Summary

In Chapter 1, after leaving Sherman and quitting her job in Santa Cruz, Penny took the train to Santa Barbara. Her grandmother’s accountant Burt was meeting her at the station.

For the rest of the ride, Penny felt “transported to the backseat of [her] family car” (6). Her family life changed after her stepfather Hugh and mother Ardie moved to Australia. Although Penny’s sister Margaret joined them, Penny remained in California.

Five years prior, Hugh and Ardie had disappeared while exploring Mount Isa. Penny still had not processed this loss.

Burt collected Penny in his van. When they arrived at his office, Penny was horrified to discover he lived there, too. He insisted she could stay with him. They went out for dinner. They talked about Pincer. Burt told her about his van, named The Dog of the North. It was all he...