Summary

The story returns to the afternoon of August 4, 1892 as Emma watches her uncle move around the house. She dreads his presence, but also his absence, so she invites her friend Alice Russell to move in temporarily. Despite Alice’s fear of the murderer returning she agrees. The women go upstairs where Lizzie suggests Alice take Mr. and Mrs. Borden’s room.

As Emma prepares the room, Alice tells her of how Lizzie came for dinner the night before and claimed that someone was trying to poison the family because her father has many enemies. Alice then leaves to get some things from home while Emma cleans. While cleaning Emma remembers Bridget telling her before she left for good that Lizzie laughed when her father came home earlier.

Emma scrubs the sitting room floor for hours while Alice is gone, lost in thoughts about her...