From this point, Meeks and Considine pick up the investigation. Meeks does this out of a sense of responsibility - he committed the killing for which Upshaw was framed, but did so in self-defense while with Audrey Anders, forcing him to cover up the killing for fear of Cohen's reprisal, and inadvertently leading to Upshaw becoming the prime suspect due to his history with the dead man. Considine, meanwhile, partnered with Upshaw while the latter went undercover as a Communist, and feels a sense of obligation to him as well. Meeks and Considine share a rocky history, but set this aside to finish the case. Ultimately they identify the true killer - Reynolds Loftis' illegitimate son Coleman Masskie, with whom he had an incestuous affair, and who was attempting to frame his father in retaliation. In a climactic confrontation, Masskie kills both Loftis and Considine before being killed by Meeks, who is left the sole survivor. Seeking closure, Meeks tracks down a UAES-affiliated psychiatrist who was privy to Masskie's murderous inclinations. He discovers that Masskie, who briefly spoke to Danny Upshaw as a witness early in the investigation, began stalking the deputy and developed a mutual sexual obsession with him.