The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

As the days pass, Edgar continues to work through the clutter in Henry’s shed. He tries not to think about his father, but he knows he must return to expose his father’s killer. He never forgets he is on the lam, certain that he murdered Dr. Papineau, albeit accidentally. When Henry asks Edgar where he plans to go once his dog is healed, Edgar says they are heading to Starchild Colony, a post-counterculture commune along the border with Canada. Edgar saw ads in a magazine in which the commune directors made a plea for hard workers, no questions asked. Edgar sees the colony as a chance to reboot his young life.

When the shed is cleared, the two celebrate by driving into Lute, the nearest town. Edgar notices a state patrol car following them.

The strange death of Glen Papineau’s father is only two months in the past. As the town’s sheriff, Glen is determined to get to the bottom of what happened at the Sawtelle barn. He and Claude become drinking buddies. One night, as Glen drinks recklessly, Claude seeds suspicions in the sheriff’s mind. Maybe Edgar is more than a runaway, he implies. The sheriff was convinced that the boy ran away because of the relationship between his mother and his uncle, but Claude raises doubts.