Avery, Jameson, Grayson, and Xander look up U.S. Patent 3631982 and discover that it was issued in 1972 to Tobias Hawthorne and Vincent Blake. Avery realizes that the man on the phone had already answered his own question about his identity: Vincent Blake is likely Toby’s captor.

Xander examines the patent and identifies it as a flawed mechanism for drilling oil wells. The group then finds a second, similar 1972 patent filed by Tobias alone. Xander explains that the second design avoids infringing on the first while adding the crucial improvement that made it valuable, meaning Tobias effectively made the joint patent worthless and profited by himself.

The discovery reframes the kidnapping as revenge rooted in Tobias Hawthorne’s early fortune. Eve arrives after Grayson texts her, and the group questions whether all of this could really be because of a patent. Avery realizes that identifying who took Toby and why may not be enough; they still need to know what Vincent Blake wants now.

Jameson researches Blake and finds that he is a wealthy Texas oilman, older than Tobias Hawthorne, with a fortune inherited from his father and later expanded into ranching. A magazine profile reveals that Tobias once worked on an oil rig owned by Blake, leading the group to infer that Tobias may have been Blake’s employee before collaborating with and then betraying him.

Xander questions why Blake did not destroy Tobias legally if he had the money and power to do so. Avery recognizes that the answer raises more questions, including the meaning of the disk, the three-character story, and Blake’s endgame. Eve suggests finding someone who knows more about Blake’s connection to Tobias, and Avery remembers that Nan had discussed Tobias’s lack of friends but had not mentioned mentors.