34. July 27, 2021
Summary
- Holly contemplates the futility of smoking during COVID-19 precautions and considers her investigation into the Golden Oldies bowling team.
- Questioning her theory, she doubts the likelihood of Roddy Harris being the Red Bank Predator and sees signs of possible Alzheimer's in him.
- Deciding against visiting Ernie Coggins, Holly changes directions to visit her Uncle Henry and another team member, Victor Anderson, at a care center.
- On her drive, she ignores phone calls from Jerome, Pete Huntley, and Penny Dahl, feeling they all require more energy than she can spare.
- Holly goes through a Burger King drive-thru, observing her own meticulous safety habits, before checking into a motel without luggage and contacting Penny Dahl.
- During their conversation, Penny is frustrated with the lack of progress but agrees to wait another day for a full report from Holly.
- Holly discusses with Jerome the peculiarities of the van seen in the surveillance footage and learns that it is likely modified for wheelchair access.
- She informs Pete Huntley about her van theory and starts to believe that the kidnapper might be faking a disability or genuinely having one.
- Holly also learns from Jerome that her friend Barbara is in the running for a prestigious poetry prize and has had secret mentorship from a renowned poet.
- Barbara Robinson keeps vigil at a hospital for her mentor, Olivia Kingsbury, and struggles to maintain positivity amidst potential tragic news.
- Emily Harris, who seems to have been feigning her health issues and is complicit in criminal activities, stays vigilant about Holly's investigation with her husband, Roddy.
- Back in her motel room, Holly reminisces about advice from her late mentor Bill Hodges, comparing a case to an egg that must be carefully handled and cracked open.