Chapters 17-20 Summary

Chapter 17 listens in on a painful recorded session, focusing on Ray's abuse. Dominick denies specific allegations of torture, maintaining that Ray is a bully, but not inhuman. He objects to the "family history" technique, which for 20 years has insinuated that Ma is to blame for Thomas' troubles—followed by heavy drug treatments. Feeling the old guilt, Thomas admits that Dominick had been singled out, because he does not know how to play defense. Thomas claims that Ray is jealous of God's special plans for him, recalls Ray's conversion to Catholicism, and thinks Dominick is mad at him, forgetting that he lacks clearance to visit. Dominick feels release in fury over being chained to Thomas. Sheffer arrives with news that the judge is dropping criminal charges but has released Thomas to the PSRB. His hearing is in a week, too soon...