Not Quite Dead Yet
by Holly Jackson
Contents
Chapter 4
Overview
Jet insists on touring the still-active crime scene at her family home with Sergeant Jack Finney, forcing herself to face the blood and evidence markers. Jack shares key findings: Jet was struck three times, the attacker likely used downward strokes, was taller than Jet, and was right-handed.
Jet also learns the likely attack window is roughly 10:40–11:00 p.m., based on neighbors hearing Reggie and Billy arriving at 11:05. The doorbell camera shows no intruder, pushing the investigation toward the unlocked back door as the probable entry and exit route—giving Jet a clearer framework for solving her own attempted murder.
Summary
Jet returns to the Mason house while it is still sealed as a crime scene, arriving with Luke, their parents, Chief Lou, Detective Ecker, and Sergeant Jack Finney. Jet insists on seeing where the attack happened despite warnings about the amount of blood, and Jack agrees to escort her while techs finish collecting evidence.
At the front door, Jet spots the doorbell camera and urgently asks whether it captured the attacker. Jack tells Jet it only shows Jet arriving home and later Billy arriving and kicking the door in; the attacker did not enter or leave via the front door, suggesting the attacker knew to avoid the camera. Inside, Jet panics when she sees bloody paw prints, but Jack reassures her that Reggie is safe—Billy brought the dog to the ambulance and Reggie is now with Jet’s sister-in-law.
In the living room, Jet confronts the scale of the blood loss and the numerous evidence markers. Jack explains what the blood-spatter and cast-off patterns indicate: Jet was struck three times, twice while standing from behind, and a final blow to the left side of Jet’s head while Jet was on the floor with the attacker leaning over her. Pressed for more, Jack adds that the pattern suggests downward strokes, implying the attacker was taller than Jet and right-handed.
Jet asks about timing, and Jack shares the investigative window based on neighbor reports and camera footage: the dog’s screaming was heard roughly between 10:40 and 10:55 p.m., and the doorbell camera shows Billy arriving at 11:05 p.m., so the attack likely occurred between about 10:40 and 11:00 p.m. Jet reasons the attacker likely fled quickly, taking Jet’s phone and the weapon, and reiterates that they must have left without triggering the front camera.
Jack leads Jet to the laundry room and the back door, where photos and markers document muddy shoe impressions. Jack says the back door was shut but unlocked, making it the probable entry point, and Jet admits it is frequently used and often left unlocked. As Detective Ecker announces the scene has been released for cleaners to enter, Jet is left with new constraints—likely entry route, timing, and attacker traits—to guide her effort to identify who tried to kill her.
Who Appears
- Jet MasonInjured victim; insists on seeing the crime scene and extracts key investigative details.
- Sergeant Jack FinneyFamily acquaintance and officer; escorts Jet, shares spatter analysis, timing window, and entry theory.
- Detective EckerLead detective on scene; questions Luke and later releases the house for cleaning.
- Luke MasonJet’s brother; drives her home and is pulled aside to give a statement.
- ReggieJet’s dog; left bloody paw prints but is confirmed safe and staying with family.
- BillyFirst finder; seen on doorbell cam at 11:05 p.m. and took Reggie with him.
- Dianne MasonJet’s mother; arrives at the scene and walks through the house with Chief Lou.
- Chief LouPolice chief; accompanies Dianne during a walk-through to check for missing items.
- Jet’s fatherPresent at the driveway; the home he built is now processed as a murder scene.