The Changeling: A Novel

Patrice and Apollo travel by train to Long Beach to sell the rare Mockingbird book to William for $70,000. Though Apollo has said nothing about his last encounter with William, Patrice reveals that Apollo’s involvement with the Survivors has been posted on a Facebook tribute page for Brian. Apollo has never heard of the page, but when he checks it, he is shocked to see that many people on it blame him and Emma for Brian’s death. Many more use the page to share theories about the events of Brian’s death and the aftermath. Patrice feels guilty for telling Apollo about it.

Arriving at Long Beach, Apollo and Patrice see William waiting for them outside the station. Patrice ridicules William for looking like a man who has lived alone for too long. Apollo retorts that at least he hasn’t joined Brian’s tribute page. On the road, William talks about his two daughters and his wife. He eventually takes them to a yacht club where they can talk aboard a boat called Child’s Play.

Apollo is a little disappointed by the small size of the boat. William admits that he rented the boat off an app he developed. Patrice and William bond over their interest in computers.