Chapter 16 Summary

Pat visits a private investigator named Eggleston to see if he can gain insight into his own predicament. Pat explains that he fears Doc has insured him (Pat) and intends to therefore benefit from his death. Eggleston assures Pat that he cannot have been insured for any considerable sum, and also informs Pat that, given his circumstances, a pardon would have been as easy to obtain as a parole - clearly Doc selected a parole so Pat could not leave the locale. Although Eggleston can offer no further particulars, he agrees with Pat that the situation is precarious at best.

Chapter 16 Analysis

Pat, incarcerated his entire adult life, assumes the simplest case - Doc has insured Pat and intends to kill him to collect the insurance money. The private investigator Eggleston quickly disabuses Pat of this notion. But Eggleston also validates Pat's feelings...