63 pages 2 hours read

David Adams Richards

Mercy Among the Children

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2000

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Part 3, Chapters 1-6

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3: “Love”

Part 3, Chapters 1-6 Summary

Mat and Cynthia await the settlement of their court case. Frederick Snook brings them an offer of $2,000, less than what they spent on the litigation. Two days later, the Pits decide to take the money, but Snook withdraws the offer. Snook confides in Cynthia that, due to the new findings of officer John Delano’s case, Mat Pit could face a murder charge.

Driving home from Snook’s office, the Pits blame Connie Devlin and try to think of a way to save themselves. The tone of the local newspaper has swung in Sydney’s favor. Mat takes a shotgun to Connie Devlin’s house but finds it empty.

Rudy visits Cynthia and tells her he has no more money for her. He has been washing windows in town and looking for work. Cynthia blackmails him with the threat of prison. Rudy tells Cynthia that Leo McVicer wants to see her. Leo knows that Rudy, Mat, and Connie are all done for, and wishes to save Cynthia. They agree that Cynthia will come to the house to help Gladys. Rudy plans to pitch his idea for a marina to Leo, who has known about it and been building one for three years.