On a rainy Monday, Holly leaves insurance paperwork behind after Izzy asks to meet in person at Bell College’s gym. Holly finds Izzy practicing softball for the police department’s Guns and Hoses game with Tom Atta. In the locker room, Izzy secretly gives Holly the full list of Alan Duffrey’s jurors, plus Judge Irving Witterson and prosecutor Douglas Allen, because the murder pattern now clearly points to the Duffrey case.

Izzy then explains what she has learned about the prosecution. Claire Rademacher could have shown that Duffrey’s fingerprints were on Mylar comic-book bags Cary Tolliver retrieved, not on the pornographic magazines themselves, but Allen kept her off the witness list. Izzy also says the trial photos were presented in a way that falsely encouraged the jury to believe Duffrey’s prints were on the magazines, which means Allen may be the "guilty" person Bill Wilson intends to kill. After leaving Izzy, Holly calls John Ackerly and asks him to quietly ask recovery contacts about a man calling himself Bill or Bill W. and about anyone still angry over Duffrey’s death.

The next evening, Trig goes to Tapperville to kill Michael Rafferty, also known as the Rev or Big Book Mike, because Rafferty could connect Trig to the recovery world and jeopardize the mission. Trig enters Rafferty’s house under the pretense of counseling, shoots him with a .38 wrapped in a towel, then smothers him with a pillow when the first shot does not kill him quickly. To make the crime look like a robbery, Trig steals money, the wallet, and the watch, wrecks the bedroom, destroys an incriminating sexual photograph he finds, and alters the appointment book entry that recorded "TRIG 7 PM" so his visit will be harder to trace.

After disposing of the gun, wallet, and watch, Trig returns home feeling that the detour is complete and that he can resume his larger plan. Later, Izzy and Tom visit Doug Allen in his office and confront him with Bill Wilson’s letter and the new understanding of the Duffrey case. When Izzy accuses Allen of using the fingerprint evidence dishonestly, Allen tries to justify himself, but his reactions confirm that he understands the danger: if Bill Wilson knows how the case was handled, Allen may be the intended "guilty" victim. Tom and Izzy demand Duffrey case files and offer Allen police protection.

That afternoon, John Ackerly attends the Straight Circle meeting and then checks The Flame coffee shop, hoping to find Big Book Mike and ask questions for Holly. When Rafferty does not appear, John drives to Tapperville, locates Rafferty’s house, and sees Rafferty’s body through the back door window. John confirms Rafferty is dead and then calls 911, turning Holly’s quiet inquiry into an active homicide discovery.