As Al treats Jake's wound, Jake notices a picture of Harry that was once on the diner wall but is no longer there. He also asks Al why the sewer pipe warning at the Worumbo Mill and Weaving never changes, and they both wonder if that means someone is trying to protect the rabbit-hole.

Jake researches the Dunning family and learns that Ellen is still alive and living a good life, but that Harry died in Vietnam. Jake goes to see Al only to discover he has died by suicide. He left a note reiterating his desire for Jake to save President Kennedy.

Jake returns home to repack his briefcase. He goes to Al’s Diner, feeling weird being there without Al, and steps through the rabbit-hole for the third time. Jake slips a dollar in his front pocket for the Yellow Card Man, but once back in 1958 he discovers that the Yellow Card Man has taken his own life by slicing his neck with a broken bottle. His card is “now dead black” (313).

Jake repeats his actions from his last trip, settling in to wait for his opportunity to stop Frank Dunning. To earn some more money, Jake makes a bet with Chaz Frati.