Back at Heights Country Day on Monday, Avery uses the school’s flexible schedule to research Toby Hawthorne. She confirms that Toby, Tobias Hawthorne’s youngest and favored son, supposedly died at nineteen during a trip to the Hawthorne family’s private island off Oregon.

Avery learns that four people went to Hawthorne Island and none returned alive. Three bodies were recovered, while Toby’s was presumed lost to the stormy ocean. The other victims were two wealthy prep school boys, Colin Anders Wright and David Golding, and Kaylie Rooney, a troubled local girl with a sealed juvenile record.

The press coverage frames Kaylie as the likely cause of the deadly fire, citing claims of drugs, assault, and arson while idealizing the three young men. As Avery processes the biased narrative, Jameson texts that he has a lead and teases her by asking whether she wants to raise the stakes.

At lunch in the grand Heights Country Day refectory, Avery finds Xander absorbed in a strange mechanical puzzle and a notebook he quickly closes when Avery approaches. Hoping Xander may know something about Toby, Avery asks about their uncle, but Xander dodges the question and distracts himself with Avery’s cookie.

Rebecca Laughlin arrives, apparently to help Xander with a secret “thing,” and awkwardly tries to apologize to Avery for covering for Skye Hawthorne’s role in Avery’s attempted murder. Avery refuses to accept easily, still angry that Rebecca’s silence nearly got Avery killed.

Thea Calligaris joins them, intensifying the tension with flippant comments and a pointed moment with Rebecca. When Avery presses Xander about what she is missing, Rebecca reveals that Emily’s birthday is Friday, and Thea explains that she, Rebecca, and Xander are planning a memorial fundraiser. Avery suspects this is not the whole truth, but takes it as her cue to leave.