The Silent Sister

After Jeannie and Christine leave, Riley spends the evening searching online for “Ann Johnson” and finds nothing. Remembering the murder victim’s widow, Sondra Lynn Davis, hired a private investigator, Riley finds Sondra’s blog and reaches out. Sondra calls back, explaining that her late PI found proof Lisa lived in Ocean Beach, San Diego, under an alias. Afterward, Riley removes price stickers from her mother’s Franciscan Ware dishes. The next morning, she books a flight to San Diego, setting the dishes aside as a piece of family history she chooses to preserve.

Riley arrives in San Diego and spends a sleepless night. In the morning, she walks Ocean Beach with Lisa’s photograph, questioning shopkeepers. A woman at a Pilates studio recognizes the photo and recalls that the woman worked at Grady’s music store under a “funny name.” She directs Riley to a local jeweler who knew the music-store circle. The jeweler tells her that Grady now works at the stadium. Riley finds Grady there. He at first denies knowing Lisa, then admits she worked for him as “Jade.” He explains that after a PI came around, she left for Portland with her girlfriend, Celia.

The next day, Riley tries researching “Jade Johnson” from her hotel but is overwhelmed. She decides to head home before chasing the Portland lead. During a layover, she listens to a worried voicemail from Jeannie but does not return the call. On the plane, she reflects on Grady’s warm description of Jade. She feels a new connection to Lisa as a person, not just a tragic family story.

That evening, Jeannie finds Riley on the floor surrounded by papers. They look at a photo of Lisa wearing a white jade pendant. Jeannie says she gave Lisa that necklace. Riley questions this, recalling the family story that a teacher gave Lisa the pendant. Jeannie becomes flustered and leaves abruptly.

Riley returns to sorting through boxes and finds her birth certificate. It lists Asheville, North Carolina, as her birthplace, unlike her siblings. Startled, she thinks of Verniece’s insistence that she was adopted and wonders if Christine is her mother. She calls Jeannie immediately.

Jeannie returns. On the porch, Riley asks if Christine is her mother. Jeannie denies it, then reveals the truth: Lisa is Riley’s biological mother. Jeannie describes how a pregnant teenage Lisa came to live with her in Asheville, and Frank and Deb adopted the baby at birth. She names Matty Harrison as the likely father. Jeannie also confirms she gave Lisa the white jade pendant after the birth, explaining its symbols mean “mother” and “daughter.” Riley struggles to absorb this new reality.

That night, Riley learns that Matty Harrison teaches at the Peabody Conservatory but is in Japan for two weeks. An ad for the band Jasha Trace catches her eye. She recognizes the violinist as Lisa, wearing the distinctive pendant. The ad promotes an upcoming New Bern show.

Riley drives to her father’s RV and finds Jasha Trace CDs listing the violinist as “Jade Johnson.” She also sees a photograph of two children on the wall. She takes the CDs, the photo, and the ad, connecting the clues to Lisa’s current life.

At her father’s desk, Riley plays the Jasha Trace CDs while researching the band. She discovers Jade Johnson is married to bandmate Celia Lind, and they have two children. Hurt and angry, Riley opens Frank’s computer. She reads years of emails between Frank and Celia, showing he had maintained contact with Lisa. The emails reveal that Frank attended Lisa’s wedding, and Lisa secretly visited her dying mother. In a flashback, Riley remembers being sent away from the house that day. The emails show that Lisa still thought about Riley and always wore the pendant, revealing a continuous, hidden connection.

In the early morning, Riley calls Jeannie, who comes over. Riley shows her the Jasha Trace website, explaining that Lisa is alive, and Frank knew. They scroll through wedding photos and spot Frank in the background. Jeannie recalls he claimed to be in Seattle for a funeral then. Both women register the depth of Frank’s deception.

Riley receives a brief email from Danny asking her to visit. She decides she must meet Lisa at the upcoming concert. Jeannie offers to go, but Riley insists on going alone, agreeing that Jeannie can stay in the crowd for support.

That evening, Riley finds Danny listening to Jasha Trace at his trailer. He tells her he broke into their father’s RV and figured out Lisa’s identity. Furious that Riley hid this, he vows to have his police friend, Harry Washington, arrest Lisa at the concert.

Riley pleads with him, arguing it will destroy Lisa’s life and harm her children. Danny refuses to back down. As a last resort, Riley reveals the final secret: Lisa is her biological mother. Danny is stunned, but Riley leaves, worried that the revelation may not sway him.

Distressed, Riley drives to Jeannie’s house and explains Danny’s plan to have Lisa arrested. They find that the band has a show in Chapel Hill the next night. Riley decides to go there to warn Lisa before she reaches New Bern. Riley fears Lisa will reject her. To steady her, Jeannie shows her a photo of Lisa cradling her as a newborn. The image confirms Lisa’s love, and Riley commits to the plan.