At school, Tom learns from Daisy that Alison Danzinger has been reported missing. Daisy says Alison failed to come to breakfast, her mother found her bed empty, and police have issued an AMBER Alert while considering the possibility that Alison ran away after a minor argument with her parents.

Daisy rejects that explanation because Alison would never willingly worry her family. Tom privately agrees that something is wrong, although he hides his fear and offers false reassurance. His uneasiness grows because Alison knew damaging information about him and had been pressuring him.

Daisy also tells Tom that students will be questioned again. After they separate, Tom goes directly to Slug's locker instead of continuing with his day, showing that Tom suspects Slug may have acted on their shared problem from the night before.

Tom tells Slug that Alison is missing and watches Slug respond with casual satisfaction, saying that someone may have solved their problem for them. Alarmed, Tom asks whether Slug did something to Alison.

Slug denies harming Alison and tells Tom to relax, insisting that sometimes events simply work out in a person's favor. Slug's cold reaction deeply disturbs Tom. By the end of the chapter, Tom concludes that although he may be dangerous, Slug is even worse.