Before the chapter begins, Johnny asks Oliver to tell him what he knows about his brother's death. Oliver tells him that he was 15 years old when his brother was murdered and that he became a hired killer to collect the ransom money. Oliver says that he couldn't have done the job himself because he was too young, and that the rich man who hired him, Mr. vanhart, came to town and asked Oliver's lawyers to drop the charges against his brother. Oliver explains that he and his brother are loyal to the family and that they don't want to mess with it.