The Life We Bury

Lila and Joe visit Carl to update him. Joe doesn’t tell Carl about his run-in with Douglas. Although Carl told Joe he didn’t care about clearing his name, when he realizes there’s hope, he’s pleased: “Clearing his name mattered more to him than he had allowed anyone to see, maybe even more than he himself understood” (246). As Lila and Joe leave, they tell Mary about the latest break in the case. She suggests that, since Douglas is not to be found, they get a DNA sample from his son, Daniel. The father will have passed on his genetic code to his son. If they get a sample of Daniel’s DNA, that will exclude any man (like Carl) who isn’t a direct male relative of his. Joe and Lila find Daniel via social media. They decide to go visit him. 

Lila and Joe arrive at Daniel’s house in Mason City, Iowa. He’s away but his wife answers the door. She asks if they are there about Daniel’s father’s disappearance and they lie and tell her yes. She invites them in, telling them Daniel should be home soon. They sit in the living room and notice an ashtray with cigarette butts—a possible source of DNA.

They discuss Douglas’ disappearance. Daniel went to see his father on the day of the blizzard—the blizzard that started when Joe was hiding in the hunting cabin. Lila and Joe realize that Daniel can’t have left to go searching for his missing dad because his dad wasn’t yet “missing” at this point; the police wouldn’t have realized Douglas was on the run until at least two days later. Douglas must have called Daniel to tell him about the run-in with Joe.

Then Daniel’s wife reveals that “DJ” is a nickname for Daniel, not Douglas as they thought. It was Crystal’s stepbrother, not her stepfather, who raped and killed her. Daniel was simply covering his son’s tracks, which is why he would have called him about the incident with Joe. Just then a pickup truck pulls into the driveway. Lila and Joe are about to come face-to-face with Crystal’s killer. 

Joe and Lila make up an excuse to leave, not wanting to meet Daniel. They discuss the facts in the car. Daniel was 18 and Crystal was 14 when he raped her, so Daniel would have been an adult in the eyes of the law. Douglas protected his son by lying about his whereabouts, claiming Douglas was with him at the car dealership when he was at home.

When Joe showed up at Douglas’ house, Douglas informed Daniel. Daniel then drove to Douglas’ house, killed him, and burned his house down. This would destroy familial DNA evidence that could link Daniel to the crime. If the DNA from the fingernail were a close match to Douglas but not a full match, the next logical suspect would be a direct male relative: Daniel. Joe says it’s “insane” that Daniel would kill his own father. Lila responds it’s “desperate” and asks, rhetorically, “What would you do to avoid dying in prison?” (257). Joe and Lila decide to drive back to Daniel’s house to get a DNA sample from his garbage. 

Joe grabs a bag from Daniel’s garbage outside the house, remaining undetected, while Lila waits in the car. They drive off. Joe checks the garbage bag and sees it contains cigarette butts, which will contain Daniel’s DNA. Their mission is a success. 

Lila and Joe drive back to Minnesota feeling optimistic about getting Carl’s conviction reversed now that they have the DNA (“the last piece of an ever-changing puzzle” (261)) on top of all the other evidence. Joe gets a call from Jeremy: Larry hit him again. Joe tells Jeremy to put his clothes in a pillowcase and lock himself in his bedroom. He and Lila head to Austin.

Joe shows up at Kathy’s home and finds Jeremy locked in his bedroom. He sends him outside to Lila in the car. Joe tells Jeremy he’s coming to live with him and Kathy protests angrily, telling him “you’re not getting his social-security money” (264). Joe responds that he doesn’t want the money, and points out that Jeremy isn’t a “meal ticket” but is Kathy’s son. Kathy tries to manipulate Joe as she did before, asking “What about your precious college?” sarcastically. She knows that normally Joe relies on her to watch over Jeremy so Joe can live his life, unburdened by family. Despite the impact this decision may have on his future, Joe doesn’t budge. Kathy’s manipulations no longer work. On the way out the door, Joe strikes Larry in the knee, breaking a bone and seriously injuring him. Joe has no intention of seeing Kathy again, ever: “I turned, looked at my mother one last time, and then walked out the door” (265).