This part covers Chapters 1-9.

On a rainy February morning, Jane arrives at the Reeds’ home in the wealthy Thornfield Estates subdivision to walk their dog. Jane has been walking dogs in this subdivision “for almost a month now” (17). She takes Mrs. Reed’s dog for a walk and visits her favorite house in the neighborhood, an isolated home on a dead-end street. Outside of this house, Jane narrowly avoids being hit by a car as it speeds out of the driveway. The driver of the car, Eddie Rochester, stops to check on Jane and invites her inside.

Jane and Eddie get to know each other over coffee. Jane provides vague answers to Eddie’s questions while hiding the truth: that she moved to Alabama from the West Coast last year to run away from something. She also conceals that she was once in foster care. Eddie reveals that he moved to Birmingham because it was his wife’s hometown. Before Jane leaves, Eddie asks if he can hire her as a dog walker for his new puppy named Adele.

Jane soon learns that Eddie’s wife, Bea Rochester, is presumed dead: She is a wealthy businesswoman who owns a home décor company called Southern Manors and went missing six months ago.