Chapter 12 Summary

A parole officer has snuck into Madeline's apartment and catches Pat breaking the terms of his parole. Pat offers to pay a monetary bribe, and the officer is willing to accept a large sum of money to ignore the offense. Pat then explains that he doesn't have any money but is willing to pay a very high price to avoid being returned to prison. While he talks, he removes his shirt to reveal numerous scars which indicate past horrific wounds. Pat then fairly severely beats the parole officer and throws him out of the apartment. Madeline and Pat then agree to keep each others' best interests in mind and be on the lookout for information that can help each other.

Chapter 12 Analysis

The two-chapter scene involving the unnamed parole officer is a fairly unconvincing narrative development. The parole officer is presumably canny enough...