Jason Mercer nearly suffers another neurological episode while finishing paperwork at a rental counter in Pensacola. He steadies himself, reassures the worried clerk that he is only lightheaded from exhaustion and hunger, and tries to appear fit enough to keep the car reservation.

While the clerk looks down at the forms, Mercer watches a muted local news report. The report says police responded to violence at Suzanne Carter's house in Panama City, found a gunshot victim, and are now concerned about Suzanne Carter's whereabouts. Mercer realizes the police are still using the false identity and old image tied to Sue's cover, which may briefly delay the truth, but he also understands that the investigation will eventually expose the deception and intensify the search.

Mercer finishes the paperwork almost automatically, takes the keys, and goes outside to the rental car. He knows the original plan was to wait no more than two hours in Pensacola and then continue to Mobile for the next rendezvous and a flight out, but Sue has not arrived. Mercer concludes that only three explanations remain: Sue escaped Hunter and Rink but could not reach him, Hunter and Rink recaptured Sue, or Sue is dead.

Those possibilities make simple flight impossible for Mercer. The first two raise a moral obligation not to abandon Sue, and the third creates a desire for vengeance. Because he no longer needs the rental car to create a false trail, Mercer drops the keys inside, returns to the Toyota he had left near the department store, and drives back toward Panama City instead of continuing north to safety.