Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, sexual violence, rape, substance use, addiction, graphic violence, illness, death, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and cursing.

Beth Liebermann is a 29-year-old reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She wrote an article about “mail-order pornography,” capturing the attention of the Los Angeles-based serial killer the Gentleman Caller. He sends Beth diary entries about his killings, and Beth’s newspaper publishes them. Her link to the Gentleman Caller makes her a “star.” His recent installment details the murder of a 14-year-old Japanese girl. The narrative focuses on her feet and the Saks pumps the Gentleman Caller made her wear while he sexually assaulted her.

In a North Carolina shopping mall, Casanova reads about the Gentleman Caller and watches an attractive woman, Anna Miller, enter and exit Victoria’s Secret. Another attractive woman appears. She has many packages and bags, and Casanova assists her. The woman is Casanova’s wife.

Needing a break, Cross returns to his family in Washington, DC. Jannie claims they’ve been as “good as gold,” and Damon announces that Nana let them watch basketball. Nana knows Cross is strong, but she worries about him in North Carolina.