The Color of a Lie

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, death, and graphic violence.

After the Thanksgiving holiday, Harry is still missing. Calvin notices Vernon and Sharon watching him closely at work, so he can’t return the files he stole. He convinces Lily to meet with him. She doesn’t want to keep dating him if they have to hide their relationship.

Calvin goes to Alex’s house to ask if he’s heard anything about a missing 14-year-old Black boy. He hasn’t but says he’ll ask around. Alex also knows that Vernon heard about the plans to integrate the school.

A three-day snowstorm sets in. Calvin believes that they will never find Harry. On the fourth day, it has cleared enough for Calvin and his father to leave the house to go to work. At Vernon Realty, Vernon has assembled a large group of men and their sons. He tells Calvin that his files were stolen, and Calvin sees an empty cabinet with far more files missing than the one he stole.

Alex is there with his father, who is trying to dissuade Vernon’s men from hunting down Bobby Simms, the chief opposition to their housing policies. The men leave. Calvin wants to warn Sojourner, but no one picks up the phone.