The narrative returns to the past in Paris, where Murdoch is hiding his inner turmoil, as Bradley’s presence indicates that he is vulnerable to other enemies. Bradley explains that his quest to understand Murdoch’s identity and work began after his recent injury—he now ambulates with an obvious limp. His wife, Marcie, purchased Jude Garrett’s forensics book in a last attempt to help him reengage with his professional skills. Bradley and his wife find a new focus, as Murdoch remarks that Bradley’s finally discovering Murdoch’s real name became “[…] the renewal of their love story. And for me? It was a disaster” (114).

Bradley’s keen analytical eye leads him to notice a few brief references in the text to an upbringing in the Mid-Atlantic that likely involved elite schooling. Bradley used yearbooks and alumni files to find his likely candidate—Scott Murdoch, an alumnus whose current work status was entirely unknown.

Bradley then turns to what he knows about Murdoch—his gift for languages—and searches publicly available records to find federal employees posted to Europe whose aliases in some way match the Murdoch identity. Murdoch is deeply impressed with Bradley’s investigative acumen, though panicked and eager to leave. Reluctantly, Bradley explains that Jude Garrett’s book saved his life because he was injured on September 11, 2001, and Murdoch stays.