Along Came a Spider

Law enforcement stays in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, to interview all the witnesses in the McDonald’s. Afterward, Alex and Jezzie spend another night together. Jezzie appreciates their solidarity as law enforcement officials. The pair order room service and notice how nervous the waiter seems around them. They joke about the bad food and what they might do to spend time together. They share some intimacy, after which Jezzie expresses concern that they might be getting in over their heads.

Gary Murphy is sent to Lorton Federal Prison in Virginia. Alex goes to visit him and is met by the warden, Dr. Marion Campbell. As they walk through the prison, Dr. Campbell explains that something has happened to Gary that Alex might find interesting. Due to Gary’s gunshot wound, he is being kept in the prison hospital. At first, Gary seems frightened and claims he doesn’t know Alex. Alex reminds Gary that he’s the one who spoke to him at the McDonald’s, but Gary insists he is not Gary Soneji, that he never kidnapped or murdered anyone.

The hostage-rescue team discuss Gary’s claim of having “multiple personalities”—dissociative identity disorder (DID). Some believe he’s only claiming this to plead insanity at his trial for a more lenient sentence. Alex admits Gary seems off and plans to ask him why he was asked to deliver the ransom.

Alex visits Gary again two days later. As they speak, Gary expresses confusion at his current situation. He claims he woke up in the back of a police car and couldn’t figure out how he got there. He also claims he has experienced similar situations in the past (a fugue state). Gary suffers from insomnia and sometimes struggles to differentiate between dreams and reality. He claims he couldn’t seek help for these problems because his family is in debt, but insists he is innocent.

Alex returns home late to find Jezzie waiting for him on her motorcycle. They drive through Washington, DC, eventually arriving at the apartment Jezzie recently rented. They spend the night together; then Jezzie drives Alex home.

Alex visits Gary again and asks questions about his childhood. Gary claims to not remember much, but remembers having insomnia as a child and his stepmother punishing him by locking him in a cellar for hours or days; he was also sexually abused by his father. Gary’s answers fit the profile of someone with DID. He undergoes a polygraph test and passes.

Alex presents an argument to Dr. Campbell, several members of the attorney general’s office, the district attorney, a representative from the governor’s office, the prison’s advisory board, and a representative from the state’s health board. He wants to hypnotize Gary in order to draw out Gary Soneji and learn more about Maggie. Dr. Walsh, the prison psychiatrist, argues that Gary is faking his DID and hypnotizing him will only play into his lies. The gathered men decide to take a few days to think before giving an answer. Alex decides he cannot wait and approaches a reporter from the Washington Post to plant an article that will force a decision.

Alex returns to the prison to hypnotize Gary. He evokes the day of the McDonald’s arrest and has Gary relate what he remembers, beginning in the police car. Gary talks about going into the McDonald’s and using the bathroom. Suddenly, Gary becomes rude and condescending, suggesting Alex is attempting to trick him. He says “Soneji” is angry that the police got lucky in finding him. When Alex asks to speak to Soneji, Gary lunges at him. Dr. Campbell and a few guards come into the cell, pull Gary from Alex, and sedate him.

Alex and John are called to Pittman’s office. Mayor Monroe is there and announces that Alex and John are being promoted. Pittman then announces that because of issues with the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Justice Department, Alex and John are being formally removed from the kidnapping case. Mayor Monroe says the Justice Department requested Alex be formally removed from the case because they want to put Gary on trial as soon as possible.

Alex and John continue working on the kidnapping case on their own time, canvassing the neighborhood where Gary Murphy lived and the neighborhood where he grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. They speak to a friend of Gary’s, Simon Conklin, who confirms some of the abuse allegations Gary made against his stepmother. Simon also talks about how desperate Gary was to be famous. He reveals that no one was able to prove that Gary set the fire that killed his family, but Gary told him of the plan years before. He says Gary has many future plans. Alex writes a report for the FBI but doesn’t believe they ever follow up.

Alex and Jezzie go to Virgin Gorda in late September for a brief vacation. While there, they swim and snorkel, ride horses, and explore the jungle. Alex feels free, accepted, and hopeful with Jezzie. One morning, their hotel arranges to transport them to a private island, where they spend the afternoon alone. That night, back at the hotel, Jezzie reveals that her parents struggled with alcoholism. Her parents’ self-loathing pushed her to be successful. Later, on the flight home, Jezzie pushes Alex for his thoughts on Gary Soneji/Murphy. Once they land, Alex becomes conscious of strangers’ disapproval of their interracial relationship.

John calls Alex to the Sanders house. He tells him that a neighbor, a young girl who was good friends with the Sanders daughter, has come forward with information. The girl, Nina Cerisier, tells Alex and John that she saw the Sanders’ killer watching the house a few days before the murders. She adds that there was another person with Gary—a white man in a car.

That night on the way to a basketball game, Alex tells Jezzie about Nina. Jezzie questions the girl’s honesty based on the fact that she didn’t come forward sooner, but Alex reminds her that the people of Washington Southeast don’t trust the police. On their way into the stadium, Alex and Jezzie are heckled by a group of men who don’t approve of their interracial relationship. Alex confronts the men and knocks two of them out before Jezzie pulls him away.

In October, Alex visits Gary based on his new information (Nina’s statement). As he speaks to Gary, Gary’s alter, Soneji, seems to slip out, accusing Alex of thinking he is smarter than he is. Then mild-mannered Gary returns. Alex is shocked, trying to decide if Gary has DID or not.

Maggie picks fruit and vegetables with a group of other children. She remembers her parents and home in Potomac, feeling homesick. She thinks of her mother, how she would make up songs to sing to her. Maggie wishes someone would take her home.

Gary’s trial begins on October 27 and will likely be closely observed throughout the country. Alex and John make a bet over whether Gary will be found guilty or innocent by reason of insanity. Alex believes Gary will be found guilty, despite Gary hiring Anthony Nathan as his defense lawyer; Nathan has a reputation for winning at all costs. The prosecutor is a woman named Mary Warner, and rumor has it that Jerrold Goldberg (the father of the first kidnapping victim, Michael Goldberg) picked her himself and is helping with the prosecution.

Nana Mama pulls Alex aside after dinner and tells him that she is concerned about his relationship with Jezzie. She doesn’t trust Jezzie, as the Secret Service supervisor doesn’t seem supportive of Alex’s career and work in Washington Southeast. Nana Mama also reveals that Damon expressed concern that Alex might leave them. Alex is hurt by Nana Mama’s words but reexamines his feelings for Jezzie.

The prosecution presents multiple expert witnesses who claim Gary is a criminal mastermind, not someone with DID. They present evidence that Gary took Michael and Maggie from their school, making him responsible for Michael’s death. Defense lawyer Anthony Nathan tells the jury that he is an honest man who only speaks the truth. He states Gary has DID, that the man on trial is not responsible for the kidnappings or Michael’s death. Nathan calls Gary’s coworkers at Washington Day School and his neighbors in Delaware to the stand. Each of them testifies that Gary is a kind person. During the second week of the trial, Nathan calls Alex to the stand as a hostile witness.