How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"She did," I said. The word came spitting out, and then I couldn't stop talking. "That was her last night. Did you realize that? That was her. My mother. That guy, she brought him home. She wanted him to beat you up. His name's Rob. She did it. She did it all." (25.6)
Nikki has a pretty sick idea of justice. Instead of talking to Murdoch about how he's hurt her feelings, she opts to send over a random beefy dude to beat him up. Makes sense, right?
Quote #2
"Oh," said Aunt Bobbie. "Oh, my." She bit her lip. Then she sighed. "Oh, that does sound like my sister."
I stared at my aunt. She seemed entirely willing to believe me. (27.44-45)
Aunt Bobbie finally believes Matthew when he says that Nikki probably lied about Murdoch beating her up, and this is a total game changer. Finally, someone is hearing the kids out.
Quote #3
But I was wrong. The Massachusetts system of police and courts wasn't going to bother seriously with someone like Nikki. She just wasn't bad enough… except to me. Except to us. (28.3)
The state is pretty much failing the kids when it comes to Nikki. Instead of immediately taking them away from her after she's been found guilty of stalking, the state just ignores the problem. That's disheartening.