Leaving Time
“Leaving Time” by Jodi Picoult is a gripping novel that intertwines mystery, grief, and the bond between humans and elephants. The story follows Jenna Metcalf, a 13-year-old girl searching for her mother, Alice, a renowned elephant researcher who disappeared a decade earlier under mysterious circumstances. With the help of a skeptical psychic and a disgraced detective, Jenna uncovers buried secrets about her mother’s work and the tragic events at an elephant sanctuary. The novel explores themes of memory, loss, and maternal love, while weaving in fascinating insights into elephant behavior and emotions. Picoult blends emotional depth with suspense, culminating in a surprising twist that redefines the narrative.
Chapter 33: Virgil
byPicoult, Jodi
Virgil, a former law enforcement officer, is determined to uncover the truth about a decade-old case involving a buried body presumed to be Nevvie Ruehl. He realizes that obtaining a DNA sample from the state lab’s autopsy records is his best chance, but as a civilian, he lacks the authority to access the evidence. Instead, he attempts to persuade Ralph, an evidence room custodian at the Boone PD, to help him by flattering his ego and appealing to his sense of importance. Despite Virgil’s efforts, Ralph reveals that the state lab lost years of evidence due to a pipe burst, crushing Virgil’s hopes of retrieving the DNA sample.
Returning to his chaotic office, Virgil is confronted by Jenna and Serenity, who are eager for updates on the case. Jenna bombards him with questions, but Virgil deflects her intensity by demanding coffee. He explains the challenges of obtaining DNA evidence, given the lab’s loss of records. Meanwhile, Serenity remarks on the disarray of his office, prompting Virgil to notice a forgotten clue—a fingernail found in the victim’s bloodstained uniform shirt, which Jenna had previously reacted to with distress.
Virgil takes the fingernail and the shirt to a lab technician named Tallulah, hoping to compare the DNA with Jenna’s. Tallulah, who has a flirtatious rapport with Virgil, agrees to help despite his unpaid favors. As she tests the shirt’s bloodstains and the fingernail, Jenna becomes overwhelmed and rushes out, feeling nauseous. Serenity follows to comfort her, leaving Virgil to await the results that could confirm or disprove his theory about the victim’s identity.
The chapter highlights Virgil’s persistence and resourcefulness as he navigates dead ends and leverages personal connections to advance the investigation. His interactions with Ralph and Tallulah reveal his ability to charm and manipulate, while Jenna’s emotional reactions underscore the personal stakes of the case. The discovery of the fingernail introduces a potential breakthrough, leaving the reader anticipating the DNA results and their implications for Jenna’s search for her mother.
FAQs
1. What was Virgil’s initial plan to identify the body buried ten years ago, and why did this plan fail?
Answer:
Virgil initially hoped to obtain a DNA sample from the autopsy records stored by the state lab, as all autopsies include DNA samples preserved on FTA cards. However, his plan failed because he learned from Ralph at the Boone PD that the state lab’s pipes had burst five years earlier, destroying eight years’ worth of evidence, including the FTA cards from 1999-2007. This meant the DNA sample from the presumed Nevvie Ruehl burial was irretrievable through official channels, forcing Virgil to seek alternative methods.2. How does Virgil manipulate Ralph to gain information, and what does this reveal about Virgil’s investigative tactics?
Answer:
Virgil employs flattery and psychological manipulation by comparing Ralph to essential but underappreciated figures like the Hobbit guarding the ring and basketball player Dee Brown. He plays into Ralph’s ego by calling him the “central nervous system” of the department. This reveals Virgil’s skill in reading people and using persuasion to access information—a key investigative tactic when formal channels are unavailable. The interaction also highlights Virgil’s willingness to exploit interpersonal dynamics to advance his case, even if it means insincerely buttering up a colleague others dismiss as insignificant.3. What critical discovery does Virgil make in his office, and how might it advance the investigation?
Answer:
Virgil finds an envelope containing a fingernail he had previously discovered in the seam of the victim’s bloodstained uniform shirt. This biological evidence could provide a viable DNA sample to compare with Jenna’s mtDNA, bypassing the lost state lab records. If the fingernail’s DNA matches Jenna’s, it would confirm the victim was her mother; if not, it could point to another identity (e.g., Nevvie Ruehl). This breakthrough shifts the investigation’s trajectory, offering a tangible path to resolving the mystery of the burial.4. Analyze the significance of Jenna’s physical reaction to the bloodstained shirt. What does this moment reveal about her emotional state and the case’s personal stakes?
Answer:
Jenna’s nausea and abrupt exit upon touching the shirt underscore the visceral trauma of confronting potential evidence of her mother’s violent death. Her subconscious act of checking her pulse while touching the fabric suggests a deep somatic connection to the material—as if physically reconciling her own life with her mother’s presumed fate. This moment heightens the narrative tension by humanizing the forensic details, emphasizing that the case isn’t just a puzzle to solve but a deeply personal quest for closure. It also foreshadows the emotional toll of the eventual revelations.5. How does the interaction with Tallulah at the lab illustrate Virgil’s resourcefulness and interpersonal skills?
Answer:
Virgil leverages his rapport with Tallulah, using flirtatious banter and promises of future rewards to expedite DNA testing of the shirt and fingernail. His ability to navigate professional favors through charm and wit demonstrates his resourcefulness in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles. The scene also contrasts his pragmatic approach with Serenity’s mysticism (e.g., Tallulah’s immediate request for psychic help), highlighting Virgil’s reliance on scientific methods—even as he depends on unconventional allies like a psychic and a lab technician with a crush on him.
Quotes
1. “Even if I’d been able to find the body that was buried ten years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to get a court order. I don’t know what I was thinking I’d resort to, shy of sneaking into a graveyard, Frankenstein-style, to dig up a corpse that I had assumed was Nevvie Ruehl.”
This quote captures Virgil’s desperate yet methodical approach to solving the cold case, highlighting both his determination and the legal obstacles he faces. It sets the tone for the chapter’s central conflict—the struggle to uncover buried truths.
2. “You’re the central nervous system of this outfit, Ralph. Without you, everything would fall apart. That’s why I knew you were the right guy to turn to for help.”
Virgil’s strategic flattery of Ralph reveals his investigative tactics and the interpersonal dynamics of police work. The quote showcases how Virgil navigates bureaucratic systems by appealing to individuals’ sense of importance.
3. “It’s like 1999 through 2007 never happened.”
This devastating revelation about lost evidence represents a major setback in Virgil’s investigation. The quote underscores the fragility of institutional memory and the challenges of solving cold cases when records disappear.
4. “I’m hoping like hell you can tell me if it looks at all like the mtDNA you took from Jenna. If my hunch is right, one is going to be a match, and one isn’t.”
This quote marks a critical turning point where Virgil pins his hopes on forensic evidence. It demonstrates his investigative intuition while raising the stakes for Jenna’s emotional journey to discover the truth about her mother.
5. “I’m going to throw up,” she mutters, and she bolts from the room.”
Jenna’s visceral reaction to confronting potential evidence of her mother’s fate provides powerful emotional resonance. This moment humanizes the forensic investigation, showing how cold case files contain very real personal tragedies.