Summary

In Chapter 15, Harold began seeing “more of Melinda” by herself (161). Vic told her he did not care how much she saw Harold “outside of the house,” but that he did not like Harold (162). Melinda said it was not up to Vic to decide who she spent time with. Vic acquiesced, acting unbothered by the argument.

Vic started imagining himself destroying things violently with his hands. His mind frequently produced “the image of . . . beaten treetops,” which he realized originated from a storm he saw as a boy (164). He thought of the trees whenever he heard Melinda was with Harold.

Vic lost his temper when he saw Ralph and Don in town. He confronted the men, accusing them of hiring Harold to spy on him. They admitted that Harold was a detective from “the Confidential Detective Service in Manhattan” (167).

Vic called the agency and canceled Harold...