Emily feels happy settling into her life in San Francisco as she and James return from school. She notes that “their building, which had once looked so starved and severe to Emily” now “[welcomes] her like a familiar friend” (283). Inside, they receive the news that the Crane parents have sold a book about living in all 50 states. Emily is upset because she knows this will motivate them to move again, so she decides she must solve Griswold’s puzzle immediately.

As Matthew leaves for the Flush concert at the Fillmore with a car full of friends, Emily and James climb in. Remora lives in the Fillmore District, and Emily is determined to borrow Poe’s book to solve the final clue. Matthew sends his friends ahead to the concert and decides to accompany Emily and James to Remora’s house.

When the kids arrive at his door, Remora denies ever receiving “The Gold-Bug” from Quisling. Emily wonders if Quisling kept the book for himself, instead of returning it as promised, but when the kids go inside for a glass of water, Emily spies the Poe book in the kitchen. At that moment, Barry enters the room. He turns out to be Remora’s nephew.