Teen Tom receives another call from his mother almost as soon as he gets home from school. He hesitates before answering because he expects she has heard about Alison’s disappearance and may ask about his father, who is also missing because Tom has already dealt with him.

During the call, Tom tries to sound calm and normal. His mother says she is frightened by the news about the missing girl, especially after another girl was found dead, and she asks whether Tom knows anything. Tom lies and says he does not, even while thinking that he actually could explain what happened.

The conversation becomes more dangerous when Tom’s mother asks where Tom’s father is. After learning she already called his workplace and found out he never came in, Tom quickly invents a new story and claims his father just left for O’Toole’s. Tom chooses that lie because he believes nobody will answer the phone there and expose him.

After the call, Tom reflects that his mother will return the next day, and he will have to keep her from contacting the police about his father. Tom believes that part will be manageable because his father often disappeared while drunk and already had a bad reputation. Alison’s disappearance worries Tom more, and the chapter ends with Tom hoping that whatever happened will not lead back to him.