The opening pages of the book feature the senior capstone project proposal of the novel’s protagonist, Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi. In it, Pip outlines her intent to report on the way media acts as crucial components of police investigations using a case study: the circumstances surrounding Andrea “Andie” Bell’s disappearance in their town of Fairview, Connecticut, as well as the press’s characterization of her boyfriend, Salil “Sal” Singh, and his alleged guilt.

Pip narrates her thoughts about the Singh family: how they could remain in Fairview after everything that happened and how the family’s house—spray-painted “Scum Family” (3)—stands so close to Fairview High School, where Pip will begin her senior year in a few weeks’ time.

Pip cautiously knocks on the Singh’s door and recognizes Ravi, Sal’s younger brother, when he answers. She introduces herself and nervously tells Ravi about her capstone project. When he inquires why she has decided to investigate what happened five years ago, she states that it is because she believes Sal is innocent and she wants to prove it.

Entry 1 in Pip’s Capstone Project Log, dated July 30, 2019—the summer before her senior year of high school—begins her first-person narration on the progress of her project.