The chapter shifts to Sally Lawrence's perspective as she remembers a night that altered her life. After a failed blind date, Sally visited a clandestine basement bar and met a redheaded woman who resembled Rita Hayworth. They flirted, left together, and spent the night at the redhead's hotel.

Two days later, the redhead summoned Sally to meet at the hotel bar, where Kenneth Wentworth appeared alongside her. Kenneth presented a manila envelope of explicit photos secretly taken from the hotel closet, documenting Sally's encounter. He paid the redhead and blackmailed Sally: either he would distribute the photos to her family and employer, or he would hand over the photos and negatives in exchange for a favor.

After Tommy Matheson's funeral, the favor became clear: Kenneth forced Sally to create a convincing paper trail framing her boss for the sabotage that had killed Tommy and several soldiers. If she complied, she would receive the photos and significant payment; if she refused, the photos would be exposed and she would be implicated. Sally completed the task, received the materials, and burned them, drinking whiskey as she watched them burn.

In the present, Sally tells Anna her secret and refuses to beg for forgiveness, acknowledging she does not deserve it. She insists she did not know Tommy would be killed and argues that Kenneth would have executed the plan regardless, claiming her refusal would have only added her own ruin or death. Anna condemns her, noting that Sally could have prevented Arthur Matheson's death; Sally counters that Kenneth would have proceeded anyway.

When Anna affirms she is not a killer, Sally pointedly asks about Seamus. She argues that Seamus could have killed Judd Dodge and Edith Gerhardt, noting he was never fully searched after Reginald Davis found a gun and could have concealed poison. Anna initially denies it but realizes the search gap could be true; she maintains that Seamus would not act without her approval and that their plan forbade harming the witnesses, even if they deserved it.

Sally cautions that plans can change under emotional strain, suggesting Seamus might have snapped when confronted with the group. She claims they all deserve consequences but advises Anna to confirm Seamus has not gone rogue. The scene ends with Sally gazing at the snowbound landscape, contemplating a freedom she believes she will never have again.