Brady pleads for his job when Mac calls him in, saying he owes Staples so much money that his only hope is to truly side with Mac and support Mac’s efforts to rid the school of Staples’s influence. Mac does not demonstrate sympathy and follows through with firing Brady. That night, Mac and Joe go to Vince’s house despite the danger of the Creek, a nearby rough area and suspected hangout of Staples’s henchman. Mac suggests taking out Justin to cripple Staples’s entire operation in the school. Vince and Mac fill Joe in on a plan they devised (which is not revealed in the narrative in this scene).

After Joe leaves, Mac and Vince discuss which World Series game they might try to attend. Vince expresses concern again about having the money to buy tickets with Mac “handing out our money like political pamphlets” (148). Mac reveals that although the good seats are currently selling for upwards of $3,000, they might have enough, as they have stashed away almost $6000 over the years of operating their business. Mac reminds Vince about coming along with him and his parents to their lake house rental in the morning.