In the Woods

Once the case is over, Rob is reassigned to the main detective unit. He’s filled with self-loathing at the way Rosalind manipulated him:

This was, in the end, the most hideous realization of all: Rosalind had not, after all, implanted a microchip behind my ear or drugged me into submission. I had broken every vow myself and steered every boat to shipwreck with my own hand. (566)

Rob attends Damien’s trial. He listens to Cassie’s confident testimony. When Rosalind takes the stand, she plays the victim—accusing Damien of threatening to kill her sisters if she broke up with him. She faints theatrically, forcing the judge to clear the court.

On his way out of the courthouse, Rob encounters Jonathan. He asks if Jonathan knew what his daughter was doing. Jonathan replies that he didn’t know. He only suspected. Jonathan, in turn, asks if Rob is Adam Ryan. Rob admits the truth. Jonathan says he and his mates had nothing to do with the disappearance of Peter and Jamie.

Jonathan discloses that the Devlin family is moving away. Rosalind has received a three-year suspended sentence. She is being sent to counseling, but her father doesn’t think it will make much difference. He’s sending Jessica to live with an aunt, out of harm’s way.