Chip becomes obsessed with understanding his adoption. He and Jonah break into a locked safe in Chip’s basement. Chip wants to find his birth certificate because he’s convinced it will “tell him everything he needed to know” (36). They find the birth certificate, but it doesn’t present any new information. Chip’s full name is Charles Haddingford Winston the third, and he feels like his parents only adopted him because they needed to “have some kid to stick that name on” (40). They also find a note that lists someone named James Reardon and a phone number. Not knowing if this person is connected to the adoption, Chip calls the number. Reardon answers and identifies himself as from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Jonah ends the call before Chip can say anything.

Jonah talks Chip into not calling Reardon back because they do not know if Reardon is even associated with Chip’s adoption. Chip is still angry and hurt about his situation, saying “I just want to know who I am” (45). Jonah confesses that he also wants to know where he came from and what his birth parents were like. He does not dwell on the questions for too long, however, and advises Chip to let his anger go.