Part 2, Chapter 5 Summary

1955. Gretchen walks Billy home. He is a precocious nine-year-old now who does not like his mother's overprotective behavior. Gretchen worries about her parenting skills, but refuses to relent. Rudolph and Johnny are waiting outside the building when Gretchen and Billy approach. They have a bottle of champagne and tell her that they are there to celebrate the final formation of Dee Cee Corporation; the corporation Rudolph's proposal five years ago was expected to create.

In the apartment, Gretchen sends Billy up to do his homework and settles to visit with her brother. The phone rings and the man on the other end asks for Mr. Jordache. Rudolph takes the call but it is clearly not for him because the man on the other end confirms a bet placed, but Rudolph does not gamble. When they decide the call could not have...