The Reformatory: A Novel

Robbie gets lost traversing the cornfields. Blue appears to him as a crow to guide his way.

Haddock becomes increasingly concerned when Robbie doesn’t turn up. When he realizes that his desk key is missing, Haddock connects it to Robbie’s sudden disappearance. He briefly checks his office to confirm that the photographs and the haint jar are missing and then gets Boone to help him find the thief. Looking at the boot prints outside, Boone deduces that they are Robbie’s. Haddock uncovers the jar of Vaseline and recalls Crutcher’s account of seeing Robbie covered in grease. Haddock summons the hunting dogs.

Gloria and Miz Lottie wait at the railroad trestle where they are supposed to meet Robbie. When Miz Lottie’s idling truck dies, Gloria takes a walk. Miz Lottie gives her the pistol for protection. Gloria inspects the creek and decides that it is too steep for Robbie to climb on his own. She ties a rope around a tree. When she gets back to the truck, Miz Lottie is taking angina pills. She asks Gloria to drive. They hear the Reformatory alarm bell and the dogs barking, so Gloria decides to descend to the creek to meet Robbie halfway.