Chapter 7 Summary

Peter Fallow awakens in his Manhattan dive to the sound of the telephone ringing. He has a hangover so immense he can barely lift his head from the pillow. Still, thinking it might be The City Light calling, Fallow feels compelled to answer. Mercifully, it is his co-worker Tony on the line, not his boss, whom Fallow refers to privately as the Dead Mouse. As memories of last night's debauchery invade his brain, he attempts to sound coherent for Tony's sake. It is after 1 p.m., and Tony warns him he better put in an appearance at The City Light right away. The Dead Mouse has been looking for him, and Tony, covering for Fallow, told the boss that Fallow was at the Surrogate's Court pursuing the Lacey Putney story. Tony begs Fallow to remember these details in case the Dead Mouse questions...