueline Todd (Black) and Emma Arciniega (Latina).
Robin Richardson calls Ballard with Rodney’s last name: Van Ness.
Ballard thinks about her mother and plans to call Dan Farley in private.
Ballard remarks that nothing about the case has been easy.

Character Development

Ballard: Shows vulnerability when Masser correctly reads her wistful expression about her mother. She is methodical in searching the yearbook and connecting details. Her determination contrasts with a personal worry about her mother’s ongoing search in Maui.
Masser: Demonstrates perceptiveness beyond police work—recognizing Ballard’s mood (“Don’t go all Colleen on me”). His Jesuit education provides insight into Latin phrases used in law and investigation. He actively engages with the case’s psychological angles (the contradiction in Mallory’s suicide).
Robin Richardson: Though only a voice on the phone, her call shows she is actively engaged and desperate for answers. She remembered the prom date’s last name after Ballard left.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Truth and Memory: The yearbook’s title Veritas and the Latin maxim Mortui vivos docent (“The dead teach the living”) frame the investigation. The yearbook itself is a physical memory of Mallory before her spiral, but its silence (no autographs) hints at isolation.
Class and Race: Ballard notes the racial diversity of Mallory’s friends (Black and Latina) in a mostly white setting, possibly signaling the girl’s openness or social dynamics in Pasadena.
The Detective as Mother: Ballard’s parallel concern for her own missing mother mirrors the Richardson family’s search for truth about Mallory.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the investigation by narrowing the search to Rodney Van Ness, giving the case a concrete lead. It also deepens Ballard’s characterization by showing her personal vulnerability and the toll of her mother’s disappearance. The Latin motifs tie the cold-case themes to the detectives’ own philosophy.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What is the significance of the Latin phrase Mortui vivos docent in this chapter?
It is the motto of the California Homicide Investigators Association and reflects the core idea that solving homicides means learning from the dead. Ballard uses it to connect their work directly to Mallory Richardson’s story.

2. Why does Masser see a “contradiction” in Mallory’s suicide?
He believes that if Mallory was raped, she would likely have told someone rather than protecting the father. Yet she kept the secret while spiraling into suicide. This contradiction suggests either the suicide explanation is incomplete or that the trauma was too deep to share.

3. How does Ballard’s personal life intersect with the case in this chapter?
When Masser notices her “wistful” expression, Ballard admits she was thinking about her missing mother. She must call Dan Farley for an update, showing that the cold case of her mother parallels the search for Mallory’s truth.