Acceleration

Duncan finds Roach’s journal in the lost and found, it being a snapshot of a disturbed, incoherent mind. He describes much of it as gibberish, but behind the bile and rants is methodical cruelty. The journal is a record of Roach’s acceleration from animal killer to (future) murderer of women. Duncan describes the journal as having “a cover that feels like skin” (145) and being hard to kill, like a cockroach—thus birthing the killer’s nickname of “Roach.” It also becomes a reminder of how many people lack help in Duncan’s world (i.e., the Jungle). After all, the police treat it with a mix of indifference and skepticism. As for Roach himself, the journal speaks to his fear of getting caught, his forbidden thoughts, as he comes to the lost and found to find it. He either attaches sentimental value to it, values its research, knows this research could condemn him, or experiences all three. 

Maya is the drowning girl whom Duncan failed to save a year prior to the present. There are few details about her death, but Vinny speculates that she drowned due to a cramp (rather than anything on Duncan’s behalf).