Summary

In Chapter 22, Tom Harris questions Dessie after Laura tells him the circumstances of Dessie and Henry finding Tracy. After he feels she’s told him the truth, he instructs her not to leave their house that night. As he walks home that night from his office, Tom is stopped twice by different groups of white men. He tries to warn them not to stir up trouble. At home, he asks Charles to go to the meeting with his mother and sisters. Although Charles is angry about the way the people in town are acting, his father advises him to keep him mouth shut and look after his family.

After his family leaves, Harris thinks about his afternoon at the milltown. He believes Nonnie is responsible for Tracy’s death. He hopes they’ll just take her to trial and then hush it up...