Maddie gains access to privileged information through Ferdie; Ferdie’s interest in the Fine case is driven by his goal of getting promoted to detective, an ambition long thwarted by the prejudicial attitudes and policies of Baltimore PD. The police conceal Maddie and Judith’s identities from the press. However, Maddie learns her identity has been uncovered when a reporter named Bob Bauer appears at her apartment. She invites him inside, but deflects, refusing to talk about finding the 11-year-old’s corpse. Instead, feeling obligated to assist, she assures Bob that the pet shop employee will be arrested, omitting any references to her source. Bauer assures her that he will not use her name.

The Sun columnist Bob Bauer hunts down Maddie’s name in police records when his colleague, John Diller, reveals that two women were on the scene. Bob describes Maddie as a beatnik and is puzzled by her choice of residence. He is wounded when he fails to persuade Maddie to speak about the crime scene. Instead, he follows her lead. One of his detective-sources discloses that aquarium sand was found on Tessie’s remains, and Bob secures the exclusive on the suspect’s arrest, penning a pivotal article for the Star.