Chapter 220 unfolds in the evening, at seven-fifteen, when Patch is sweeping the floors in the metal shop. The power suddenly goes out, an event that is not entirely uncommon in the facility. Blackjack, as usual, grumbles about the situation, voicing his complaints as the workers deal with the interruption. Warden Riley had long planned to replace the outdated Kohler system with a more efficient commercial-grade generator, though that was still in the future. For now, the flickering lights signal the beginning of another long and uncomfortable night, with the ventilation system failing to work, causing the heat to build up inside the cells. The building’s atmosphere becomes more stifling, with the dim emergency lighting casting a sickly yellow hue, making the whole place feel like a deteriorating business soon to close its doors. Despite the discomfort, Patch continues with his sweeping, unfazed by the dimming lights and the growing heat, focusing instead on the monotonous task at hand.

Once Patch finishes sweeping, he puts the broom, bucket, cloths, and cleanser back in the supply cupboard, then walks deeper into the building. His destination is the library, where Cooper is finishing up his work for the day. Every last Thursday of the month, Cooper takes stock of the library, grumbling about the lack of overtime pay but still enjoying the peace and quiet it brings. As Patch arrives, he mentions that Warden Riley instructed him to oversee the remainder of the month until someone else can be trained to take over his duties. Cooper, always willing to help, asks if Patch can assist with the boxes before he leaves. Together, they move the books into the storeroom, and as they finish, Patch takes his leave, following his usual route through the building, turning left twice and then right, before reaching the main block. As he walks down the familiar path, he fusses with his eye patch and then enters his cell, where he lies on his bunk and pulls a book from beneath the mattress. The new guard locks him down for the night, marking the end of his duties for the evening.

Meanwhile, Cooper wraps up his own shift in the library, taking his hat from the rack and slipping it on. He grabs his raincoat and worn leather satchel, which contains a single book, an apple, and a copy of The Examiner. After locking up, he heads down toward B Block, passing through two doors, one of which catches for a moment, before he arrives at the desk. He drops his keys into the drawer and waits for the buzzer to sound, signaling his exit. Blackjack, sitting at the desk, casually reads the Sports section of the newspaper, whistling at the mention of the Yankees heading toward a historic season. He comments on a photo of a young boy in the article, speculating that the boy might be the next big name in sports, similar to Jack Nicklaus. Cooper, not particularly interested in the sport, responds indifferently before signing out and preparing to sign in for the morning shift. As he does so, he and Blackjack exchange a few words about the game, with Cooper humorously acknowledging that it might become his sport after all. As he walks away, Cooper raises a hand in farewell, while Blackjack presses the buzzer to let him out. If Blackjack had glanced up from his newspaper, he might have noticed something out of the ordinary. That night, Cooper walks with a slight limp, a subtle but significant detail that hints at something more beneath the surface, perhaps a lingering injury or an unnoticed event that took place earlier.