The story switches back to the perspective of Susan Ryeland, the editor of the book who introduced Atticus’s story. She is irritated that the last chapter is missing and calls her boss to tell him about it. She wonders what the ending of the story was, and who killed Magnus Pye. She considers the possibility that the missing chapter is a test and draws up a list of character suspects to see if she can figure out the conclusion on her own.

Brent is a clear suspect because he dislikes Mary and Magnus, and Susan suspects he might be a pedophile. Robert is linked to the deaths but doesn’t have a good reason to kill Magnus. Robin is associated with the murders because of his anger about the woods, the bicycle, whatever Mary spotted on his desk, and the bloodstain on his shirt. Atticus claims that Matthew killed his wife and may be a suspect in Magnus’s death. Clarissa has a reason to kill her brother, as well as a key to his house, and may be somehow involved in Mary’s death. Susan dismisses the other suspects as not having enough reason to commit both murders.