Eddie Flood lands in South Carolina and texts Rob Kenna to confirm his arrival. Eddie reflects that he has been hired to kill a woman for thirty thousand pounds, but he is also pursuing a larger purpose he cannot reveal because Rob would kill him if he knew the full plan. Eddie has packed different sets of clothes to support multiple cover identities, and during the flight he has been studying bullet wounds on his laptop, showing how methodically he is preparing for violence.

Inside the small terminal, Eddie sizes up the two customs officers and deliberately approaches Carlos Moss, the larger and more formidable of the pair, because Eddie thinks Carlos is someone he might be able to work on. During routine questioning, Eddie claims he is visiting for pleasure and then quickly brings up Rosie D’Antonio, pretending to be an admirer of her books. Eddie hopes the subject will lead Carlos into giving away useful information about Rosie’s movements.

Carlos remains wary and professional, and Eddie keeps pressing. Eddie asks whether Rosie has a plane there and even tests whether Carlos might be open to corruption by asking about his pay. Eddie is relieved he is not carrying a gun, because he is planning to collect one later from a man named Duke at a gas station on Route 47. Eddie believes he has room to bribe for information and thinks Carlos could be bought if he can get him alone.

Instead, Carlos grows more suspicious with each question and tells Eddie to come with him for a random check. Eddie initially sees this as an opportunity, imagining a quiet back room where he can offer cash and get answers about Rosie. Even as Carlos leads him away, Eddie keeps trying to extract information and treats the detention like the start of a negotiation.

Carlos takes Eddie into what is plainly an interrogation room. Eddie tries one more tactic by attempting casual conversation about music, but Carlos refuses to engage, seats Eddie, and locks the door from the outside. The result is a temporary setback for Eddie: rather than gathering intelligence and moving on to his next step, he is contained by a border officer who has recognized that something about him is wrong. Eddie settles in, opens his laptop again, and waits, already planning how he might still turn the situation to his advantage.