Chapters 19 and 20 Summary

Bill wakes him early and tells him that Max committed suicide the previous evening. In disbelief, Mike asks him a few questions and Bill makes a point of suggesting that he leave the area for a while until things calm down. He tells Mike that there are two rumors circulating, and both put him in a bad light, but Mike is not inclined to leave now that he is writing again. He corrects Bill's bad information, assuring him that he is neither sleeping with Mattie, or writing a book about the locals. Mattie calls next to ask Mike if he's heard the news, emotional and hoping he will come to lunch but he relays the message from Bill and invites her and Kyra to dinner at a local park instead. He writes until it becomes too hot, and then taking a...