As Lisa drives onto the main street in her small town, she can feel other people watching her. Lisa knows, “It wasn’t just because of her books. People knew her because of the Dark Star, too. She was a local celebrity stalked by tragedy” (77). Lisa decides to go to the market for some sandwiches for herself and Purdue. As she pulls into the market parking lot, she tells Purdue to lay down on the seats so no one can see him.

Inside the market, a group of people whispering near the register stop to look at Lisa as she walks in. As Lisa heads to the back of the store, she hears the people whispering about a boy and policemen. Lisa realizes Mrs. Lancaster must have told the other townspeople about the missing boy and the police making rounds the night before. Lisa goes to the ATM at the back of the store and withdraws $200. When she is finished, she turns around and realizes a man is standing too close behind her. The man is muscular, average height, with “pale skin, short red hair, red beard. Scars on his forearms’” (83).