Chapter 7 unfolds with Frank arriving at Supercuts well past closing hours, determined to speak with Vicky despite knowing the salon has already shut for the day. His Jeep is running on fumes, reflecting the exhaustion and anxiety that have been building inside him. As he parks near the strip mall, he notices a group of kids skateboarding outside, their carefree laughter forming a stark contrast to the urgency pounding in his chest. He strides toward the salon and raps insistently on the locked glass door, hoping Vicky will answer. Initially, she ignores him, unwilling to break the rules for an after-hours visitor. She gestures for him to return in the morning when the shop reopens, but Frank refuses to leave. His desperation leaks into his voice as he insists that it’s about Maggie, that there is something she needs to hear. It’s only when he mentions that he has nowhere else to go that she pauses, considering whether to let him inside.

As the skateboarders glance over curiously, Frank reassures them that there is no need for police involvement, clarifying that his sister and Abigail are safe and staying at a hotel for the night. He retrieves a hard drive from his pocket and holds it up for Vicky to see, promising that its contents will explain everything. This piques her curiosity, softening her initial resistance. With an air of hesitation, she unlocks the door and steps aside, allowing Frank to enter before securing the salon behind them. The shop is dimly lit, its familiar scent of hair products and cleaning solutions filling the air. Frank moves toward the vintage computer at the back of the room, quickly setting up the hard drive as Vicky watches cautiously. The computer is slow, its outdated system lagging as he loads the files. When the screen finally responds, a list of cryptic names appears, leading them to a folder filled with audio recordings. Frank clicks on the first file, and the speakers crackle to life, revealing a conversation between Aidan, Maggie, and others about a structured relationship plan.

At first, the conversation seems casual, but as the recording progresses, a troubling undertone emerges. Vicky’s brows furrow as she processes what she’s hearing, the discussion hinting at something more calculated and hidden than she had expected. As they continue listening, the implications of the conversation become increasingly clear—there are connections between Aidan, Maggie, and others that neither Frank nor Vicky fully understand. Frank watches Vicky’s face, noting the way her expression shifts between disbelief and unease. She demands to know how deep this situation runs and what exactly Maggie has gotten herself involved in. Frank exhales slowly, his mind racing as he tries to find the right words. He explains that what they are hearing is just the tip of the iceberg, that the deeper they dig, the more tangled and unsettling the truth becomes. Vicky presses for details, her patience wearing thin as she senses the weight of Frank’s hesitation.

The tension in the room thickens, each passing second stretching into something heavy and uncertain. Frank runs a hand through his hair, struggling with the enormity of what he’s about to reveal. He knows that once he starts explaining, there will be no turning back. Vicky crosses her arms, her stance rigid, waiting for him to speak. He finally promises to tell her everything, but only if she agrees to help him piece together the full story. The air between them is charged, filled with unspoken questions and the realization that they are standing at the edge of something far more complex than either of them had anticipated. The chapter ends with a sense of mounting anticipation, leaving both Frank and Vicky staring at the screen, knowing that the truth, once uncovered, will change everything. The recordings have set something irreversible into motion, and the choices they make moving forward will determine how deep they fall into the tangled web of secrets that have just begun to surface.