On the way to work bigger runs into G.H, Gus and Jack and buys them some cigarettes and beers. When he get to the Daltons house Peggy is about to clean the furnace but bigger offers to do it. In the furnace bigger sees an outline of Mary's body so he refuels the furnace after that he puts Jan's pamphlets in his room and then tends to the half-packed trunk that he is to take to the depot. Peggy tells bigger that the car has been out all night and bigger lies and says that Jan and Mary was in the car last night. Mary is not up stairs so bigger takes the trunk to the train station anyways because Peggy suggests that Mary is going to make it to the train station. Mrs. Dalton is concerned and Bigger overhears her conversation with Peggy, during which she mentions that she smelled Mary's drunkenness the night before and notes that Mary did not pack all of the clothes that she intended to take to Detroit.
Mrs. Dalton asks bigger some questions and he lies about Mary and Jan again than Mrs. Dalton gives him the rest of the day off. He wonders if he should have taken more money. He decides to visit Bessie and as he is only interested in having sex with her, Bessie is concerned about the two white people that Bigger was with last night. To soothe Bessie's concerns, Bigger reveals his large sum of cash, about $125, and he suggests that Bessie use some of the money to buy something. Bigger tells Bessie a story about Jan and Mary leaving and asks for her help in planning to get more money.
When bigger returns to the Daltons he is told to go back to