I walked down to the beach and waited for Malley, but she didn’t show up.
-- Richard (Chapter 1 paragraph 1)

Importance: Malley’s disappearance is treated from the very start of the novel, setting the stage for Richard’s journey to find her. Malley, though a wild child, is always on time. When Malley does not arrive on time to meet Richard, Richard immediately worries where she is. As he will later learn, she has run off with an older man she met online named T.C.

Except the man was still alive.
-- Richard (Chapter 2 paragraph 52)

Importance: Richard meets former Florida governor Clint Tyree on the shore while waiting for Malley. Having been unable to change politics, Clint left office and disappeared after which he surfaced from time to time fighting poachers and began going by the name “Skink.” He is believed dead, but as Richard learns, Clint “Skink” Tyree is very much still alive. Richard’s encounter with...