Maggie calls her brother frantic in the middle of the night because her husband Keith hasn't arrived home yet and she is very worried about him.It is very unusual for him not to come home and Maggie is worried that something terrible has happened to him. When they learn of a hit and run incident John fears that Keith may be running away from his responsibilities when something happens to defy his alibi. Her brother John likens the situation to a guilty man in a burning hat from an old folklore story.