Chapter 15

Summary

• Kyle, a cop, and a locksmith leave after installing a secondary deadbolt on the protagonist's doors.
• Kyle steps into officer mode, speaking on the phone somewhat secretively. The main character is left feeling anxious and curious about his conversation.
• Alone now, the protagonist begins searching for information about a man named James Finley. She finds that he has a criminal past but is currently on probation.
• She recalls conversations with her roommate Emmy and wonders why Emmy didn't see James as a potential threat. She wonders if Emmy preferred his transparency compared to her ex-fiancé, who had hidden his true nature and left her unprepared for a sudden shift in his behavior.
• The protagonist struggles to fall asleep, haunted by memories and thoughts of Emmy.
• The protagonist hears a voice. Startled, she investigates her home but finds nothing. Noticing a police cruiser outside, she feels a mix of relief and unease.
• On Friday, a fellow teacher named Kate Turner strikes up a conversation. Kate shows sympathy and comradery, hinting at a shared sense of turmoil and desire to start anew.
• Kate invites the protagonist to join her for a drink, which is accepted to ease the growing sense of fear and uncertainty about Emmy's disappearance and Kyle's silence.
• At Lakeside Tavern, the protagonist and Kate engage in light-hearted conversation, momentarily pushing away the realities of their separate situations. During this time, Kyle makes an unexpected appearance.
• Kate and the protagonist share their experiences and suspicions about Davis Cobb, the man who attacked another woman and is now a potential suspect for Emmy's disappearance.
• As the night ends, the protagonist and Kyle share an intimate moment. He offers to drive her home and they discuss their connections to the town and people there.
• Upon arriving at her home, the protagonist invites Kyle to stay. They share another moment, filled with tension and romantic undertones, before entering her house together.