The officer is Sheriff Roy Franklin, husband of Ruby. He comes to Hilltop Home to pick Ruby up from work. After hearing that Heidi has come alone on a bus from Reno, he speaks with Bernie on the phone. After their talk, he asks Heidi to call a coin toss ten times, all ten of which she gets correct. Roy then explains that Bernie asked him to bring Heidi to his and Ruby’s house for the night if Heidi got the tosses correct.

At Ruby’s and Roy’s house, Heidi eats chicken pot pie for dinner. Eager to learn more about Thurman Hill, Heidi asks Roy if Mr. Hill explained how Elliot knew soof. Roy tells her she will have to wait until tomorrow for answers. Heidi calls Bernie and requests that Bernie tell Mama that Heidi loves her; using love is not common in their relationship because it is not one of Mama’s words, but Heidi wants Bernie to convey it to Mama this night. Roy asks Heidi if she recalls the name Diane DeMuth, but Heidi has not. After a bath, Heidi goes to sleep in a spare room, commenting on the line-dried sheets: “They smell like…sky” (192).