In their hotel room, Sydney recovers from fainting and realizes that the repressed memory of the near-drowning incident on the Pacific Coast Highway explains her past mental-health crisis after reporting on a similar case. She asks Sasha not to tell Malik about the incident, revealing that they’re in their third round of IVF and that he’s worried about her stress levels. Sydney confesses her deep-seated fears about motherhood, worrying that she will repeat their parents’ mistakes. She interprets her childhood impulse to jump from the car as a sign of selfish instincts.

Sasha corrects the memory, explaining that Sydney had signaled for her to unlock her door as well, planning for them to jump together. Sasha says that she always felt safer with Sydney because of her protective nature and reassures her that she will be a good mother. The next morning, Sydney asks about life after she left for college. Sasha reveals that on the night of their father’s fatal car crash, he had been in a drunken rage and tried to force Sasha into the car with him, leaving a bruise on her arm. Their mother intervened by grabbing his keys from the side table, pulling Sasha away, and then shoving the keys into his chest and telling him to go alone—an act that Sasha sees as her mother saving her. The conversation triggers another memory for Sydney of their mother enforcing a code of silence about family problems to protect their reputation.

Back home, Carol’s trunk arrives from Detroit. While going through its contents, Sydney notices that a corner of the back panel has popped free from the trunk’s backing. Behind it, she finds a small red pouch containing a silver charm bracelet. A locket on the bracelet is engraved with the initials “SD” and contains photos of two unfamiliar girls. Sydney realizes that “SD” likely stands for Sally Dunn, one of the missing teenagers and the sister of Stanley, whom Sydney spoke to about the case. She’s disturbed, wondering why Carol would possess her friend’s bracelet.

In an entry from Carol’s diary, she complains about Michael’s friend Raymond Green, whom she calls “RayRay,” describing him as a creep who leers at her. She recounts a specific incident where she believes Raymond was watching her through a cracked-open door while she was changing clothes in Michael’s room; Michael dismissed her concern. She expresses hope that Larry will run away with her and Michael, and she notes Michael’s growing desire to move to California instead of Detroit.

At her office, Sydney finds an old newspaper photo of Sally Dunn wearing what appears to be the same charm bracelet. Unsure of how to proceed without implicating Carol, she decides to investigate Raymond Green. After her boss warns her about being distracted at work, Sydney resolves to conduct her research outside of office hours. The next morning, she leaves a confrontational voicemail for Yvonne and then pitches the story of the missing girls to a reporter at Raleigh’s The News & Observer.

Sydney has a video call with Stanley, who confirms that he grew up with Raymond. Stanley recounts Raymond’s tragic childhood: His parents died in a car crash he survived, leaving him injured and with a permanent scar on the side of his head; he was raised by a cruel aunt. Socially awkward and nicknamed “Scarecrow,” Raymond’s popularity grew in high school after his aunt died, leaving him to live alone, host parties, and drive his own car—a black Chevy 210, matching the description of the car that two victims were seen in. While Stanley admits that Raymond was a suspect at the time, he’s now hesitant to condemn him, drawing parallels to his own son, who’s on the autism spectrum. Frustrated, Sydney ends the call and then receives a threatening text from Yvonne herself, warning that Sydney will hear from her lawyers if she’s contacted again.

Malik and Sydney have a date night before her embryo transfer. The fertility clinic has informed them that they have only one viable embryo, amplifying Sydney’s anxiety about both the procedure’s potential failure and success. She tells Malik about a therapy session where she discussed her fears of being a bad mother. Her therapist, Dr. Dominguéz, advised her to list the qualities of a good parent and reflect on it daily. When Malik admits his own fears of becoming an absent father, Sydney shares her list, and he’s inspired to create his own.

Later, Sydney discovers that Michael Hall has found her on Instagram, liking old photos and commenting that she looks like Carol. His username is “MEHesq”—his initials—and his profile is empty with no photo, suggesting that he created the account only to view posts. She then receives an email from the Raleigh reporter, who’s pursuing the story. On the day of the transfer, Sydney feels optimistic, buoyed by a vivid dream of a future daughter. At the clinic, upon seeing an image of their embryo, she whispers her hope to meet the little girl.

During the agonizing two-week wait after the transfer, Sydney learns that The News & Observer has published an article about the six missing girls. Barbara calls, pleased but wishing for more, and reveals that she told the reporter about her suspicions regarding Raymond Green. Barbara recounts a disturbing story about Raymond cornering a girl named Cathy at a party; later, while Cathy admired hydrangeas at the back of Raymond’s property, he whispered into her ear from behind before moving to the bush and deadheading a flower while staring her directly in the eye. Barbara also notes that the creek ran right through Raymond’s backyard.

That evening, Sydney finds Raymond’s old address on Google Maps and confirms that it’s an overgrown lot by the creek. While searching the police files for the address, she discovers a note detailing that Raymond was investigated for Geraldine Williams’s disappearance but had a confirmed alibi. Conflicted by the new information, she resolves to return to Raleigh and emails the police with her findings. Later, she’s frightened when music from her “Carol” playlist begins playing on a Bluetooth speaker in her dark bedroom—the song is titled “Guess Who.”

Sydney travels to Raleigh for Veterans Day weekend. On the morning she arrives, she discovers that she’s spotting, which could be a sign of a miscarriage, and anxiously messages her fertility nurse. Barbara picks her up and gives her a tour, pointing out historical sites before taking her to see Raymond’s former property. The lot is overgrown, but through the foliage, Sydney spots a large bush of blue hydrangeas near the creek, confirming part of the story Barbara had told her.

Later, at Barbara’s house, they prepare for a gathering of the victims’ families. When Barbara asks if Sydney plans to have children, Sydney confesses her long struggle with IVF and her fears about being a mother. Barbara comforts her, sharing that no one feels truly ready for parenthood. She tells Sydney that her dedication to finding the missing girls is proof of her capacity to love and advises her that sometimes one must simply take a leap of faith.

Family and friends of the six missing girls gather at Barbara’s house. Several guests comment on Sydney’s strong resemblance to Carol. Marian’s sister mentions that Michael Hall tutored her, which contradicts Michael’s claim that he didn’t know the other girls. A group of women share stories about Raymond, universally remembering him as a creep who engaged in unsettling behavior. A woman with purple cat-eye glasses recalls him smelling her hair in class and following her between classes. Carol’s unnamed friend recounts that Raymond slipped paper into a girl’s locker daily for weeks, each bearing a detailed anatomical heart drawing in red crayon.

Stanley arrives with his cousin Dorothy. Sydney is stunned to see Dorothy wearing a charm bracelet nearly identical to the one she found in Carol’s trunk. Dorothy explains that she, her sister, and their cousin Sally Dunn all had matching bracelets. Realizing the gravity of her discovery, Sydney retrieves the bracelet she found from her bag. When she shows it to Dorothy, Dorothy recognizes it as Sally’s and lets out a shriek that brings the gathering to a halt.