“You think I can just forget about this? Stop asking questions and go back to my life like normal? What about the next time a teenage girl goes missing, Ray? I’m not backing away from this”
Every person and situation in the narrative implores Josie to stay away from the case of the missing girls. The suspension from the force is the first indication that she has to give up her duties as a detective. However, she takes it as an opportunity to investigate the case without the influence of the other officers. Other people including Ray seek to protect her from the truth that the culprits are trying hard to cover. These incidences only fuel Josie to follow her gut and chase the clues to the facts. In the statement, Josie expresses her devotion to the missing girls and that she will not stop even if it risks her life.
“She imagined herself as a fire, starting out slow and growing until she lit up the whole room. When he opened the door she would burst—an explosion of grief, hate, and anger.”
The traumatic past and the abusive relationship with her mother have made Josie develop a tough exterior. Though she is going through emotional turmoil within, she keeps on moving forward tackling the next problem. Occasionally, this rage will come out but for the most part, it was contained. The case becomes a hectic journey that digs up some of her unresolved past and anger. In the statement, Josie has just witnessed Ray die and even though they had their issues, she feels this loss. At this moment every buried feeling and pain burst out and overwhelm her as she holds Ray in her arms. This one instance shows Josie becoming vulnerable as someone close to her has fallen victim to the murderer.
“The public has a right to know about what’s going on in their communities. That is a fact. The press can be a powerful tool. Maybe the way I get the job done offends your delicate sensibilities, but what I do is important.”
The battle between law enforcement and the media during an ongoing criminal investigation is a common occurrence. While the detectives are following protocol and attempting to control the information, the journalists seek to sensationalize every piece of information. The difference in their approaches toward the truth creates a rift between the two, in this case, Josie and Trinity. They eventually reach the truth together but after clashes during the process of the investigation. In the quote, Trinity makes it clear it does not bother her to manipulate the situation for professional interests. She criticizes Josie for posing to be noble after she berates her for pretending to care about the community.
