The Murder Investigation

The Earthquake Bird

This flow follows how a disappearance becomes a murder inquiry, draws Lucy Fly into suspicion, and ends with her release and unresolved doubts.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Arrest The Arrest from "The Earthquake Bird". The Arrest A Public Accusation Police arrive at Lucy Fly’s office and take her for questioning.

The Arrest A Public Accusation Police arrive at Lucy Fly’s office and take her for questioning. The arrest turns private grief into public suspicion among her coworkers. A Missing Friend The investigation centers on Lily Bridges’s disappearance and the report that Lucy was the last person to see her. Lucy withholds details, partly because memory and guilt already feel inseparable.

The False Identification The False Identification from "The Earthquake Bird". The False Identification A Body in the Bay Police explain that the torso found in Tokyo Bay was never formally identified as Lily Bridges.

The False Identification from "The Earthquake Bird". The False Identification A Body in the Bay Police explain that the torso found in Tokyo Bay was never formally identified as Lily Bridges.

The False Identification A Body in the Bay Police explain that the torso found in Tokyo Bay was never formally identified as Lily Bridges. Lucy had nevertheless accepted the newspaper’s assumption as fact. Suspicion Reverses The actual body of Lily Bridges has been found near Lucy’s home. The discovery overturns the case Lucy thought she understood and makes her proximity to the murder newly disturbing.

Release Without Closure Release Without Closure from "The Earthquake Bird". Release Without Closure A Story Accepted Under pressure and exhaustion, Lucy Fly tells police a plausible but invented account of killing Lily Bridges.

Release Without Closure from "The Earthquake Bird". Release Without Closure A Story Accepted Under pressure and exhaustion, Lucy Fly tells police a plausible but invented account of killing Lily Bridges.

Release Without Closure A Story Accepted Under pressure and exhaustion, Lucy Fly tells police a plausible but invented account of killing Lily Bridges. She accepts the role of murderer despite knowing the story is false. Evidence Arrives Two photographs suggest that Teiji encountered Lily after Lucy last saw her and that Lucy did not kill her. The case against Lucy collapses, but the images do not prove who killed Lily or explain Teiji’s motives.

Several weeks after Lily Bridges disappears

During Lucy Fly’s first extended police interview

The day after Lucy Fly invents her confession