Jake rents a house south of Tampa. He begins work on two books: one that chronicles the real story of his experiences with the rabbit-hole, and one that is a fictional work he can show outsiders who might ask about his writing. He sees an ad for a school out of Oklahoma offering bachelor’s degrees. He signs up and gets a degree after completing a simple test. Jake uses his new degree to become a substitute teacher at West Sarasota High.

In July of 1960, Jake makes several bets with a local book maker whom he later hears has ties to the mob in New Orleans. Jake grows nervous after winning a large bet and decides to leave Florida, only to learn later his former home was firebombed that same night.

Jake continues on to Dallas. He gets the same strange feeling there that he got while he was in Derry. While searching for an apartment, Jake witnesses a murder-suicide. Jake decides he doesn’t have to live in Dallas and stumbles on a small town south of Dallas called Jodie. He quickly arranges for a house and a job as a substitute teacher.

Jake makes a bet with a bookie and wins big, but he is left feeling uneasy.