Chapter 20 Summary

The next evening, Pat goes to Eggleston's office early and watches until he believes Eggleston has left the building. He then sneaks in and breaks into Eggleston's office, intending to surprise him upon his return and force him to divulge information without payment. Instead, Pat is dismayed to discover Eggleston dead at his desk - shot through the head.

Chapter 20 Analysis

The chapter presents a large amount of extraneous detail on Pat's methodology, including his juvenile casing of Eggleston's building and the exact techniques he uses to break in. The details do not add to the plot and appear rather out of place in the generally concise and rapid narrative development. Pat's methodology does indicate, however, that he is a novice at crime. Pat, the parolee, is now obviously in a very difficult situation.