The Man in the Woods
The novel opens on the imagery of a mysterious figure looming furtively in the woods more as a presence that is felt than flesh that is seen. The Prologue ends with a hand reaching out, a girl screaming, and a body being dragged through the forest about to mysterious disappear. The figure becomes a modern-day archetype at that moment, representing the unseen dangers of deviant urges driven to excess.
Cell Phone Separated From Its Owner
A cell phone found isolated and separated from its owner or a cell phone which is never used to return desperate texts or voicemails are among the 21st century's contributions to the future encyclopedias of symbolism. They are the symbols of lost hopes, dashed dreams, and acceptance of the worst-case scenario. The cell phone that is no longer within reaching distance of an owner who has mysterious gone missing represents almost certain death.
Service Weapon
Twice after having to surrender her service weapon as part of a suspension of duties for excessive force, Josie reaches for the gun and is instantly gripped by fear at the recollection of its absence. The first time fear is characterized as feeling like a fist squeezing her heart upward into her throat. By the second instance, metaphor has melted into sheer literal panic. These two incidents situate the gun--and not the badge--as the true symbol of law enforcement bravado which masquerades as courage.
Cadillac Escalade
Neither this novel nor this writer invented the connection between the Cadillac luxury vehicle called the Escalade and criminal rampages. What the Tommy gun was to 1930's gangsters and poison was to female murderers throughout most of history, the Escalade is to inner city low-level gangs and other criminal conspirators. Its ability to comfortably seat multiple people while allowing them to drive around with flash and style and enjoy the benefits of its high standing as a status symbol is just too enticing to pass up.
Rocks
The only nursing home in town is called Rockview Ridge. The topography of the setting is characterized by rock formations as plentiful as clouds in the sky. So plentiful, in fact, Josie recalls how she and Ray used to catalog rock formations when they were kids. One of the rock formations looks like a man standing in profile. Clearly, the inordinate number of references to the view offered by the rocks in town is meant to symbolize something. An offhand recollection by Josie may clear things up:
"They used to use them as markers. Meet me at Broken Heart."
