Chapters 7 through 10 Summary

The phone call is an elaborate spoof, and indicates that Kevin is "behind a school in Old Smithfield." Officers are sent searching and it's soon discovered that there's a hearse parked behind the junior high. Healy, Trask and Spenser are all there within minutes. Spenser sees the hearse and realizes that there's a box that resembles a homemade coffin in the back. It's Healy who lifts the lid of the box, and all the officers jump backwards as a dummy springs up into a sitting position. The dummy is stuffed with newspapers and the car had been reported stolen days earlier. There's nothing unique about the clothing and officers immediately begin processing the scene in search of fingerprints.

When the Bartletts learn the details of the hearse, Margery is again sedated, but Roger is mad, scared and mournful, but Spenser notes...