Susan Gender is the mistress of Duffy Deeter. Bored as a graduate student of philosophy at the University of Florida, Susan enjoys following Deeter around the country. She seems addicted to his energy, even through she realizes and admits he is a dangerous man. Susan encourages his and the other men's violence in the novel. She knows she is a beautiful woman and knows the men will outdo themselves to prove their manliness to her, and she seems to enjoy such competitions among the men.