The chapter is a conversation between the narrator, Leah, and Kyle, a lead detective on a case involving Leah's friend, Emmy.
Leah has been cleaning a mysterious box that she found hidden and is nervous when Kyle arrives.
Kyle reveals he is leading the case about missing person Finley and Emmy's car, which was pulled from a lake, is involved. He confirms that Leah is a witness.
Meanwhile, Leah has a photo of another person, Bethany Jarvitz, who is tied to both Emmy and another case involving a person named Davis Cobb.
Kyle ends their personal relationship because he can't be seen favoring a witness, which upsets Leah.
Kyle reveals that there was never an Emmy Grey in the Peace Corps (which Emmy had claimed to be a part of) and the car plates were fake.
Despite realizations that Emmy lied about crucial parts of her identity, Leah feels a deep connection with her as Emmy had always chosen Leah about anything else.
Kyle informs Leah that her house is going to be searched for a knife and any personal documents to further identify Emmy, making Leah suspect that he had planned to ask for her consent to search the house all along.
Leah, believing there is nothing in the house that can incriminate her or reveal anything about Emmy, gives her consent for the search.
Feeling manipulated and used by Kyle, Leah resolves to stop being a step behind and see Kyle's actions for what they really are. She questions if she was only valuable to Kyle as a source to track down Emmy.