Chapter 6 Summary

At the hospital, a psychiatrist whisks Diane away, and Officer Hardy takes Mark to the cafeteria for a cheeseburger. Mark worries about Ricky. Hardy assures Mark that Ricky will be okay, as long the doctors know the whole truth of what the boys witnessed. If they don't, there is no knowing how long Ricky could stay in shock or end up locked up in a mental institution. Hardy patronizes Mark with the gory details of a mental institute, and Mark gets sick of being spoken to like a five-year-old. Mark worries about getting to Ricky before the doctors or the cops. Hardy starts to ask Mark questions about the Marks on his face, and Mark sticks to a fight at school story. However, the cop keeps asking questions, until Mark has to make up more and more lies to cover up his original...