Summary

In Chapter 37, Joe's arduous journey through the woods leads him past a river and to a farmhouse where he is greeted by an old man with a shotgun. When Joe explains he has escaped his kidnapper, an old woman invites him inside and feeds him while he waits for the sheriff. She tells Joe he is in North Branch, Minnesota, near the St. Croix River. Joe shudders at how close Doug came to his goal of dumping his body.

In Chapter 38, the sheriff listens to Joe's story. However, since he does not know the young man, he takes him to the station and calls Detective Rupert who is off duty. In his prison cell, Joe wakes to Rupert's voice. On the way home, Rupert says Joe's car was abandoned and impounded, but his wallet and voice recorder are missing. He agrees that Doug...