You Deserve to Know

The narrative shifts to spring, months earlier. Lisa’s research on Michael Finch proves fruitless, but she finds Dexter Kohl listed as a missing person in Humboldt County. Unexpectedly, Lisa receives a call from Dexter’s mother: She got Lisa’s number from a contact at the high school after learning that Lisa was asking questions about the two missing boys. Dexter’s mother has long been convinced that Michael killed Dexter, hid the body, and then fled. Months after the disappearance, she saw Michael near the campsite where the boys were last seen, but he evaded her. She is desperate to find Michael in order to confirm the truth about her son’s death. Lisa is quickly convinced that Scott/Michael is indeed a murderer who changed his identity to conceal his crime and offers to help Dexter’s mother.

Aimee stands in shock, realizing Cathy’s entire identity was fabricated. Gwen takes charge, getting them inside by claiming Aimee needs water and threatening to involve police. Jean Brewster, the homeowner, reluctantly allows them in. Jean explains she hired Cathy from a pet-sitting website to care for her cat and kittens. Jean admits Cathy had no references but seemed trustworthy, claiming to be a retired teacher. Aimee points out that Cathy told her a different story about having a deceased son. Jean provides Cathy’s Venmo details and a photo, neither of which prove helpful. Despite Jean’s claim that the barn on the property is unused, Gwen spots fresh tire tracks leading to it. Aimee and Gwen discover Scott’s black SUV parked inside.

Aimee frantically searches Scott’s vehicle but finds it empty. Gwen phones the police and texts Lisa to pick up Aimee’s children from school. The police arrive and Gwen fills them in on the confusing circumstances of Scott’s disappearance, Cathy’s lies, and the discovery of the car in the garage. Gwen also explains that Anton was extorting Scott with some unknown information. Gwen drives Aimee home and suggests questioning Lisa, noting the possibility Anton confided in her. Aimee is still not convinced that Lisa and Anton were having an affair and cannot believe that Lisa would keep important secrets from her.

Aimee goes to Lisa and Marcus’s home to pick up her children. Lisa is not there, so Aimee fills Marcus in on some of the strange events. Marcus mentions that Gwen recently made drunken accusations against Lisa. He says Lisa told him she and Anton met innocently in Tampa with other writers, dismissing any affair. At home, after her children have gone to bed, Aimee becomes increasingly worried by the possibility that Scott had a secret past. She phones Scott’s aunt, his only relative (although the two were not close). Scott’s aunt is immediately suspicious and does not provide any information about who might have been extorting Scott, or why. Instead, she implies that Scott must have done something nefarious.

The timeline shifts to spring. Lisa wonders whether Aimee knows about Scott’s true identity as Michael Finch. At a Memorial Day pool party, Lisa subtly questions Aimee about Scott’s family and childhood. Aimee explains that Scott is not nostalgic and shows no interest in revisiting his New Mexico childhood home. When Lisa asks about high school yearbooks, Aimee says Scott’s childhood belongings were lost when his mother died and he moved to live with his aunt in North Carolina.

Lisa concludes that Aimee is completely unaware of Scott’s past in California. That night, unable to sleep, Lisa has an epiphany: Aimee is unknowingly in an abusive relationship with a murderer. Lisa decides she must warn Aimee but worries about being blamed, recalling when she seduced a college friend’s boyfriend to expose him, only to have the friend turn against her.

She considers contacting California authorities but fears Aimee would blame her if Scott were arrested. Instead, Lisa resolves to drive a wedge between Aimee and Scott, leading Aimee to leave Scott and turn to Lisa for support.

On Wednesday morning, Detective Salazar arrives at Aimee’s home, wanting to question Noa. Aimee reluctantly agrees after he promises not to reveal that Scott is missing. Salazar asks Noa about her time at Cathy’s house. Noa recalls nothing unusual. After Noa leaves Salazar warns Aimee, suggesting she knows where Scott has fled and is protecting him. Aimee insists Cathy is responsible for Scott’s disappearance. As Salazar departs, he suggests that rather than harming Scott, Cathy might be helping him escape.

On Wednesday morning, Gwen wakes up and argues with her mother. Barb is insistent that Gwen move forward, beginning by sorting through Anton’s belongings. Gwen reluctantly begins looking at some of Anton’s notebooks and finds notes titled INTERVIEWS WITH CATHY STOCKER. Gwen sinks to the floor and begins reading.

The narrative flashes back to the summer, a few months before the murder. Lisa gradually stoked Anton’s frustration with his financial situation, encouraging him to believe she might be willing to leave her husband and start over with him if they had enough money to do so. Lisa raised the idea that Scott might have a dark secret, and be willing to pay to ensure it was hidden. During their trip to Tampa, Lisa and Anton had a fancy dinner and she kept the pen from the restaurant (Le Cannu). Later, in Lisa’s hotel room, Anton raises the idea of extorting Scott.

While preparing school lunches on Wednesday, Aimee discovers a small box containing a brass key in Noa’s backpack. She confronts Noa about the key and other items she found hidden under Noa’s bed. Noa breaks down, admitting she took the items from Cathy’s house. As Noa boards the bus, she runs back and tells Aimee that one item, a card with a fox on it, came from Cathy’s car, not the house. Aimee realizes the significance: an item from the car belongs to Cathy herself, not Jean Brewster.

Rushing home, Aimee finds a loyalty card for The Little Fox Coffee Shop in Frederick (a town about 45 minutes away). Aimee realizes the coffee shop may be a lead to finding the real Cathy Stocker.