Chapter 18 Summary

One rainy evening Pat stops by his office of employment and turns in several bogus survey forms. His supervisor, Rita Kennedy, asks him for a ride home. When they arrive at her apartment, Rita invites Pat inside where they drink and talk. Rita states that Burkman will positively lose the upcoming election. Burkman's loss will spell the end of Doc's corrupted political influence and, therefore, means the end of Pat's state employment. Rita is not an elected official and will thus retail her position regardless of the outcome of the pending election - nevertheless, she has her own political agenda. Rita offers Pat guaranteed future job security if he will agree to provide her information on Doc's schemes. Pat declines to cooperate, and Rita makes vague warnings and insinuates that everyone is aware that Pat is sleeping with Lila. Pat explains this is...