Chapter 6 Summary

At the Capitol Doc and Pat visit Myrtle Briscoe, the elected state commissioner of corrections and the president of the board of pardons for Sandstone State Reformatory. Myrtle's political sphere is not intertwined with Doc's influences, and she clearly feels he is a corrupting influence. She resents Doc's end-run around her authority to obtain Pat's parole and she is verbally abusive to Doc. Myrtle counsels Pat that he is being taken advantage of and is rapidly becoming involved in something that is likely illegal. She tells Pat that Doc cashed in numerous political favors to secure his parole, and that such actions from a man like Doc are not offered without a very steep price. She concludes by suggesting Pat remain strictly within the bounds of his parole and by hinting to Doc that the upcoming elections might not be a case of...