Evie and Ryan arrive in Oxford, Mississippi. Evie sends Ryan to a rooftop bar for an hour, then walks to Coach Mitch Cameron’s house. Introducing herself as Wendy, she presses Mitch for money, then deliberately escalates into a loud confrontation to agitate him before leaving. During the porch meeting, she plants a device on his rocker to enable phone mirroring.

Back in the car, Ryan has food waiting, and they head north. Ryan admits he runs a quiet Thursday side business in Texas, acquiring and reselling goods. Evie promises full disclosure after Friday’s detective meeting, keeping her focus on the immediate plan.

Using the mirrored access, Evie watches Mitch contact Mr. Smith via a public message board devoted to the band King Harvest, using the phrase “I just heard Dancing in the Moonlight for the first time today.” Mitch complains about Evie’s visit; the handle “kingharvestmegafan” replies, apologizing and promising she will be dealt with—confirming both the conduit and Mr. Smith’s presence.

Choosing not to head to Atlanta yet, Evie directs Ryan to Nashville. At a roadside stop and later at a budget motel, she coordinates the next day’s meeting time with Devon using coded Instagram comments. As the night winds down, Evie and Ryan become intimate; she tests him by asking about Amy Holder, and he refuses the answer, signaling trust while their relationship tightens under mounting stakes.