The next few episodes document recent events of an investigation regarding a missing 25-year-old aspiring actress named, Adea Shabani. Police are closing her case, which appears to be unfinished, and her family and friends are upset.
5 miles away, Neil Strauss was interviewing snowboarder Shaun White about his recent Olympic win of his gold medal.
They assign their journalists to ride motorcycles, go to factories, or shop with celebrities. Strauss will then write what it’s like to hang out with them. One thing he doesn’t do is invest hard news— at least, not until he received a call.
It’s reported that she was last seen on surveillance in Hollywood at a coffee shop called Rise and Grind. Her last communication was with her friends. Her apartment was unlocked and there some activity was on her computer, but none detected from her phone.
By reporting on this missing investigation in an article, piece, or podcast, he believes that he can make a difference to her family after the media has died down from no leads in the investigation.
Strauss has been receiving death threats and warnings for him to not post the podcasts. He believes that this is a sign that he is getting closer to the truth and is choosing to put his life on the line anyway by publishing his podcast.
She believes that Adea knows that she’s there in her apartment. She is also convinced that she is the only person that Adea wants to see right now. Strauss states how similar Nora and Adea are by their actions and appearances.
Aside from all her posts of movies and celebrities, on her wall is a white board of phrases. Written under is three words, “Zest for life.”
He feels that they are all holding back more than what they’re comfortable to share with him. They tell him that he should talk to her ex-boyfriend because his name is on her cell phone plan and lease, despite not living in the apartment with her.
Strauss states that it’s odd that Adea’s ex-boyfriend is basically the gatekeeper of her information. He had someone hack into her iCloud account to get her last messages on text and WhatsApp.
She writes in the message, “Baby, do you know where I can buy candles, red ones?” That was the last time Adea communicated with anyone before she disappeared.
The only suspicious person that Strauss has spoken to is her ex-boyfriend, whom we are calling Ivan to keep his identity private. He is said to have been in Europe during the time of Adea’s disappearance.
One of Adea’s friends, Angel, received an anonymous call that he saw Adea being put into the bed of a pickup truck that was outside her apartment. The person has written down the plate number and the description of the truck.