Rita Cohen from American Pastoral is a friend of Merry's. When Merry disappears, Rita shows up at Swede's glove factory. He gives her the full tour as she poses as a college student wanting to know about the business. Swede sort of knows who she is but waits for her to tell him. She finally does tell him, but then tries to corner him in his office and seduce him. He refuses and she becomes poisonous, telling Swede that she knows all about the horrible childhood that Merry had.
