Morris had no time to consider this, or to investigate the contents of the writer’s desk, which he would dearly have loved to do. But was such investigation even necessary? He had the notebooks, after all. He had the contents of the writer’s mind. Everything he’d written since he stopped publishing eighteen years ago.
-- Narrator (Part 1: Buried Treasure, Section “1978”)

Importance: In Rothstein’s office Morris looks briefly at the pictures of Rothstein’s ex-wives that the author has displayed. He does not stop to think about why the author keeps the pictures there or to see what he keeps on his desk. He figures since he has Rothstein’s work he has the best part of the author. The idea that Morris cares more about the characters in books than people themselves is echoed again when Pete stands off against Morris at the end of the novel.

Drinking did not agree with Morris...
-- Narrator (Part 1: Buried Treasure, Section “1978”)