Chapters 1-2 Summary

Lamar Pye and his cousin Odell are serving life sentences in a maximum security prison for the murder of a man associated with an organized crime group. Richard Peed is an artist who is serving time for stabbing his mother in the eyes. Richard is due to be moved to a minimum security prison in a few weeks. Richard has befriended Lamar for the protection this friendship provides. Richard is drawing a picture for Lamar of a lion and a naked woman for Lamar to use for his own purposes.

In chapter 1, Lamar Pye is showering alone at McAlester State Penitentiary when a member of a rival gang enters the room. Lamar is supposed to be alone because of a deal he has with some of the guards. Lamar soon learns that his cousin Odell has offended the leader of the...