Greyhound Bus

The novel opens as Jamie boards a Greyhound bus in Oakland, California with her young daughters. The bus heads east, and Jamie plans to move in with her sister-in-law in Pennsylvania. However, Bill Houston boards the bus in Ohio, and he and Jamie form a connection. Jamie agrees to spend some time with Bill in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second most populous city in Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh, Jamie, her daughters, and Bill check in to a motel room. Jamie and Bill spend the next few days together, generally engaged in imbibing alcohol. One night, on a city bus, Bill burns his money in a drunken fit and impulsively decides to leave for Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is the most populous city in Illinois. After leaving Jamie in Pittsburgh, Bill travels to Chicago by bus. The first thing he does in the city is rob a...