Chapter 39 Summary

John changes his mind and decides to go the Cupsogue Beach County Park after all. At 7:00 p.m., rather than park his car at Cupsogue Beach County Part, John pulls over on another road and finds a beach access path between two houses. John walks down to the beach and climbs up onto a grassy dune where he waits for the person coming to meet him. Eventually, the park closes. Everyone else leaves, and he is there alone. By 8:20, the person is still not there. Five minutes later, John hears a cough and then another cough. He realizes that someone in moving around in the area. Suddenly, a male voice says, "Where are you?" John tells the man to stand where he can see him. The figure rises up and slowly comes towards John. The man lights a cigarette. John tells the man...