The Pact
Chapter 9: NOW: Late November 1997
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter opens with Chris Harte, a terrified teenager, handcuffed in the back of a police car. Despite the heat, he shivers uncontrollably, overwhelmed by fear and disbelief at his arrest. He clings to the hope that his father and lawyer, Jordan McAfee, will resolve the situation, but the reality of his predicament sinks in as he is processed at the Bainbridge police station. Chris undergoes booking procedures, including fingerprinting and a mugshot, before being placed in a holding cell, where he struggles to comprehend the gravity of being charged with murder.
Meanwhile, Jordan McAfee is introduced in a contrasting scene, engaging in a casual sexual encounter with a woman named Sandra. Their interaction is interrupted by a phone call informing Jordan of Chris’s arrest. Despite Sandra’s attempts to keep him there, Jordan abruptly leaves, prioritizing his professional duty over personal pleasure. The scene highlights Jordan’s charismatic yet detached personality, as well as his commitment to his clients, even at inconvenient moments.
The narrative shifts back to Chris, who is now in a holding cell, terrified and alone. He recalls mundane details from his life, like his mother’s birthday cake, which starkly contrast with his current reality. The officers treat him with a mix of indifference and routine efficiency, further emphasizing his isolation. Chris’s internal monologue reveals his desperation and confusion, as he grapples with the surreal notion of being incarcerated for a crime he insists he didn’t commit.
The chapter concludes with Jordan preparing to leave for the police station, exchanging brief but revealing banter with his teenage son, Thomas. Their conversation underscores Jordan’s role as a single father and the complexities of balancing parenthood with his demanding career. The juxtaposition of Chris’s fear and Jordan’s composed response sets the stage for their impending legal battle, while hinting at the personal stakes for both characters.
FAQs
1. What physical and emotional reactions does Chris experience during his arrest, and what do these reactions reveal about his state of mind?
Answer:
Chris experiences intense physical and emotional distress during his arrest. He shivers uncontrollably despite the car’s heat, his voice cracks when speaking, and he fears urinating on himself. Emotionally, he oscillates between disbelief (“This was a mistake”) and sheer terror (“He had never been so scared in his life”). These reactions reveal his profound shock and vulnerability. His fixation on mundane details (e.g., the coffee scent, the radio chatter) suggests dissociation—a coping mechanism to avoid confronting the gravity of his situation. The contrast between his outward compliance (“answered as politely as possible”) and inner turmoil highlights his desperation to maintain control amid chaos.2. How does the chapter juxtapose Chris’s traumatic experience with Jordan McAfee’s personal life, and what effect does this create?
Answer:
The chapter sharply contrasts Chris’s harrowing arrest with Jordan’s casual sexual encounter. While Chris is stripped of autonomy (handcuffed, fingerprinted, jailed), Jordan exercises control over his romantic liaison—until interrupted by duty. This juxtaposition underscores themes of power and vulnerability: Chris is at the mercy of systems he doesn’t understand, while Jordan navigates life with confidence and humor (“It’s a job, but someone’s got to do it”). The abrupt shift in tone (from Chris’s despair to Jordan’s levity) heightens the reader’s awareness of injustice, emphasizing how privilege insulates some (like Jordan) while others (like Chris) face life-altering trauma alone.3. Analyze the significance of Chris’s memory of his birthday cake during his incarceration. What literary purpose does this detail serve?
Answer:
Chris’s recollection of his uneaten birthday cake—with its “strawberry filling as bright as a line of blood”—serves as a potent symbol of innocence lost and violence foreshadowed. The cake, a traditional emblem of celebration, is now tainted by fear and absence (the “untouched half” mirrors his fractured life). The visceral simile (“bright as blood”) juxtaposes domestic warmth with impending horror, reinforcing the chapter’s tension. This memory also humanizes Chris, reminding readers of his youth and normalcy before the accusation. The detail functions as a microcosm of the novel’s broader themes: how ordinary lives can unravel swiftly and irreversibly.4. How does the chapter characterize Jordan McAfee through his interactions with Sandra and his son Thomas?
Answer:
Jordan is portrayed as charismatic but self-assured to a fault. With Sandra, he balances charm (“I’ll call you”) with detachment (rolling away to answer the phone), prioritizing work over pleasure. His humor (“I liked it better when you were little”) and Thomas’s teasing (“Did you come up for air?”) reveal a relaxed, almost irreverent parenting style. Yet his professionalism cuts through personal distractions—he sobers instantly when duty calls. These interactions paint Jordan as a man who thrives on control and wit but is ultimately defined by his role as a defender, hinting at the moral complexity he’ll bring to Chris’s case.5. What procedural details during Chris’s booking process underscore the dehumanizing nature of his experience?
Answer:
The booking process systematically strips Chris of dignity: he’s fingerprinted “twenty-one separate prints” (highlighting institutional scrutiny), forced to pose with a numbered card (reducing him to a case file), and deprived of personal items (shoes, belt). The officers’ perfunctory actions—dragging him, laughing at his mention of a lawyer—reveal bureaucratic indifference. Even the cell’s video surveillance and mattress check (“for bugs? weapons?”) emphasize suspicion over compassion. These details collectively dehumanize Chris, framing him as a threat rather than a frightened teenager. The chapter critiques how systems designed for justice can exacerbate trauma through ritualized humiliation.
Quotes
1. “He was not all right. He was not even marginally okay. He had never been so scared in his life.”
This quote captures Chris’s intense fear and disorientation during his arrest, establishing the emotional core of the chapter. It highlights the stark contrast between his outward compliance and inner turmoil.
2. “If his whole world went to pieces, didn’t it stand to reason that he’d no longer be able to speak the language?”
This thought-provoking reflection shows Chris’s psychological unraveling as he processes his arrest. The metaphor of losing language underscores how his reality has been fundamentally disrupted.
3. “Tomorrow he would wake up and laugh this off.”
This brief moment of desperate optimism reveals Chris’s attempt to cope with his terrifying situation. The irony makes it particularly poignant, as readers sense the gravity of his circumstances.
4. “TO JORDAN McAFEE, there was nothing better than sliding one’s way down the terrain of a woman.”
This vivid introduction to Jordan McAfee establishes his character through his sensual worldview. The contrast between this scene and Chris’s ordeal creates narrative tension.
5. “Jordan felt his erection swell again. Maybe he wouldn’t end the evening just yet.”
This quote reveals Jordan’s conflicted priorities as he balances professional duty with personal pleasure. It introduces moral complexity to his character as he prepares to handle Chris’s case.