Summary

In Chapter 1, Jen Rafferty is at a party at the home of her friend, Cynthia Prior, who happens to be a local magistrate. They live near each other, but Cynthia's house is nicer. Jen is proud of her working-class background and drinks a lot at the party. Jen is divorced, has two teenage children (Ella and Ben), and is a police officer. Jen has a talk with a middle-aged man named Dr. Nigel Yeo. Jen assumes he finds her attractive. She is interested, especially when she learns he is a doctor who is now “more of a private investigator” (4). He ends the conversation, saying he realizes this is not the right place for the conversation. He says he will call her later. Jen is soon disenchanted with the party and walks home.

In Chapter 2, Ella wakes Jen the next morning. Jen left her...