Summary

After developing their plan in Chapter 44, Joe and Lila pull down the alley behind Dan's house, and ensuring no movement outside, Joe creeps onto Dan's property to retrieve a trash bag; however, he does not notice the beer bottle dangling precariously on the edge which falls and breaks. Joe runs to the car, and Lila speeds off with Dan's shadow chasing them in the distance. Joe peeks into the trash bag, and seeing Marlboro butts, he tells Lila, "We got him" (page 260).

As Joe takes over driving for a bit in Chapter 45, Jeremy calls Joe for the first time because he remembers what his brother told him to do if anyone tried to hurt him, and when Jeremy hesitantly admits Larry hit him, Joe instructs his brother to lock himself in his room and put all of his clothes in pillowcases. Joe hops...