Chapter 20: Stable Moves Summary and Analysis

Slim considers it a weak move to go to Mama's house when he gets there. He has plenty of cash, but the girls are not working and everybody in town knows him, so Slim is running out of money quickly. Slim slips out of town and goes into the city to see Sweet. Sweet has recently killed a man, but neatly avoids a jail sentence. Sweet solves Slim's problem by advising him to go back to town since Serena never pressed charges after the near-death experience.

Slim agrees and goes back to town. Stopping by the hotel where the girls are, Slim spots Steve out a window and rushes down to shoot him with his gun. Steve moves out of range too quickly by mindlessly picking up more garbage cans, never seeing Slim.

Slim moves the girls...