Holly

Holly meets with Avram Welch, quickly moving him down the suspect list based on his genuine demeanor and descriptions of Cary. Next, she plans to visit Rodney Harris.

Jerome calls Barbara to report the success of his meeting with the editor. Barbara finally tells him about the Penley Prize. Jerome is delighted for her. Now that her attention is fully engaged, he tells her about the string of disappearances near Deerfield Park. He asks her to go into their father’s old study and find an orange flash drive, then send him the folder of pictures it contains: His publisher is eyeing one of those photos for the cover of his book.

Bonnie wakes up in the Harrises’ basement. She feels significantly less ill than Jorge did because Rodney has switched from using ketamine to Valium. He made the change because ketamine caused cellular degeneration in Jorge and Cary. Luckily, the damage hadn’t reached their livers. Rodney has deluded himself into believing that human livers, once activated through the consumption of calf liver, can lengthen his and Emily’s lives.

Looking around the door, Bonnie notices a metal box that resembles an HVAC unit near the door. She quickly realizes that she is being held prisoner. She suspects that Emily is the brains behind the operation; even before her abduction, she’s always found Emily slightly unsettling. Rodney descends the stairs with a liver and protein drink. As she drinks, Bonnie notices her bike helmet and backpack hanging in Rodney’s workshop.

Over the phone, Rodney reluctantly agrees to be interviewed by Holly, though he warns her to keep it short. Holly has concocted a story about Cary Dressler being wanted for car theft, which both Harrises suspect is untrue. As they prepare for Holly’s visit, Emily reflects bitterly on the fact that Olivia stole Barbara out from under her.

Meeting Rodney at his door, Holly notices the faint bruise on his cheek. He asks her to take off her mask, stating that he and Emily observe so-called healthy protocols in lieu of vaccination, but Holly declines. Emily is in the spare bedroom, watching the exchange via a hidden camera.

Barbara enters her father’s office and sends Jerome the requested folder. She notices his case notes on the Deerfield Park disappearances, including the printed map with the marked locations of each victim’s least known whereabouts. She notices that the dots seem to form a circle around the park. The dates between the disappearances seem regular, except Ellen and Peter, who are too close together. Holly wonders if the abductor didn’t get what they needed from one of them. As Barbara picks up her phone to call Holly, she receives a call from Marie. Olivia has been hospitalized for atrial fibrillation. Forgetting about the case, Barbara rushes to Kiner Memorial.

Bonnie refuses to eat the liver, but after 24 hours without water her resolve is weakening. She agrees to eat it, but only if Rodney will bring her a fresh piece and give her water at the same time. Emily urges him to give in to her demand. She can hardly stand the pain of her sciatica, and laments that the effects of their cannibalism seem to be lasting for shorter and shorter periods of time with each victim. Rodney knows that the ideal incubation time is 48 hours but agrees to speed up the timeline.

Rodney brings Bonnie a new piece of liver and a small cup of water. Bonnie eats the liver, then asks him to tell her the truth: She is never getting out of their house alive. Rodney claims that she is taking part in a government research project and will be let go eventually, but she doesn’t believe him.

Holly doesn’t suspect Rodney Harris after their encounter. She believes he is suffering from the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and that Emily seems too frail to be a viable accomplice. She calls Penny to report her progress on the case, but doesn’t tell her that Bonnie may have fallen victim to a serial killer. She promises to give Penny a full report within 24 hours. A frustrated Penny says that if Holly doesn’t have progress to show by tomorrow, she will be fired.

Holly returns to the Days Inn and calls Jerome, who tells her that he’s noticed something of interest about the blue-striped van. The body of the van is unusually high, indicating that is has been customized for a person with disabilities. Thinking back to Imani’s recollection of the old woman with sciatica, Holly wishes she’d gotten a better look at Emily. As she says her bedtime prayers, she has a new surge of inspiration about the case.

Meanwhile, Emily and Rodney discuss Holly’s visit. She advises him to carry his gun and assures him that she will carry a strong taser.

Rodney prepares dinner for Emily, who is in agony due to the recurrence of her sciatica. Returning to the basement, he gives Bonnie a bottle of Diet Pepsi laced with Valium, which knocks her out. As she collapses, she asks him why. Rodney responds, “because I love my wife” (323).

Hours later, Rodney returns to the basement and injects Bonnie with more valium. He drags her to his workshop and shackles her down to a makeshift operating table. Half-conscious, Bonnie calls out for her mother.