The River Point Boys are taken to be photographed, fingerprinted, and booked into jail. Waiting around the courthouse in hopes of seeing Shep, Kate gets a text from Reagan. She tells Kate that all four boys have posted bail. Shep’s parents put up their property as collateral while the other boys’ parents simply wrote checks. Since they posted bail, they don’t have to stay in jail but can be released until the trial.

Finally, Shep, Henry, John Michael, and Logan come by. Mr. Perkins, Grant’s father, shouts at Shep, accusing him of killing Grant. Shep denies the accusation: “I swear to you, I didn’t shoot Grant. He was my friend” (234). Kate witnesses the altercation from afar. She still can’t interact with Shep openly. He catches sight of her, however, and gives her a small nod. It’s the most they can do for now.

John Michael’s narration concludes the chapter. He meets with Henry and Logan at a new spot, for privacy. The other boys are wondering how the murder got pinned on Shep, not knowing the role that John Michael played in influencing Lindsey’s testimony. John Michael uses his manipulative tactics to influence his friends, telling them “Maybe Shep wasn’t who we thought he was” (236).