Chapter 23 Summary

Pat is stunned. He is staggered when Madeline explains that her assignment in Doc's scheme was to flirt with Pat and keep him diverted while the remainder of the scheme was executed. Madeline taunts Pat by placing Hardesty's hand on her breast and suggesting that she is Hardesty's lover. She taunts Pat by noting that she was able to win him over just by petting and kissing. Hardesty and Madeline take turns making fun of Pat while holding him at bay with the gun. They tell Pat that they are in cahoots and plan to subvert Doc's scheme by having Pat kill Doc at a crucial moment. Pat, thoroughly despondent over his evident loss of Madeline, is silent. Finally Hardesty ejects Pat from his apartment and he goes home, drinks alcohol, and goes to sleep.

Chapter 23 Analysis

Chapter 23 provides a major plot turning...