We Begin at the End

Walk and Martha rekindle their relationship as they prepare for Vincent’s trial. They are facing an uphill battle, given the neighbor who will testify that Vincent and Darke argued before the shooting. Walk is certain Darke is responsible and plows through tax returns and bank statements to see what Darke was into.

At the ranch, Robin begs Duchess not to ruin everything with her temper. A friend of Hal’s tells Duchess that, despite what Star told them, Hal made the long drive to Cape Haven every year for Duchess’ birthday, but Star stopped him from seeing his grandkids. Duchess sees Hal differently, as she recognizes his “plaintive ask of redemption” (179). They talk briefly—Duchess assures Hal that Darke will come for her, and Hal assures her he will stop him.

Walk interviews a stripper from Darke’s bar. She tells him Darke is not violent. She admits there were always lowlife types collecting money, and Darke can have a short fuse, but he looked after the strippers. Walk drives to Darke’s estate. Darke assures the sheriff that his loyalty blinds him to his high school buddy: “You don’t want to see the man he is, only the boy he was” (186). Walk notices Darke has packed a small suitcase.