53 pages 1 hour read

Simone St. James

The Book of Cold Cases

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Part 2, Chapters 23-30

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 2, Chapter 23 Summary: "December 1977: Beth"

Beth is unable to go outside her house without being followed by the police or reporters, so she stays indoors and drinks. One day, she gets a phone call from Lily, who tells her that the police are on their way to arrest her. Beth realizes that Lily must be nearby, even though Beth has been looking for her for days without finding her. Lily admits that she committed the murders, but says it is Beth's fault because Beth could have stopped her. Lily brings up the first note she left, “Am I bitter or am I sweet? Ladies can be either” (162) and reveals to the reader that this is what Mariana used to say to them when they were young. Lily admonishes her not to tell anyone anything, and Beth hangs up. Beth hears cars in the driveway and dresses to be arrested. Washington handcuffs her, and the reporters and cameras record the entire scene. The arrest scene becomes chaotic, and Beth thinks about how fun it was as they are driving away with her in the backseat.

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