Mazatlan, Mexico

This is a port city on Mexico's Pacific Coast. It is a popular tourist destination and the closest city to the property owned by Gabriel Balboa.

Tropic of Cancer

This is a line of latitude circling the globe that marks the path of the sun during the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere.

Summer Solstice

This is the longest day of the year. In the northern hemisphere it occurs around June 20 or 21. The novel begins on this day.

Harbor Freeway

This major roadway runs from San Pedro, California to Los Angeles California. The two truck fires cause motorists to abandon their cars on a one-mile stretch of the freeway, and homeless people then occupy the cars.

Tijuana, Mexico

This Mexican city is located on the border with the United States south of San Diego, California. This is where Bobby must go to negotiate the release of...