Following Frieda Brown’s debrief, Trevor Stackhouse calls Andy Fellowes in the computer room to covertly pull train information while summoning security men Rafe Pullman and John Walsh. Julia Sigsby questions whether to use local police immediately, but Stackhouse insists on containment and minimal exposure.

Fellowes quickly supplies three train departures tied to the red-steps station, with Train 4297 at 10 AM flagged as the likely ride. Estimating its schedule, Stackhouse targets Sturbridge as the furthest plausible disembarkation that afternoon. Rafe Pullman and John Walsh then confirm the physical scene: the red steps, shoe prints, and bloody fingermarks, and an unattended station—evidence supporting Frieda’s account.

Fearing Luke could have reached authorities, Stackhouse and Sigsby debate whether Luke would have gone to police or to a library to check news online. Concluding they must widen the search, they consider but avoid using the Zero Phone and instead lean on their clandestine network.

Andy Fellowes learns that most of Train 4297 continued south as Train 9956 to Richmond, Wilmington, DuPray, Brunswick, and Miami. Stackhouse theorizes Luke likely remained aboard 9956, reasoning that Luke would avoid major metro stops and might choose a smaller whistle-stop such as DuPray, South Carolina, or Brunswick, Georgia, if he is thinking strategically.

They order stringers to query Sturbridge, Portland, and Portsmouth police under a cover story, expecting no hits, and set surveillance on Train 9956 at Richmond (around 2 AM) and Wilmington (5–6 AM). Sigsby arranges incentives for sightings and potential grabs, including leveraging a Wilmington police officer among their assets.

Finally, Sigsby confirms additional coverage at Brunswick (a Methodist pastor and his wife) and DuPray (the town motel owner), establishing watchers at multiple likely stops. They resolve to attempt recovery using the Opal and Ruby Red extraction teams if Luke surfaces, still hoping to avoid escalation via the Zero Phone.