Part 2: Torsion, Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

Little Red Garlock's death temporarily transforms his mother, Vesta, from a dirty, wandering drifter to someone more appropriate to attend the funeral of a son who died much too young. Vesta maintains her ambulatory route through town rummaging through trash and resting in her usual locations. People in town are more inclined to be nice to Mrs. Garlock today out of sympathy for her grief and out of appreciation for her newly acquired hygiene.

Official attempts to solve Little Red's murder begin but no credible suspects are named. Finally the police come to the conclusion that the killers are probably white men and members of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang, recent targets of Little Red's antagonism. However, no one in the Garlock family can identify the gang members in the lineup as having any association with Little...