Saint puts the Montrose murder investigation aside and gives her full attention to finding Joseph "Patch" Macauley after his prison escape. She spends the afternoon coordinating with Himes, the Alwyn County Sheriff’s Department, and many nearby agencies. Because Patch has spent much of his life searching and evading, Saint assumes he knows how to disappear well.

As the search widens, Patch’s face spreads across local and national news. Reports highlight his paintings, criminal past, and distinctive eye patch, and multiple sightings begin to pour in. Michaels argues that Patch’s sudden fame should make him easier to spot, while Warden Riley publicly promises Patch will be caught and returned to prison. Saint notices Riley’s humiliated, hard-edged demeanor as law enforcement canvasses homes and woods around the prison.

That evening, Saint goes across the street to speak with Sammy, who is drinking on his balcony as the church bells ring. After briefly sharing news of Chief Nix’s death, Saint tells Sammy she knows facts the press does not: the prison lost power after a construction worker cut a heavily armored main cable with a track saw. She lays out additional suspicious details surrounding the escape, including a prisoner named Cooper, who resembles Patch physically, a guard insisting Patch was present at the last count, and gate officer Blackjack missing part of the critical timeline because of a fight.

By listing those irregularities, Saint makes clear she believes Patch’s escape may have involved coordination, money, or outside help. She warns Sammy that federal investigators will uncover any financial trail leading back to him. Sammy denies involvement and asks whether Saint would rather Patch had died in prison. Saint does not answer directly; instead, she admits the real problem is that she knows Sammy loves Patch as deeply as she does, which leaves trust and suspicion painfully entangled.