The Sixth Veil (pages 234-259) Summary

Ellen Cherry's parents, Patsy and Verlin, are in town for Christmas. All three celebrate Christmas Eve at the I and I, where Verlin faints after mistaking a bandaged Spike for a terrorist. Spike, recently out of the hospital after recovering from a head wound, unveils his surprise gift: a large, high-definition TV that the narrator says will have an extreme effect on their lives. On her way home that evening, Abu gives Ellen Cherry a spoon the police found in her bag that she dropped the night Spike was shot. Ellen is dumbfounded and cannot understand how the spoon got back to her.

On Christmas, Ellen Cherry and her parents return to the Ansonia where they are joined by Buddy. There, Buddy tells them of his plans and the reason he has enlisted Boomer to...