Exhausted but mended by the crucible, Alex heads to Professor Belbalm’s house for the salon. Upon arrival, she realizes she is there as staff, which relieves her of social pretense. She notices Dean Eitan Sandow among guests and retreats to the kitchen with Colin Khatri and fellow assistant Isabel Andrews to help prepare and serve, finding comfort in the routine and atmosphere.

Seeking to verify alibis, Alex asks about Sandow’s presence the previous week. Belbalm confirms Sandow attended, and Isabel adds he was drunk and slept it off at the house, providing an alibi. Isabel also notes the salon ran late and Colin complained, corroborating Colin’s alibi for the same night. The evening ends around 1 a.m., and Alex leaves with leftovers, savoring the normalcy.

The next morning, Alex contacts the Bridegroom through a water scry in the JE bathroom. North reports he has not found Tara Hutchins. Alex acknowledges Darlington’s interest in North’s case and says she may access notes at Black Elm on the new moon. When North presses about what she saw during possession, Alex questions his memory of his death; North recalls nothing after speaking with Daisy Whitlock in his office, admitting he became “no one” beyond the Veil. Alex mentions Daisy’s maid, Gladys O’Donaghue, but concludes the crime likely involved unseen magic and cuts the conversation short, directing North to keep searching for Tara.

Alex then calls the hospital for an update on Michael Reyes, the recent Skull and Bones prognostication victim, learning from Jean Gatdula that he is recovering and will be discharged soon to a shelter. She proceeds to the Marsh Botanical Garden to investigate the greenhouse linked to Tara’s plants, detecting lingering glamour and an uncanny scent. Inside, Alex finds it cleared out—empty planters and overturned pots—with only a single tendril that blooms and disperses glittering seeds before withering at her touch.

Outside, a grounds worker identifies the greenhouse’s user as Sveta Myers, a grad student who left a few days earlier for the rest of the semester. The worker recalls seeing a young blonde woman (matching Tara) frequently and a large man (matching Lance Gressang) occasionally. Alex infers a cleanup operation and that Sveta fled, possibly spooked.

Alex meets Detective Abel Turner by Ingalls Rink, reports the greenhouse purge and Sveta’s departure, and proposes tracking Sveta via rosters and society links. She insists they need to question Lance despite legal hurdles, arguing the unknown conspirators are “cleaning house.” Turner objects that Lance has counsel and any statements would be inadmissible, but Alex prioritizes answers over evidentiary value. She outlines a plan: Turner poses as counsel with a borrowed briefcase while Alex employs a Manuscript mirror-compact to gain access. The scene ends with Alex challenging Turner to believe in magic to make the interview possible.