Anna remained in the first-class lounge with Dante Wentworth, the only other person who had not pushed forward with the group. Dante called her "Annie," triggering memories of their teenage relationship, which began after an illicit meeting at a Matheson Christmas party and deepened when Dante pursued Anna at her school production of Romeo and Juliet. Their recollections underscored the longstanding enmity between their fathers, Kenneth Wentworth and Arthur Matheson, despite social niceties on Philadelphia's Main Line.

Dante admitted he boarded after finding Anna's invitation on Kenneth Wentworth’s desk and recognizing her handwriting. He claimed he was not there to protect his father but to see Anna, and he teased out the deliberate theatrics of her plan, from the fake conductor to the empty train. Anna confirmed she had paid off the legitimate crew and that the engineer would not open the cab door or stop under any circumstances.

They debated Kenneth Wentworth’s culpability in the conspiracy that toppled Arthur Matheson and seized the Phoenix. Anna asserted she possessed memos, correspondence, blueprints, photographs, and especially financial records showing Kenneth’s 1942 transfers to five Swiss numbered accounts belonging to the co-conspirators. Dante questioned but did not refute that the evidence could prove Kenneth organized the scheme.

As the Phoenix ran express through Pennsylvania, Dante asked why Chicago was the destination rather than a closer city, concluding Anna wanted to witness the conspirators squirm during the long journey. Anna headed forward to check on the others, and Dante followed.

In the baggage car, they found Judd Dodge, Jack Lapsford, Sally Lawrence, Herb Pulaski, and Edith Gerhardt frantically trying to force the locked door to the cab passage. Anna told them the engineer, Burt Chapman, had been instructed not to respond and that the entire crew understood and supported the purpose of the journey, motivated in part by railroad workers who had died because of the conspirators' actions.

Lapsford offered escalating appeals, including a million dollars and military authority, while Sal and others pounded on the door. Anna revealed she had also told the engineer to ignore orders from anyone, including herself, to prevent coercion. Dante then stepped forward as the owner’s son and, instead of countermanding Anna, instructed the engineer to keep the train moving and not stop until Chicago. Burt confirmed with a knock, signaling compliance.