54 pages 1 hour read

Ruth Ware

Zero Days

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Part 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 4: “Tuesday, February 7: Minus Five Days”

Part 4, Chapter 1 Summary

When Jack awakens, she isn’t sure where she is. Her abdominal injury throbs, her head aches, and she recalls terrible nightmares. She tries to wait out the “sickish” feeling in bed but soon realizes that it isn’t going away. She must take her backpack because she’s not sure she’ll be returning to the hostel after going to see Cole. Jack deposits her room keys on the hostel’s counter and leaves.

Jack is alert to security cameras everywhere she walks, hoping the police don’t have facial recognition technology. She arrives at Cole’s workplace, Cerberus Security. He suggests they walk to a nearby church to talk. Once inside, Jack realizes Cole is crying and wonders why she can’t and hasn’t since she found Gabe’s body. Cole is concerned by Jack’s appearance, and she understands because she was “shocked” by her reflection in the hostel’s bathroom mirror that morning. It is only three days since Gabe’s death, but she looks gaunt and tired.

Jack tells Cole that she’s on the run from the police and they think she killed Gabe. Cole is shocked. She explains about the insurance policy and expresses her uncertainty, wondering if Gabe bought it because he felt he might be in danger or if she’s being framed.