Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

In Chapter 7, as Rita and Queenie continue their investigations with a visit to Sheriff Eagles, who half-humorously and half-seriously berates Rita for spelling his name wrong. Their conversation goes back and forth between confrontational and friendly, with the Sheriff is apparently reluctant to answer Rita's questions in the way she would like. Eventually, however (and with Queenie's intervention), conversation reveals that Ben and Ella Crooks had had a hired man named Skillet, physically violent and powerful, who had gotten into trouble with another farmer but who, Rita is disappointed to learn, left the Crooks' farm and indeed the area some time before Ben Crook's death. As they leave the Sheriff's office, Rita hints that she has an idea who killed Ben, but gives Queenie no more information.

As Queenie drives back to the Ritter place, they pass the farm of Forest...