Chapter 23

Summary

• The chapter is a conversation between the narrator, Leah, and Kyle, a lead detective on a case involving Leah's friend, Emmy.
• Leah has been cleaning a mysterious box that she found hidden and is nervous when Kyle arrives.
• Kyle reveals he is leading the case about missing person Finley and Emmy's car, which was pulled from a lake, is involved. He confirms that Leah is a witness.
• Meanwhile, Leah has a photo of another person, Bethany Jarvitz, who is tied to both Emmy and another case involving a person named Davis Cobb.
• Kyle ends their personal relationship because he can't be seen favoring a witness, which upsets Leah.
• Kyle reveals that there was never an Emmy Grey in the Peace Corps (which Emmy had claimed to be a part of) and the car plates were fake.
• Despite realizations that Emmy lied about crucial parts of her identity, Leah feels a deep connection with her as Emmy had always chosen Leah about anything else.
• Kyle informs Leah that her house is going to be searched for a knife and any personal documents to further identify Emmy, making Leah suspect that he had planned to ask for her consent to search the house all along.
• Leah, believing there is nothing in the house that can incriminate her or reveal anything about Emmy, gives her consent for the search.
• Feeling manipulated and used by Kyle, Leah resolves to stop being a step behind and see Kyle's actions for what they really are. She questions if she was only valuable to Kyle as a source to track down Emmy.