Kyle, a cop, and a locksmith leave after installing a secondary deadbolt on the protagonist's doors.
Kyle steps into officer mode, speaking on the phone somewhat secretively. The main character is left feeling anxious and curious about his conversation.
Alone now, the protagonist begins searching for information about a man named James Finley. She finds that he has a criminal past but is currently on probation.
She recalls conversations with her roommate Emmy and wonders why Emmy didn't see James as a potential threat. She wonders if Emmy preferred his transparency compared to her ex-fiancé, who had hidden his true nature and left her unprepared for a sudden shift in his behavior.
The protagonist struggles to fall asleep, haunted by memories and thoughts of Emmy.
The protagonist hears a voice. Startled, she investigates her home but finds nothing. Noticing a police cruiser outside, she feels a mix of relief and unease.
On Friday, a fellow teacher named Kate Turner strikes up a conversation. Kate shows sympathy and comradery, hinting at a shared sense of turmoil and desire to start anew.
Kate invites the protagonist to join her for a drink, which is accepted to ease the growing sense of fear and uncertainty about Emmy's disappearance and Kyle's silence.
At Lakeside Tavern, the protagonist and Kate engage in light-hearted conversation, momentarily pushing away the realities of their separate situations. During this time, Kyle makes an unexpected appearance.
Kate and the protagonist share their experiences and suspicions about Davis Cobb, the man who attacked another woman and is now a potential suspect for Emmy's disappearance.
As the night ends, the protagonist and Kyle share an intimate moment. He offers to drive her home and they discuss their connections to the town and people there.
Upon arriving at her home, the protagonist invites Kyle to stay. They share another moment, filled with tension and romantic undertones, before entering her house together.