Chapter Fourteen: Pretty Fucking Far from Okay
Contains spoilersOverview
John and Mia learn the alarming photo of Adam came from a neighbor’s mommy‑blog video of an “incident,” and they race to find and suppress it. Newly scanned pages from Adam’s notebook deepen questions about his fixation on happiness, which Mia fears signals despair. At the station, attorney Shannon Haug seizes control from Detective Janus and leads Mom and Eugene into an intake hearing, setting up a legal showdown.
Summary
Mia and John receive Kenny’s screenshot of Adam: blood on Adam’s face, broken glasses, and a diagonal scratch eerily like Detective Janus’s. Shocked, John calls Kenny, then Kenny’s mom, learning the image came from a neighbor’s parenting blog video of an “incident” the prior day.
Fearing the video will inflame police and public opinion—especially with Janus’s matching injury—Mia and John push to obtain it and stop any posting. Mia initiates multiple reverse‑image/video searches and alert triggers, hoping to trace the source before it goes live.
They receive more scanned pages from Adam’s HQ notebook outlining counterintuitive happiness studies (lottery winners vs. paraplegic accident victims, the Stockdale POW paradox, experiences vs. things). The notes make Mia wonder if Adam’s obsession masks despair or suicidality, while John firmly rejects that idea and refocuses on Eugene and the search.
At the near‑empty station, receptionist Mona overshares gossip about Janus and lawyer Shannon. Mia and John reunite with Mom and a distressed Eugene; his wrists are chafed from the cuffs. Lawyer Shannon arrives—gentle in tone but strategic—immediately pressing Janus to clean up, referencing an old APO embarrassment, and demanding the CPS consultant’s statement cited in the report.
Shannon explains the informal intake process and Virginia’s special‑needs defense framework. Mom and Eugene enter the hearing with Shannon, while Mia and John wait in the hall, recalling their family’s Pulp Fiction in‑joke—“I’m pretty fucking far from okay”—and recognizing how far their situation has fallen.
Who Appears
- Mia
Narrator; analyzes the screenshot, launches reverse‑image searches, reads Adam’s happiness notes, and briefly fears he may be suicidal.
- John
Mia’s twin; contacts Kenny and Mrs. K for the video, angrily presses for answers, rejects the suicide theory, and goes to the station.
- Shannon Haug
Defense attorney; calmly but sharply challenges Janus, requests CPS witness notes, cites a prior APO flap, and leads the intake hearing.
- Detective Janus
Lead detective; scratched and bruised, had cuffed Eugene, faces Shannon’s procedural demands before the intake hearing.
- Mom
Mother; reunites with Mia and John, comforts Eugene, and enters the intake hearing with Shannon.
- Eugene
Nonspeaking brother; anxious with chafed wrists after cuffing, waits with iPad, then goes into the intake hearing.
- Kenny
John’s friend; shares the screenshot and connects them to his mom for the video source.
- Mrs. K
Kenny’s mom; reports the image comes from a neighbor’s parenting blog video and tries to obtain it.
- Mona
Police receptionist; chatty guide who reveals Janus–Shannon friction and escorts the family.
- Adam
Missing father; seen in a photo bloodied with broken glasses; his notebook pages outline happiness studies.
- Neighbor mommy‑blogger
Unnamed neighbor; filmed the incident for her blog and seeks Adam’s comment before posting.