The search for Jason leads Ben east to Ohio to look up the man who gave the two boys shelter when they ran away from the orphanage. Ben is set to leave town but he hears his friend's name on the radio news. The man has been arrested for an assault, a charge that could escalate to murder if the injured college student dies. Ben knows that his blood will save the young man's life. He suspects Dr. Pierce's phone is tapped, but he phones anyway to prove what he has said about his blood to the doctor treating the comatose man. Fletcher is indeed listening, and soon Ben is cornered in a phone booth. Ben has one request of Fletcher: he wants to warn his friend that the comatose student's father is en route with a gun. Fletcher's refuses, shooting Ben with a tranquilizer dart and whisking him away.