Contents
Thursday, 18 July
Overview
Josie responds to being pushed out of Alix’s house by secretly searching Nathan’s clothes and collecting possible leverage: drug residue, a phone number, and a hotel key-card sleeve. During a new podcast session, Josie gives a dramatic account of confronting Walter and fleeing with Erin, but Alix detects gaps and contradictions in the story. The chapter sharpens Alix’s suspicion, especially around Erin’s fate, while showing Josie actively preparing to manipulate the household.
Summary
On a sweltering Thursday morning, Josie notices that Nathan appears to be avoiding her by working in the garden before a late work meeting. Josie asks about Saturday night and learns that Alix’s sisters and their children will be sleeping over, taking the fold-out bed. Josie decides this explanation is a lie meant to force Josie out, and Nathan’s pointed question about Josie’s future plans angers Josie.
After Nathan leaves, Josie shuts Fred in her room and searches Alix and Nathan’s bedroom. Josie lingers over Alix’s clothes and shoes, then goes through Nathan’s pockets, looking for something useful. Josie finds a small bag with white powder residue, a napkin with an illegible number, and a hotel key-card sleeve for the Railings, room 23. Josie takes all three items and decides Nathan has given Josie the basis for a plan.
When Alix returns from shopping, Josie announces that Josie will go to Josie’s mother’s on Saturday. Alix is relieved and encourages the idea, but Josie insists they use the remaining time to record more of the podcast. Alix suggests they may already have reached the end of Josie’s story except for the events of the previous Friday night, and Josie agrees to record.
In the podcast recording, Josie describes returning home with Walter after Alix’s dinner, confronting Walter as a paedophile and abuser, and trying to rescue Erin. Josie claims Walter struck Josie with a remote control, then tried to attack Erin before Josie intervened. According to Josie, Walter then resumed sitting at the laptop as if nothing had happened, while Josie grabbed Erin, the dog, and a handbag, and left without saying goodbye.
After the recording, Alix becomes troubled by inconsistencies in Josie’s timeline. Alix asks what happened between the alleged confrontation and Josie’s 3 a.m. arrival at Alix’s house, prompting Josie to revise the sequence and say the confrontation happened after Walter got out of bed in the early hours. Alix also questions why Josie’s dress had blood on it if Josie had been in pyjamas during the attack, and why Josie let Erin walk alone in the opposite direction in the middle of the night.
Alix presses Josie about Erin’s continued silence and worries that Erin might be vulnerable or in danger with an online acquaintance. Josie insists with strange certainty that Erin is fine and safer away from home. When Alix points out that Josie previously described Erin as unable to care for herself, Josie becomes furious, accuses Alix of distorting Josie’s truth, and storms out of the studio.
Who Appears
- Josie FairManipulates her hosts, searches Nathan’s belongings, records a contradictory account, and reacts angrily to scrutiny.
- Alix SummerQuestions Josie’s timeline and grows more concerned about Erin’s disappearance and vulnerability.
- Nathan SummerUrges Josie to make plans to leave; unknowingly provides potential leverage through hidden items.
- Erin FairAbsent daughter whose alleged escape and current safety become central to Alix’s doubts.
- Walter FairDescribed in Josie’s recording as abusive and violent during the night Josie claims to have fled.
- FredJosie’s dog; kept close by Josie and shut in her room during her search.