ith Bigger at his home asleep. He leaps from bed with thoughts of how he killed Mary Dalton flooding his mind. He begins to think that he can do what he wants and not get caught. After killing Mary, bigger begins to thirst for more. When he returns to the Dalton's he wonders if he will have to kill Peggy. He thinks that she might accidentally see parts of Mary's body in the furnace. Bessie inadvertently gives him an idea when she brings up Loeb and Leopold. Bigger decides to try out this idea. He figures that it will throw any suspicion off of him. Bessie starts to talk about the subject when Bigger interjects with, "And ask for money, sure, and get it too. You see, we cash in, ‘cause nobody else is trying to." When bigger returns to the Dalton's he is interrogated by private investigator Britten. Bigger leads him to believe that Jan Erlone is responsible for Mary's disappearance. He is on his way to see Bessie when Jan stops to talk to him. Bigger pulls a gun and begins to scream, "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" When Bigger arrives at Bessie's he treats her like a stray dog. "You ain't going to turn away from me now! Not now, Goddamn you!" They begin to quarrel. Bigger yells, "Gimme a knife." He then realizes that Bessie knows that he already has one. He begins to write the letter. "We got your daughter. She is safe. She wants to come home. Don't go to the police if you want your daughter back alive. Get ten thousand in 5 and 10 bills and put it in a shoe box and tomorrow night ride your car up and down Michigan Avenue from 35th Street to 40th. Blink your headlights some. When you see a light in a window, blink three times throw the box in the snow and drive off. Do what the letter say. RedP.S. Bring the money at midnight." Bessie becomes inquisitive. Bigger exclaims, "I ain't going to leave you behind to snitch!" He begins to threaten her. "If you scream, I'll have to kill you, so help me Go...
