Summary

In Part 1, “The Disappearance,” Chapter 1, “Day 1: White Chucks, Size 10 ½,” Ray McMillian ordered room service in his New York hotel room with his girlfriend Nicole. When he got out of the shower, the couple had breakfast and discussed their plans. Nicole was returning to Erie. Ray was returning to Charlotte. Ray was anticipating his upcoming performance in the Tchaikovsky Competition, “the world’s most prestigious . . . classical music competition” (5). After packing and saying goodbye to Nicole, Ray left for the airport. Back home that afternoon, he opened his violin case to find his violin missing and “a white tennis shoe” in its place (6). There was a ransom note demanding “$5M in Bitcoin” by July 15 (6).

In Chapter 2, “Day 1: Darkness,” Ray “called the Charlotte police” to report the theft (7). Then he returned to the New York hotel. His room had already been cleaned, all “forensic...