Chapters Sixteen through Eighteen Summary

In chapter sixteen, Lou and Rothman continue their conversation, with Rothman saying Johnnie had sold two of the tires to another man and it proves Johnnie had not been near the place of the murders. Lou says it could be that a friend of Johnnie's had stolen the tires and given them to Johnnie. Rothman tells Lou that he really has to prepare to leave town and Lou seems to agree, though he says that he needs a couple of weeks to get his situation in order. What he does not say aloud is that he needs time to deal with Amy.

Lou is at home alone when a man arrives and it takes Lou several minutes to figure out it is the bum he burned with his cigar outside the diner. The bum tells Lou he...