Saint drives to a bleak apartment complex that reminds her of her earliest days as an agent. Himes has temporarily reinstated her, much as he did during the Eli Aaron hunt, and gives her broad access to the investigation. Saint needs little more than a direct interview.

Inside, Saint finds Cooper living alone in an almost lifeless apartment. She listens as Cooper repeats his statement and compares it to the original version, confirming that he has not changed his account. Even so, Saint is troubled because there is virtually no background information on him, while the prison office is too overwhelmed to help and Warden Riley's office is unreachable.

Cooper presents himself as ordinary, describing a quiet life and ten years working in public libraries before taking his job at Hannington. He mentions no wife or children and says nothing about the years before that, which deepens Saint's suspicion. As she prepares to leave, Saint warns Cooper that more questions are coming and advises him to get a lawyer.

At the door, Saint notices the apartment's only personal object: a framed photograph beside the bed. The faded image shows a dark-haired girl with full lips and green eyes, and Saint is struck by how familiar she looks. When Saint says she will be seeing him again, calling him Mr. Cooper, he corrects her and reveals that Cooper is his first name. His full name is Cooper Strike, turning the interview into a major new lead.