Marty and Jo walk along the road toward the Flipside Café. As they get near it, Jo sees a landing strip and a small airplane close by. A few other buildings and an RV park are situated near the café as well. The heat is already intense. Marty attempts to engage Jo in conversation about her mother, but Jo evades the questions and thinks about Addie’s courage.

This chapter begins with direct messages from “12 Days Ago” (153). Addie is excited that Joanie Cash, the first female commercial airline pilot, replied to a letter she sent. The girls tell each other they are smart enough to accomplish anything, but Jo insists that her opportunities are limited because she cannot afford a good education.

The server welcomes Jo and Marty. They order, and Jo plugs in the phone. Feeling queasy and lightheaded from the heat, she refills the jug in the restroom. When Jo sees a map of the area on the wall, she adjusts her original map. An older woman comments on Jo’s talent, saying Jo could be an artist. While Marty is in the bathroom, the woman leaves, thanking the server. The server replies, “Thanks for coming in, Joanie. […] Fly safe” (165). Jo realizes this may be Joanie Cash and runs after her.

This chapter begins with direct messages from “9 Days Ago” (166). Addie says she made a list for Jo that includes careers that are possible without a college education. Jo refutes most ideas, even Addie’s suggestion that she become a travel writer, with comments about not being good enough.

Jo chases the woman to ask who she is. Joanie confirms her identity. When Jo says she has never flown before, Joanie tells Jo she must experience flying soon. She mentions Jo’s artistic talent again and says that anyone can pursue an area of interest no matter their socioeconomic circumstances. Jo considers asking Joanie for help with searching but decides against it.

When Marty hears about Joanie, she is upset that Jo did not ask Joanie to look for Addie. Jo says she chose not to since the risk was too high of notifying the police (and consequently her mother). Marty is suspicious and wants Jo to be more honest about her mother. They leave for their trek into the desert with only 24% battery on the phone. Before setting out, Marty draws a line across the water jug halfway down. She tells Jo they will have to turn back when they drink the water down to the line; Jo agrees. They walk a dirt trail toward the spot where Jo believes the crash happened. She is confident that Addie is there but afraid of what they might find.

Jo hopes they will have enough water to get to Addie. When she notices the low phone battery, she hides her worry. She puts off Marty’s fears of wild donkeys and falling blobs of dried mud as they enter the mud canyon. The walls grow high enough to cast shade. Jo thinks she recognizes a twisted tree trunk and believes Addie is nearby.

Feeling optimistic, Jo thanks Marty for her help and claims she has no one else who might have helped her. When Marty asks about relatives, Jo reveals that her Aunt Mallory left her at the hospital after the accident instead of taking care of her; Jo had to spend her mother’s hospitalization and recovery living in emergency foster care. When Marty’s questions return once again to Jo’s mother’s current condition, Jo races to the end of the canyon. Once there, she sees no sign of Addie.

This chapter begins with direct messages from “9 Days Ago” (191). Addie misses her father and often thinks about flying with him. She tries to boost Jo’s spirits when Jo claims it is hard to be excited about anything; Addie mentions their travel plans, but Jo bluntly says their trip is not a realistic possibility.

Jo sees the brownish foliage of some trees over the wash and determines Addie must be close. Marty reminds her about the water: “If she’s not down there, we’re leaving, Jolene” (194). Jo takes off toward the wash, running under the barren trees and calling loudly for Addie. On the other side, there is still no sign of Addie or the ultralight. Marty tells Jo they must leave.

Miserable, Jo bitterly comments that she could not save Addie though others manage impossible feats. Marty suggests Addie may be back home, and that Jo’s struggle is for “no good reason” (198). Jo feels the stored “boxes” of anxiety burst, and she refuses to leave. She screams that no one including her mother cares; she recalls a cruel note left on her desk by a bully at school; she insists that saving Addie was up to her. Marty says she cannot tend to everyone; she hugs Jo, saying they must leave. Suddenly Jo hears metal hitting metal. Inspired by women mountain climbers Wanda Rutkiewicz, Lucy Walker, and Junko Tabei, Jo races up a rise and looks over the top.