Chapter 25

Birdie and Charlie spend the day hauling crates from the Tartts’ barn, unearthing old party supplies and pieces of a portable dance floor. Birdie challenges Charlie’s rosy numbers and shaky plan, and Charlie’s anxiety finally shows. Charlie has already telegrammed a recruit, promising a busy house.

At dawn, Flossy arrives: older, exhausted, and frightened after quitting her previous employer. When she discovers there’s no phone or staff, she tries to leave. Charlie persuades her to stay with promises of fair cuts, limited keys, and first pick of rooms. Birdie uses Flossy’s cash and house money to reinstate a party-line telephone.

Charlie stalls explaining the full plan until later. Birdie meets Jack, who admits he’s divorcing, has a sixteen-year-old son, and quit drinking two years prior. They dance at the Mecca, kiss, and Birdie overhears students planning a trip to Sweetwater. Jack clarifies Sweetwater houses a brothel, not a dance club.

Back home, Birdie questions Flossy and confirms Sweetwater’s exploitation. Birdie confronts Charlie, who reveals the “dance club” is a front for a tightly run, drug-free brothel aimed at nearby college boys, projected to earn fast cash to save the Tartt mortgage, help Birdie’s family, and reclaim Meg. Charlie frames it as their only viable option; Birdie refuses on legal and moral grounds.

The argument ends in stalemate. Charlie retreats; Birdie sees the uneven dance floor in the yard and recognizes both Charlie’s desperation to get Meg back and the peril of the scheme.