In "Brotherhood in Death" by J.D. Robb, the protagonist Eve contemplates the concept of the statute of limitations, reflecting on its impact on her past. She hopes that the person involved has moved on from their experiences, yet she recognizes that such memories often linger. This internal struggle illustrates the difficulty of truly leaving the past behind, as it can resurface and haunt individuals unexpectedly.
Eve's thoughts reveal a deeper understanding of how unresolved issues can remain with a person, lurking in the shadows. This metaphorical "squatting" of the past suggests that, despite efforts to move forward, one may always carry some remnants of their history. Robb effectively captures the tension between the desire to escape from the past and the reality that it can never be completely forgotten.