Chapter 35 of We Solve Murders opens with Steve waking up in a uniquely designed treehouse, situated within the serene landscape of South Carolina’s expansive forest. The tranquility of the place, with its lush trees and soft rustling leaves, offers a brief escape from the tension of the ongoing investigation. The morning sunlight filters through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the wooden walls of the treehouse. Steve, still groggy from the previous night’s exhausting work, sits at a bamboo table where he’s going through documents from Scroggie’s computer, hoping to uncover something that might bring clarity to the situation. His companion, Barb, moves about the kitchenette, blending smoothies and making healthy concoctions. When Steve jokingly asks for a beer, Barb firmly refuses, suggesting that they need clear minds if they are to solve the mystery. Her healthy living lifestyle seems to contrast sharply with Steve’s more laid-back approach, but they share a comfortable camaraderie as they exchange friendly banter about their contrasting habits.

Soon, Rosie and Amy arrive, and after some casual greetings, they delve into the details of the investigation. The conversation quickly turns serious as they discuss the series of murders connected to influencers like Andrew Fairbanks, Bella Sanchez, and Mark Gooch. All three victims had been associated with Maximum Impact, a powerful media agency that controls the careers of many influential figures in the online world. As the group pieces together the timeline of events, Steve raises concerns about the proximity of Amy to each of the crime scenes. He notes that she was in close proximity to all the locations around the time of the murders, adding a layer of suspicion to her involvement. Rosie suggests that the murders could be connected to Maximum Impact, but the question remains—what is the motive behind targeting these particular individuals? Amy, understandably on edge, asks whether Steve had found any crucial evidence on Scroggie’s computer, hoping for something that could break the case wide open.

Steve’s response is both surprising and unsettling. He reveals that Scroggie had been in contact with someone who had sent explicit instructions related to the murders, along with a blood sample, which Scroggie had been asked to place at the crime scenes to frame someone for the murders. The revelation sends a shockwave through the group, especially when Amy starts to panic at the thought that her own blood might have been taken and used as part of the plan. This opens a horrifying possibility: someone with access to her blood from previous drug tests, conducted by Maximum Impact, could have stolen her DNA and planted it at the crime scenes to mislead the investigation. Rosie quickly adds that the murderer might have used these blood samples intentionally, linking Amy to the scenes without her knowledge. The conversation grows more urgent as they realize the depth of the conspiracy they are unwittingly involved in, and how easily they could be framed for something they didn’t do. This realization pushes them into action, knowing that time is running out to uncover the truth and clear Amy’s name before it’s too late.

With mounting pressure and increasing danger, the trio begins to formulate their next steps. Steve suggests that their best course of action would be to leave South Carolina and take the investigation to St. Lucia, where they believe more answers might be hidden. Amy, though hesitant at first, reluctantly agrees, understanding that the situation is becoming more dire by the minute. The prospect of moving their investigation to a new location brings a renewed sense of urgency, but it also forces them to consider the growing threats that seem to be closing in on them. Just as they begin to finalize their plans, Steve’s phone buzzes with a message from Carlos. The message relays alarming news—Eddie Flood, the man sent to kill Amy, is actively searching for her. The news sends shockwaves through the group, as they realize that Eddie’s pursuit of Amy could be more dangerous than they initially thought. The chapter concludes with a sense of rising tension, leaving the group unsure of what their next move will be but certain that their investigation is now a race against time to uncover the truth and survive the mounting threats surrounding them.