Willa, who has hidden Layla’s map of the town, offers to accompany her to visit Mrs. John, the daughter of Mrs. Bucklew. Willa goes upstairs to see Mrs. Bucklew. She finds the old lady sleeping and takes advantage of the situation to eavesdrop on Layla and Mrs. John’s conversation. Layla finds a picture of Vause Hamilton in an old school yearbook and asks about him. Mrs. John tells Layla that Vause was much loved and that few of the local people believe that he was a thief or arsonist. As she elaborates on the friendship between Vause and Felix, Mrs. John casts doubt on Felix’s alibi that he had been playing pool with Tare Russell the night of the fire. Listening in, Willa also learns for the first time about Jottie’s relationship with Vause. However, having witnessed Layla’s interview techniques, Willa decides that Layla is devious and determines to protect her father from her.

Jottie meets Sol in the graveyard, intending to apologize for having caused him to lose his job. Sol is buoyant and delighted to see her. She learns that it is only a matter of time before he returns to American Everlasting as its next president; for a moment, Jottie fantasizes about returning to the wealth and prominence she enjoyed when her father was alive.