A flashback revealed that Seamus once assumed Anna could not defend herself, prompting self-defense lessons. Anna outmatched him, later explaining Aunt Retta had arranged years of training with a former boxer who taught her strikes, disarms, and a key rule of self-defense—attack the groin if necessary.

Back in the present dining car, Anna used that training. With Herb Pulaski holding a knife to compel her to stop the train, she kicked his groin with her heel to break free. Herb lunged, and Anna shielded herself with a plate before throwing it to distract him long enough to draw her own concealed knife from a thigh sheath.

Anna tried to talk Herb down, but Herb, sweating and shaken, insisted he had to get off the train because he believed the killer was moving car by car—Judd Dodge first, then Edith Gerhardt, and that he would be next. He begged Anna to stop the train, promising not to flee and to face arrest, but she refused. Herb continued to jab at her with his knife as they circled.

As emotions escalated, Anna accused Herb of letting her brother and others die twelve years earlier. Herb admitted guilt and fear. When he charged again, Anna smashed a plate against his knuckles, disarming him, then tackled him from behind, pinning him on the floor.

Under restraint, Herb confessed he had allowed the engine project to proceed for money, saying he could not buy his way out of trouble like Anna’s family, and that he would tell police the same. He added that Judd acted out of resentment toward Anna’s father, while Sal Lawrence was also motivated by money. Anna, overcome by anger, bared Herb’s throat with his tie and pressed her knife to it, contemplating killing him.

Seamus arrived at the doorway with Dante Wentworth, Reginald “Reggie” Davis, Sal, and Jack Lapsford, stopping Anna as she wavered. Anna, bleeding slightly at the neck from Herb’s earlier threat, stood down. The group realized Anna had been carrying a hidden knife despite Reggie’s prior search.

Anna ordered Herb back to his room for the remainder of the trip. Seamus took Herb by the arm and promised to stand guard at his door to prevent another incident. As Reggie, Sal, and Lapsford followed into the lounge, Sal quipped about whether Seamus was protecting Herb from Anna or vice versa, and Seamus answered “Both.”