Summary

Emily reads an article about “the testimony of Elena Bianchi that doomed John Dorchester” (220).

In “Mari, 1974—Orvieto,” while writing the final pages of Lilith Rising, Mari hears fighting. Pierce is pleading with Lara to keep the baby. He has learned that Frances’s family is “keeping Teddy” (223). Lara says her child cannot replace Teddy or Billy. The argument escalates. Pierce smashes Lara’s guitar. He trips and falls down the stairs. Mari then kills him with a statue. She and Lara plant the statue near Johnnie, who is “in a drugged stupor,” and smear him with Pierce’s blood (227). Mari is unafraid, knowing she has Lara.

In Chapter 12, Emily listens to Aestas on repeat, curious if Lara’s songs have more clues.

Emily overhears Chess talking intimately on the phone. She wonders if it is Matt. When she asks Chess about it, Chess...