Jasmine Hadley and her servant of 14 years, Meggie McGregor, watch their two children, Callum and Sephy, play together. As Mrs. Hadley steps away to speak to her husband, Meggie daydreams about Callum and Sephy getting married. The Hadleys return outside. Mr. Hadley questions Meggie about what she was doing the previous evening. After Meggie shares that she spent the night at home alone, Mr. Hadley strikes his wife. Mrs. Hadley refuses Meggie’s help and reprimands her for not lying to Mr. Hadley as her alibi for the previous evening. Mrs. Hadley terminates Meggie. Later that evening, Meggie decides to go and speak to Mrs. Hadley in person. She returns two hours later, but nothing has changed. Blackman informs the reader that this is the night Meggie’s daughter Lynette disappears.