Chapter 23 Summary

Art does not remember resisting arrest, but wakes up with a sore head from blows of a police truncheon. He sees Uncle Lenny in his hospital room, who has gotten him a good room. Lenny assures Art that he has friends who will take care of things, including the cop who hit Art in the head. Confused and upset, Art asks Lenny why his father had Cleveland killed. Lenny says poor Cleveland was a beginner and brought the heat on himself. Art demands to know who called the police on Cleveland, and Lenny defers to Joe Bechstein, who will soon arrive. Lenny gives in finally and admits that Art's father was only looking out for him. Art confronts Lenny with the fact that his own mother was mistakenly killed instead of his father.

Art hears his father all day trying to get in...