Chapter One Summary

Lily Bard, a cleaning lady in Shakespeare, Arkansas, arrives at Body Time, the gym owned by her sometimes lover and karate instructor, Marshall Sedaka. Marshall, down with the flu, has asked Lily to open the gym for him until he can get someone else in. Lily agrees, though she is not happy about it. Arriving, Lily sees an empty car in the parking lot and heads toward the door to open up. Bobo Winthrop, the eighteen year old son of one of the wealthiest families in town arrives, and shows Lily which key will unlock the front door. Bobo works at Body Time while attending the University of Arkansas even though he has no need to work for a living.

Lily discovers the front door unlocked and a sense of unease settles in. Bobo tells Lily that the car in the...