Summary

In Chapter 38, Penn receives a call from Jewel Washington, the coroner. She asks him to meet with her during the lunch break from court. During the meeting, she tells him a deputy told her that he had heard Byrd and other deputies joking about having intentionally lost hair and fiber evidence from Viola’s house in Tom’s case. Jewel suspects that the sheriff and his men are covering up for Snake and his friends because it would have been Caucasian hair that would have been out of place in Viola’s house. Penn shares with Jewel he believes Cora knew the Double Eagles were there and is lying about it.

Jewel also voices her concern that Byrd might try to hurt Tom while he is in jail. She asks why Quentin did not try to get Tom out on bail and Penn...